Surprise! Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day. You were assigned to provide wine for your family’s feast, but you did not give it a thought until now.
No admonishments. We all have experienced the panic you experienced when you started reading this column. Let’s work together and get past this.
Game plan: Rush to your wine seller. Sprint to sparklings. Pivot to pinot noirs and reds. Wheel to whites. Dash to dessert wines to prove you thought of everything. We offer last minute help. Most are low-cost for their category. If you can’t find them, pluck anything on the shelf.
You can thank me later when your family and guests shower you with compliments.
• Segura Viudas Brut Cava Reserva NV. Crisp, lively acidity, touch sweetness for brut, complex; clean, apple, lime, honey; monster value. Buy more than one. $9
• Bella Bollé Moscato d’Asti 2011. Stone fruits, tangerine, grapefruit, honey; refreshing, sweet; creamy bubbles, nice blue bottle; wives will love you. $9
• Carneros Highway Pinot Noir 2010. Subtle, refined, smooth; rose nose; light body; cherry, berry, tobacco; nice 2nd label by Highway 12; excellent for the price. $18
• First Vine Red Wine Blend NV. Cab-syrah-merlot-zin taste melange; pleasant supermarket value with nice spice, berry, structure; covers most varietal bases. $9
• McPherson Grenache-Mourvedre 2007. Rasperberry-cherry-some pepper; bit thin in the mouth, but sharply delicious; excellent Texas value. $10
• Robert Mondavi Private Selection Chardonnay 2011. Citrus, correct oak; clean, vibrant, creamy; quality California commodity/supermarket chard. $9
• Robert Mondavi Napa Valley Chardonnay 2010. Citrus-pear-melon; elegant, vibrant, fresh, lush; admirably restrained oak; consistent winner. This is step up from Private Selection (above). $20
• Chateau Ste Michelle Riesling Columbia Valley, 2010. Limes, peaches, semi-dry, tasty minerality; every-day drinker that plays well with food. $10
• Pacific Rim Sweet Riesling 2010. Clean, lively pineapple-peach-grapefruit, spice; medium sweet, good acidity, bright finish; winner as apéritif or dessert pour. $13
• Cálem Old Friends Tawny Porto NV. Nutty nose, medium body, smooth, balanced; youthful fruit, sweet caramel; walnut finish; nice dessert wine value. $13 (750 ml)