Fast facts:
2021 Valle de Inez Pinot Noir, San Luis Obispo, CA ($9.99* @ Costco, California – Item #1374624)
*Net price after $10 in store discount
It’s hard to believe, but we will be celebrating the Thanksgiving holiday here in the United States in two short weeks. Then we’re on the slippery slope to the end of year holidays. But let’s address things one holiday at a time, shall we?
For the next two Thirsty Thursdays, we are going to focus on the one varietal that is the “no brainer” choice for traditional Thanksgiving fare: Pinot Noir. This one is from Costco, next week we shine the light on Trader Joe’s. Then the Thursday after that, it’s show time!
The traditional Thanksgiving meal is actually quite difficult to pair wine with. That’s because there tends to be such a wide range of flavors and dishes to clash and contend with. (The family metaphor is not lost on us.) So it is best to forget about the usual suspects: Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon. No bueno.
Rather than trying to match individual flavors or dishes, go for bottles that complement a wide variety of foods. You need wines that can blanket the entire dinner. At the top of this list is Pinot Noir. It’s a light-bodied red wine that avoids heavy use of oak. And they tend to pack enough fruit and acid to complement but not compete and clash with a range of dishes and flavors. (French Gamay, especially Cru Beaujolais, would also when pair well with Thanksgiving dinner as would lighter Italian reds.)
This particular Pinot Noir from Costco would be a great choice. It recently made the Wine Enthusiast magazine’s list of Top Pinot Noirs under $20 with a rating of 93 points. And with the $10 discount that is being offered, think of it as half price. Usually the pinot noirs under $10 are a who’s who of bad, Franken-wines. This is a delightful exception…
Tasting Notes:
Courtesy of Wine Enthusiast: “This vintage of Doug Margerum’s more affordable label is a complex and delicious stunner, beginning with opulent aromas of black cherry, wet loam and light mint on the nose. There’s a tight line of stony, loamy minerality on the palate, balancing the wild raspberry, mulberry and black-pepper spice flavors.” Courtesy of me: this is a really nice wine for the ridiculous price of $9.99 – ABV 14%.
We’ll be back next week, with one last Thanksgiving wine pick.
Need More Wine Picks from Costco – or Trader Joe’s Even?
If your wine shopping excursions land you in Costco, prepare by grazing our most recent reviews of Costco wines here in our Lucky 13 list.
And if your shopping finds you at Trader Joe’s, you can find our Lucky 13 list of TJ’s wine here.
Happy hunting.
Cheers!
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