Quintessential Wines for Memorial Day Weekend

Raise a glass and toast the red, white, and blue! In preparation for Memorial Day our Wine Director, Codey, curated an enticing selection of new wines to fill your glass this weekend. These lighthearted summer sippers are must-haves for the warm months ahead. Their enticing flavors and refreshing qualities make them absolutely irresistible. If you're stocking up for the weekend, Ancona's Wines is open regular hours Friday May 23 (8:30am-8pm), Saturday May 24 (8:30am-8pm), and Sunday May 25 (10am-5pm). On Memorial Day, Monday May 26 Ancona's is open 9am-5pm.

2013 Pascal Janvier Jasnieres dry Chenin Blanc is some of the finest in the world. It is more refined and high-toned than Savennieres but just as structured and just as age-worthy. On the nose this wine shows off a brilliant mineral profile with accents of black powder, musket flint, and granitic quarry dust--all accompanied by a green apple and and a perplexing herbal quality unique to this vintage. The palate is punctuated by remarkable acidity, as it characteristic of fine Chenin (or Pineau de la Loire as it is called locally). And with such acidity will come great longevity. This is a gorgeous wine right now but anyone with enough patience and a deep enough cellar will be well rewarded.
2013 Pascal Janvier Coteaux du Loir Rouge "Cuvee du Rosier" is produced from a grape variety called Pineau d Aunis (sometimes also called 'Red Chenin'). A tart cranberry and cherry fruit profile dominates along with hints of black pepper and the signature mineral/stone components that are also present in Janvier's whites: black powder, musket flint, and granitic quarry dust. This is both a gorgeous and sophisticated red wine that is a quintessential Summer Sippin' Red.

2012 Hofer Zweigelt is a crowd-pleasing 1 liter bottle made from 100% Zweigelt - a red grape varietal from Austria. It is ripe and savory, with fresh red fruit notes and a pleasing roundness. The cool pop-top is perfect for alfresco dining, and the light to medium bodied red pairs well with summer foods, including grilled chicken, seafood, and salad.
2011 Wieninger Wiener Gemischter Satz intense nose has a fresh fruitiness combined with mineral components. Gemischter Satz can be made from as many as 13 different varieties at one time, yet here the most significant contributions are made by Grüner Veltliner, Weissburgunder, Welschriesling, and Chardonnay. It pairs perfectly with light summer dishes, and fresh seafood.
2013 Gobelsburger Rose is a blend of Zweigelt and St. Laurent grapes from the cooler sites of Langenlois and Gobelsburg. The wine shows a brilliant clear rose color. Decadent fresh cherry fruit on the palate is accompanied by refreshing acidity. This invigorating rose is the perfect wine to enjoy on a warm sunny day.

2006 Weinert Malbec isn't like any other Argentine Malbec we've ever tasted. This is an old school and traditional--shamelessly earthy kind of Malbec. Perhaps it is this wine's bottle age that lends it such brilliant tertiary aromas. Mature red and black fruits are interwoven with aromas of Truffle di San Gimignano, morel mushrooms, crushed leaves, and spice. This is the way Argentine Malbec should be made--a style that harkens back to Malbec's original stomping grounds in Bordeaux and Cahors.
2013 Palacio de Fefinanes Albarino is an attractive white that showcases the splendor of the great Albarino grape. Fresh fruit, floral notes and a subtle herbaceous element combine magnificently to produce this enticing silky white with pleasing minerality and refreshing acidity. Balanced, distinctive and elegant. It has a long life ahead in which to be enjoyed.

Thanksgiving Roundtable

Thanksgiving is quickly approaching. The holidays are always a special time to reflect, spend time with family and give thanks.

My favorite things about Thanksgiving are the oversized balloons in the Macy’s Day Parade, pumpkin pie and the quality time I get to spend with my family. It is not often we are able to get everyone into the same room, let alone at the same table for dinner. However, this Thanksgiving will be a little different. First, I have painstakingly adapted some of my favorite Thanksgiving recipes to be gluten-free. Second, my sister will be hundreds of miles away on some tropical island for her honeymoon. And though she will be missed, her absence this year means two things; left-over pie and more elbow room in the car on the way to my Aunt’s house.

Regardless how your family decides to celebrate Thanksgiving, it is important to remember to surround yourself with loved ones. Many people celebrate in non-traditional ways. I recently was engaged in conversation with someone who mentioned instead of cooking a bird, she fires up the grill to cook steaks. How glorious! This juxtaposition of breaking the stereotypical Thanksgiving dinner choice while keeping a tradition is fantastic. It adds flare to the holiday and certainly makes for it to be a memorable one.

It is commonly assumed white wines are the only ones that should be served alongside turkey. This assumption is terribly un-true! With a wide variety of dishes showing up on Thanksgiving tables people are selecting wines that break this stereotype.

Be adventurous, if you prefer red wines try pairing a Pinot Noir with your Thanksgiving meal. The velvety, light fruit flavors of Pinot Noir will bring out the best in your bird. Pinot Noir also tend to be low in tannins, so it will not overwhelm the delicate flavors of your meal. We are featuring an excellent Pinot Noir from Burgundy in our November Wine of the Month club. It is the 2009 Louis Max Bougogne Beaucharme Noir. Also featured in our November selection for the Wine of the Month is the 2009 Henry Fessy Moulin-A-Vent. This red is produced from the Gamay grape and showcases a lush flavor profile of ripe plum and cassis.

If you are looking for something heartier with a bit of spice, I would recommend picking up a bottle of Zinfandel. Two of my favorite Zins are the 2008 Saldo Zinfandel and the 2007 Seven Deadly Zins. Both received excellent reviews of 90+ points from The Wine Spectator and Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate.

If white wines are more your style, make an effort to stray from your “go-to” grape. If you prefer Chardonnay, try Pinot Gris or Viognier. The 2008 Willm Pinot Gris is richly textured with flavors of peach and apple. If your palate favors a hint of sweetness, try a bottle of Chenin Blanc or Riesling. The 2009 Domaine Pichot Vouvray is 100% Chenin Blanc and offers up sweet citrus flavors with great acidity and texture. The 2009 Dragonstone Riesling has great minerality and is ripe and well developed.

Here’s to making this Thanksgiving a memorable one filled with friends, family and the discovery of a new favorite wine!