#QuintessentialWines #Shiraz #IronstoneWine #McLarenValeShiraz

Say what you will about tradition and how disappointed we are this Thanksgiving. Yes, once again, the 2020 theme of having to “pivot” rears its ugly head, reminding us of the “new now” – a deadly threat in gathering of extended family and friends. Let’s count our blessings, though, and focus on the wonderful tradition that remains — the release of Beaujolais Nouveau!

Under French law, the wine is set to be released at 12:01 a.m. on November 19, weeks after harvest. Every third week of November, like clockwork, we can count on this bottled gamay. Grown in the most southern wine growing region in Burgundy, France, there’s an outlier region called Beaujolais, where the wine is quite different in regard to production and climate. In fact, Beaujolais is referred to as its own appellation that produces these light, dry grapes that are a cross between a pinot noir and the ancient white gouais grape.

In a non-Covid-19 ravaged world, Beaujolais Nouveau Day is typically marked in France on the third Thursday in November with fireworks, music and festivals to celebrate the first wine of the season.

When you pick up your bottles of Beaujolais Nouveau, be sure to look for label artist Maeve Croghan’s “Russet Vines” on the Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau 2020 bottles (featured image). Keep in mind that it’s meant to be consumed immediately — within a month, preferably, and it will not have a high tannin structure or acidity, but will be fruity in both aroma and taste. Its tart cranberry overtones make it a perfect pairing for Thanksgiving dinner – even if you’re a table of one.

The producer most familiar to those who open a bottle or two of Beaujolais Nouveau each November is Les Vins Georges Dubœuf. But did you know Les Vins Georges Dubœf produces more structured wines? Try a few bottles of Villages and Moulin-A-Vent and you’ll be sure to up your game with Thanksgiving dinner. Beaujolais-Villages is not the same thing as Nouveau, but it is made from the remaining production to produce a darker, richer and more full-bodied wine – and can be stored longer than Nouveau.

Take a listen to what Romain Teyteau, North America export director at Les Vins Georges Dubœf, has to say about Beaujolais wines:

Excerpt from my interview with Romain Teyteau, export director, North America, Les Vins Georges Duboeuf.

I look forward to tasting the soon-to-be-released Beaujolais Nouveau, but in the meantime, I’m sipping a 2018 Domaine des Rosiers Moulin-A-Vent produced by Georges Duboeuf and rated 93 James Suckling points, and a 2018 Domaine De La Vigne Romaine Moulin-A-Vent — both pour a garnet gamay of exquisite silk on the palate. Enjoy these deeper, full-bodied wines with beef stew, duck confit, Portobello mushroom dishes, spicy dishes and fine, matured cheeses.

As you celebrate with a bottle of Georges Duboeuf, toast to Georges, who passed away in January 2020 at the age of 86. And be sure to check out THIS LINK for upcoming virtual Beaujolais Nouveau events.

If you’d like to learn more about Georges Duboeuf wines, click HERE.

Amid the month of romance, it’s a good idea to stock your wine rack with a few good reds. You never know when you’ll want to bring out your inner Cupid, so here are three wines worthy of sharing with that someone special:

#1 – Two Angels Petite Sirah 2016 Vintage, made with grapes grown in the highest vineyards in California, in Lake County’s “Red Hills” appellation for deepened complexity. This dark purple wine offers a bouquet of ripe, dark berries and plums that match the taste with a slow, long, luxurious finish. Enjoy this wine with any dish deemed robust, such as venison, game birds, beef and hard cheeses. $26.99

#2 – Heading Down Under to McLaren Vale wine region in South Australia, the 2014 Block 6 Shiraz is a pleasant change of pace. This deep, crimson wine is 100% shiraz (single vineyard) and a decadent splurge at $119.99. Know this: Block 6 vineyard is on four acres with heavy clay in the middle of the block and gravely alluvial soils on the lower side. Geologically speaking, which is essential in the making of good wine, quartz, ironstone and some silty limestone guide these grapes to their best presentation.

Take your time with a glass of this shiraz. You’ll want to enjoy its seductive aromas of Chinese 5 spice, anise, boysenberry and hint of marzipan before you take that first sip of juicy red fruit. What’s even more interesting is that this wine offers a gentler acidity than most, and a slow buildup of fine, chalky tannin structure. It’s a rich and concentrated mouthfeel with power and finesse. Save this if you have a wine cellar. It’s only going to get better with age. When you’re ready to open a bottle, decant it before you enjoy with hearty meat and game dishes.

#3 – Back in California, in the Sierra Foothills, a blend of 85% Cabernet Franc, 8% Petite Sirah, 4% Zinfandel and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon comprises a bottle of 2016 Ironstone Reserve Cabernet Franc ($24.99). This is definitely a soft wine blend, with elegance and richness to enjoy now. Worth noting is that the winery practices sustainable viticulture practices: crop reduction, leaf removal, organic materials and drip irrigation to improve the quality of the grapes and intensify the flavors. Cover crops to attract beneficial insects are also a practice that deems this winery a nod in a Roundup world. If you’re in the mood for chicken Marsala, grab a bottle of this Ironstone Reserve blend and enjoy!

Visit Quintessential Wines for more information.