Media Wine Professional, Tom Deschere Gives GREAT Suggestions for Thanksgiving

Much like having a good tailor and mechanic, it's also good to have a go-to person when it comes to wine, especially during the holiday seasons.  Now, you can search the internet and find countless recommendations, but much like my doctor, I like to know who I'm dealing with. Perhaps you do too, so I reached out to the best Media wine guy I know, Tom Deschere.  

Tom worked at La Belle Epoque before going on to be a well known wine buyer in the region. He may not be an officially certified sommelier....yet, but he hasn't steered me wrong on the many recommendations he's provided over the years. Check out his FB page.

Check out his great run-down of wine suggestions for Thanksgiving.  Thanks, Tom!

• Thanksgiving Wine suggestions:

  Rule #1: the wine you like is the right wine to drink with whatever you’re eating.

  Versatile, go with anything, wines are a good idea with a multi-flavored menu like Thanksgiving. I would avoid the “biggest” strongly flavored, highly oaked wines unless they fall under Rule #1.

  My recommendation is go local with wines from NY’s Finger Lakes. Some of my favorites come from Sheldrake Point Winery on Lake Cayuga. http://www.sheldrakepoint.com/index.cfm

  Riesling is a highly versatile food-wine pairing partner. The off-dry (slightly sweet) Rieslings are easy to drink alone or with food. The key to great “sweet” Riesling is bright, crisp acidity, a balance of the “sweet and sour” flavors. Riesling is also available in “Dry” styles with less than 1% residual sugar. Try out a few to see “How sweet it is”.

  Sheldrake Point Riesling 2011 #31622 $16.99

  Wine notes: http://www.sheldrakepoint.com/assets/client/File/PDFs/2011Riesling.pdf

  PLCB inventoy: http://www.lcbapps.lcb.state.pa.us/webapp/product_management/psi_ProductLocation_inter.asp?cdeNo=46306

  Tasting notes: Pale lemon in color with soft and supple aromatics of ripe peach and sweet honey. Hints of lilac and candied pear on the palate couple with a round, silky mouth-feel braced by bright acidity.

  For something completely different, try Gewürztraminer, a highly aromatic grape, with lychee and rose petal aromas. The spicy accents in Gewürz pair beautifully with Thanksgiving flavors.

  Sheldrake Point Gewürztraminer 2012 #46758 $17.99

  Wine notes: http://www.sheldrakepoint.com/assets/client/File/PDFs/2012_Gewurztraminer.pdf

  PLCB inventory: http://www.lcbapps.lcb.state.pa.us/webapp/product_management/psi_ProductLocation_inter.asp?cdeNo=46758

  Tasting notes: Bright, light lemon with a hint of green. A remarkable bouquet of spiced exotic fruit; mango, pear, cardamom and nutmeg. Full, round and expressive in the mouth; rich and plush and showing a long finish from a wonderfully ripe vintage. A well-known partner to turkey, chicken, ham and scallops, it is also delectable as an aperitif with smoked oysters, fried calamari or bacon and mild Blue cheeses.

  For red wine I like NY Cabernet Franc. These wines are light, bright, low alcohol, fruity and delicious to drink. They are not rich, concentrated, full, chewy, aggressive or any of the other popular big wine descriptors. It is the delicate quality that allows them to work so well for Thanksgiving. Like the Gewürz, Cab Franc’s spicy flavors pair very well.

  Sheldrake Point Luckystone Red 2011 #46305 $12.99

  Wine notes: http://www.sheldrakepoint.com/assets/client/File/PDFs/2011_LSR.pdf

  PLCB inventory: http://www.lcbapps.lcb.state.pa.us/webapp/product_management/psi_ProductLocation_inter.asp?cdeNo=46305

  Tasting notes: Light ruby in color with a nose of cinnamon, maple, and clove. The 2011 Luckystone Red is light in body, with a round and soft mouthfeel. Earthy notes mingle with vanilla and black cherry, and follow through to a long warm spice finish.

  Although labeled as a “Red Blend” Luckystone is 85% Cabernet Franc with a little Merlot, Cab Sauv and Gamay added. At $12.99 you could go through a lot of bottles.

  Sheldrake Point Cabernet Franc 2010 #46304 $17.99

  Wine notes: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6_G3oW3WyzCTkNiUWdVQXNZQUU/edit?usp=sharing

  PLCB inventory: http://www.lcbapps.lcb.state.pa.us/webapp/product_management/psi_ProductLocation_inter.asp?cdeNo=46304

  Tasting notes: A compelling arrangement of herbs, cherries, and cinnamon with a core of savory, fresh red fruit and layers of light oak. Youthful tannins couple with a sweet spice finish.

  This 100% Cabernet Franc is a little bigger than the Luckystone. Highly recommended!

  Happy Thanksgiving!

  

  Sheldrake Point - Sheldrake Point Vineyards

  www.sheldrakepoint.com

  Sheldrake Point Winery produces distinctive estate wines that showcase the quality of our Finger Lakes vineyard. Each of our estate wines is crafted to take advantage of the flavor and character of the grapes grown on our 44-acre site overlooking Cayuga Lake.