Tuesday we (myself, Betsy, her mom) made it to LaGuardia without incident.. We had excellent burgers from the Pat LaFrieda stand, but no wine (but I was actually tempted/impressed by the lineup at Bar Brace in Terminal D- prices a bit high. until you remember its an airport, but interesting array of Italian wines by the glass). /Flight to Atl
was uneventful, good to be at parents.

Wednesday included a trip to Harrys/Whole Foods and Total, wine prices in Georgia are a big gulp for me, and selection in Alpharetta not terribly broad. But I ended up with a
an interesting German, a US PN with familial connections, and a CA CS (trying to do mostly US for Thanksgiving, though I tried for Beaujolais till I realized most f of my choices were DuBoeuf).

Wed night with roast beef, “Asian cole slaw,” baked potato, asparagus, etc the 2007 Togni Tanbark Hill Cabernet Sauvignon. I find Togni’s main estate wine to be the runnerup to Dunn in accessibility, luckily the second wine is more approachable. Black fruits, cocoa, some new oak. I enjoy in a fairly typical CalCab way , but with some structure but am surprised that it basically falls apart overnight. B on night 1.

Thanksgiving of course was the big event. Dishes included turkey, ham, sage dressing, oyster dressing, corn, beans, cranberry relish, cranberry jelly, mashed rutabaga turnips, Brussels sprouts, roasted vegetables (kohlrabi, yellow and red beets, carrots, turnips), sweet potatoes, Caesar salad, pureed squash, rolls, and a bevy of desserts.

2010 Hans Wirsching Iphofer Kronsberg Silvaner Trocken
Grapefruit and pit fruits, mineral, moderate acids, just a hint of sweetness,.quite nice. over couple nights B++

2008 Foris Pinot Noir
I got this because I was wandering Total Wine and spotted this, and remembered Betsy’s late father’s double-cousin’s son (don’t try to chart that!) was owner.
Black cherry, light, fresh and bright, a good turkey wine, that holds up well over following day. B/B+

2007 Kistler McCrea Vineyard Chardonnay
This was sitting in cabinet of my parents’ kitchen since last Thanksgiving, when it wasn’t opened. Didn’t seem damaged, no heat or advanced notes. Vanillin oak,.but good acids and not much in the buttery range. Too oaky for me, but if the oak ever integrated this might be interesting, not gloppy or flabby. B-

Friday we went to my brother’s club,. food was actually quite good, , excellent
calamari and shrimp to start, then I had grouper with chevre grits and salad, along with
a glass of 2011 Berger Gruner Veltliner, light, peas and green plums over a light saline base, pleasant. B
(Betsy had scallops with a very good glass of Godello, that I liked ,more than the GVbut I neglected to note producer. Damn!)

Not a bad few days vinowise, but will be happy to be back to my cellar ( (and NY pricing).
Hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving.


Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B a good wine, C mediocre. Anything below C means I wouldn't drink at a party where it was only choice. Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.