Wednesday we got up early and caught a plane to Atlanta. Usually I pack a few
bottles, this time I thought I'd check out Alpharetta's wine stores. Betsy and
David wanted to do some shopping; I dropped them and tried to make a run. But
northern Atlanta traffic got in thew way, and I only had time for the less
desirable store. A few minutes in the aisles made me wish I had brought wine.
But I got 3 bottles and headed back to my parents (who don't care, Dad likes
Lake Country Red for coronary care reasons).

Before Wednesday dinner , my sister-in-law asked for a white. There was a
ghstly bottle of Glen Ellen Chardonnay in the fridge, whether that was its
normal state or the result of sitting in fridge opened for a week (or weeks) I
care not. So I opened the 2002 Nigl Kremser Freiheit Grüner Veltliner
(Kamptal). Clear clean acidity, apple and lemon fruit with some pepper and
spice. Light-bodied wine with lots of character. B+

I knew Dad was making a roast, I didn't know he was cooking it till no pink
remained. I had gotten the 2001 Domaine Les Aphillanthes "Cuvée des Galets"
Côtes du Rhône Villages. Big ripe CdR, dark red grenache-y fruit with a fair
amount of oak. Would have been better with rarer meat. Overwhelmed the roast
(and the chicken dish my mom made for non-red-meat eating niece). But good wine
for the style B/B+

Today for Thanksgiving my parents had a traditional Southern spread- turkey,
ham, dressing, squash casserole, green beans, turnips, etc. Betsy had
contributed a sweet-potato and leek soup. I had picked up a bottle of the 1998
Bernard Morey "La Fussière" Maranges 1er Cru. Hot and thin upon opening, I
retreated to the GruVe. When I went back for seconds, not much had changed.
After a relaxing afternoon, that evening I poured another glass with a turkey
sandwich. Acidic, with roasted note to the cherry fruit and a short hot finish.
I'm pretty sure I've had this wine before, I liked far better. My (strong)
suspiscion is heat damage. Their limited selection of Burgundy had included no
good recent Burgundies; I'm just glad I went for the cheapest of the 3
candidates- if the 1998 was like this what could I expect from the 1996 (a Bize
Savigny) or the 1993 (a Mommessin Volnay 1er)? This bottle a C, who knows what
good storage might have wrought.

Nice to be with family for Thanksgiving. Best to all!
Dale

Dale Williams
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