gros manseng

Here is my list of some favorite wines for Thanksgiving. Most of these are old favorites, and all are interesting and worth your time. With a couple of exceptions, these wines will fall under $15.00 a bottle.

1. Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau 2016 / 750 ml.: A good vintage with a deep, dark, plum color and juicy, ripe flavors with a smooth finish. This light refreshing red should be served slightly chilled and works nicely the day after Thanksgiving when you build that monster of a turkey sandwich.

2. The Borell-Diehl 2014 Gewurztraminer Kabinett Pfalz: This wine should be of particular interest to you if you like some sweet with your spice. This wine is very aromatic, with rose, grapefruit, lychee, coriander. With ginger, citrus and golden apple notes on the mouth, this wine will be a winner for complex Thanksgiving flavors.

3. Domaine L’Enclos Moelleux 2015: This is a lovely, bargain-priced French white

Easter is here, and possibly Spring. Normally I would mention a wide range of wines to go with your Easter dinner, but I am going to focus on one white that will be a crowd pleaser. I'm talking about the Dom L'Enclos Gros Manseng which I have written about before as a general favorite. This is one of those obscure French white wines that is a wonderful alternative to riesling which many have relied on for Easter dinner year after year. The wine is bright and floral, with apricot and honey notes.

Burgers and hot dogs and beer, oh my! Burgers and hot dogs and beer, oh my! Are you feeling the Labor Day picnic overkill? Are you ready for a glass of something light, crisp, and citrusy to go with a like-wise lunch? If so, this 2010 Les Bastions Blanc is just the ticket.

Made from three grapes that are admittedly not very familiar to many people, (Arrufiac, Petit Courbu, and Gros Manseng) but combined make a terrific wine that will please those who favor crisp, dry, wines ranging from French Chablis to New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc.

Les Bastions Blanc is a complex wine without being overwrought with fruit. The grapefruit- citrus aroma is clear, as is the light floral bouquet. The grapefruit is still very evident on the tongue with an herbal tint on the finish.

Enjoy this wine with a simple salad made from red onion, mandarin oranges, mesclun, or arugula with a citrus – olive oil dressing. This wine would also work well with broiled white fish as well. Skip the

On Wednesday night nearly thirty students showed up for our “Summer value wines” class. There was a wide variety of wines to please hot weather palates, but the most popular was the Domaine L’Enclos Gros Manseng. This is fascinating because it happens to be the most obscure of the wines poured. Nevertheless, the “oohs” and “ aahs” nearly reached a crescendo in the classroom.

The Gros Manseng grape is practically unheard of beyond its home in Southwest France. Soft pear, peach, and a good dose of citrus flavors with balanced acidity make this a terrific summer wine. It is comparable to a Vouvray and will please off-dry Riesling drinkers as well.

This wine is delicious on its own, but is a great pairing wine as well. Try it with apple slices and soft cheeses or for a nearly perfect wine–food experience, try it with a spicy Thai soup with coconut milk, followed by a spring roll.