Thanksgiving can be one of the most complex meals of the year, covering sweet, spicy and comfort foods (to say nothing of the personalities sitting at the table). Here’s a case of American reds for your holiday table that covers and complements all that and more, including stern aunties, goofy uncles, your fun cousins, your not-so-fun siblings (sibling rivalry, much?) and whatever brave soul you decide to bring home to meet the fam. Drink up!
Alma Rosa Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir. Grapes are mostly (98%) sourced from the El Jabali Vineyard. It has a New World personality—fresh and forward red fruits and a saline lift—but also echoes Old World Pinot with a garrigue kind of underlay and the refined used of oak that gives this finesse.
Centennial Mountain Reserve, Sonoma County. The red blend of Italian native grapes Nebbiolo and Nerello Mascalese also includes Carignan, Primitive and Barbera. Sounds complex, but this is an easy-going black- and red-fruit forward wine with pretty floral tones that will give some oomph to the turkey, especially the leg and roasty bits. Pro tip: you can also drink this on its own.
Centennial Mountain Solera 1 is so called for its use of reserve wines from multiple vintages. This red blend is based on the same Italian varieties as its little sister “Reserve,” and expresses rich and luscious raspberry and aromatic florals and wood. There’s an intriguing chalky streak. Dry, integrated tannins are present but not distracting. A high-toned wine that’s versatile on a mixed table with complex flavors.
Clos Solène “Harmonie” Paso Robles. This is an easy-going Grenache-driven (68 – 72%, depending on vintage) fruity wine that wears its red and black fruits well without being a jammy bomb. Mineral streak keeps it uplifted, as well as a little iodine adding interest and black cherry and dark chocolate on the finish. A little brooding, but also a lot easy to drink.
Domaine Serene Yamhill Cuvee Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley. An approachable and happy go lucky Pinot with French heritage. Generous, forward fruit, lush on the palate, but backed by barely there skin tannins for structure without grit.
Domaine Serene Evenstad Reserve Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley. Crunchy red fruits meet lush black plums and aromatic wood tones in this rather exotic and definitely sophisticated Pinot. Integrated tannins make this way too easy to drink down, but savor it with the juiciest turkey parts.
Early Mountain Rise, Virginia. A sweet wood spice nose leads into a palate of deep and plush black fruits, and edgy wood tones. Plenty of minerality and mouthwatering acid. This is juicy and generous but with serious backbone. Super balanced Bordeaux-style blend driven by Merlot (58%) leaves you wanting more.
Ironstone Reserve Ancient Vines Zinfandel Rous Vineyard, Lodi. Plush dark fruits (blackberry and black plum) meet baking spices in a sophisticated Zin from a pioneering Central Cal producer. Full and rounded tannins make for a smooth sip. Century+ old vines help give this depth and concentration—and a certain prestige in an historic area known for its Zin.
Markham Merlot, Napa Valley. Sustainably made, this crowd-pleasing blend of three estate vineyards is lush and plush with cherry, chocolate, vanilla and plum and smooth silky tannins. Nice use of oak adds a warm finesse and will make you fall in love with Merlot again (not that you ever fell out!)
Minus Tide Syrah, Valenti Vineyard, Mendocino Ridge. Super black pepper spicy in all the right ways. Serious Northern Rhone imposter with all that black pepper and restrained red fruits, but pulls off a lighter touch with a maritime aspect. Has lots of varietal character, but pulled back, is a refined wine.
Rhys Alpine Vineyard, Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir. A very pretty wine redolent of red fruits, followed on the palate with raspberry and cherry tones. Smooth, pleasing tannins echo its crowd-pleasing nature.
William Cole Stonemaiden, Napa Valley. Stonemaiden was one of the original stone wine cellars in St. Helena, which automatically confers prestige and mystique to this Bordeaux-style blend. Full bodied with the bold primary red and black fruit integrating with secondary notes of tobacco, baking spice.