What's Open Owen? - November '21 Edition

Mid-Fall is my absolute favorite time of year! Cooler air and shorter days make for a particular environment that begs for outstanding wine.

I feel compelled to follow every other wine publication and Instagram account and tell you precisely what wines I would pair with a hearty Thanksgiving dinner. Think turkey, cranberry sauce, stuffing, and, of course, plenty of gravy to cover it all up. However, I want to mainly focus on wines that are approachable for the feeling of fall, no matter how you enjoy Thanksgiving.

Therefore, I want to feature two wines this month:

Famille Carabello-Baum Nuits-Saint-Georges 2019

Nuits-Saint-Georges is in the Côte De Nuits in Burgundy. In January of this year, my original post was all about red Burgundy but from a completely different region: the Côte de Beaune.

The wine is 100% Pinot Noir, which already should scream drinkability. I would save this for a cooler Autumn day with notes of sweet spice, saffron, and red fruits.

The wine is full-bodied with soft, silky tannins. A Pinot Noir with structure and actual tannin is genuinely one of my favorites.

One could pair this wine with turkey and stuffing and a side of cranberry. Hmm, sounds familiar. Some stewed apples topped with pecans would work as a dessert.

Nuits-Saint-Georges is almost like receiving a big hug and being handed a warm cider donut. Seriously - there are some hints of the smell of cider donuts you get on the nose.

Château Simian Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Grandes Grenachières d’Hippolyte 2016

Châteauneuf-du-pape could undoubtedly be its own complete post, but I will save the deep dive into this stellar region for another day.

The same family has run château Simiany for five generations! This particular wine is grown from 100-year-old vines and is a blend of 92% Grenache Noir and 8% Syrah.

This wine expressed notes of black cherries, blackberry, and fresh cracked pepper. There is a gamey note to this wine as well with a respectable amount of tannin.

There are some tertiary aromas as well like black truffle and leather.

I would pair this big wine with something on the heavier side like a duck, some ribs, or a lamb shank. Peace, Love, and Chateauneuf.

I also happen to represent both of these wines, so make sure to check them out on Vivant!

Have any questions or comments? Don't be afraid to reach out and let me know what you have open this month or if you would like to purchase these wines!

Cheers,

Owen