November 21, 2001
Sometimes I Just Don't Know What To FeelWhat was it like celebrating Thanksgiving during World War Two? We were in the middle of a national disaster. In the early years of that war, the United States was getting its butt kicked big time by the Japanese in the Pacific Theater of operations.
My generation has never experienced a holiday like Thanksgiving in the face of national tragedy. Here we are-a nation at war. As far as I’m concerned, we’re losing the war right now. If I were Osama bin Laden, I’d be sitting in my cave right now watching CNN laughing my butt off. While we waste millions busting dirt with jets, Osama and his third world allies have the United States of America running scared, big time.
What’s next? The Golden Gate Bridge, Diablo Canyon, smallpox? We don’t know, and I believe we are clueless.
I’m not sure I know what the correct protocol is. Should we even be celebrating Thanksgiving this year? Celebrating Thanksgiving in the face of our national tragedy is almost oxymoronic, I think. These questions are running through my mind right now.
But there is good news. The 2001 harvest in Santa Barbara County is over and the quality of the fruit is sensational. Mortgage rates are at a 40 year low. Car makers are offering super deals; my neighbors just bought a new Lincoln Navigator with no interest for five years!
I know I’ll be spending Thanksgiving this year on Figueroa Mountain with people who are very special to me - including some serious wine lovers I spent the Millenium New Years with, people I have know for years.
Whether it’s turkey and all the trimmings, duck or ham, I would suggest three local wines, new releases, that will fit the bill, and a good match for Thanksgiving fare:
- For about $35, I would recommend Chris Whitcraft’s just released 2000 vintage Bien Nacido Vineyard pinot noir. This wine is big and bold, earthy, dusty with that Whitcraft marque - unfined, unfiltered and unpumped. This pinot noir makes a stunning statement and upholds, to me at least, why pinot noir from the Santa Maria Valley is often regarded as some of the best in the world outside of Burgundy! I can taste it now with succulent turkey white meat barbecued over oak or mesquite with stuffing and fresh made cranberry sauce.
- For about $25, I would recommend Bruce and Beth Vandale’s October release-their 1999 Santa Ynez Valley sangiovese. This release, made by Bruno D’Alfonso, is their fourth commercial release. The Vandale Vineyard is a small, three acre vineyard in the eastern end of the Santa Ynez Valley. Sangiovese is a red Tuscan varietal and the main grape in Chianti. Chianti is not a varietal like pinot noir or syrah; Chianti is a place - an appellation - in Italy, and wines made there which meet certain standards are allowed to be called “Chianti.” This wine has good tannin structure enhancing a long, engaging finish, and fruit that jumps out of the glass at you, exuding lavender and strawberries. Great with Thanksgiving fare and cheese!
- For about $15, I would recommend Bob Lindquist’s new syrah release, the 2000 vintage, Central Coast syrah. It has been said by another prominent producer of Rhone varietal wines that Bob Lindquist has made syrah popular in America. Syrah, not to be confused with petite sirah, is the great red grape of the northern Rhone Valley of France-the grape of Hermitage, Cote Rotie and St. Joseph. Bob’s legendary first syrah release, the 1982, proved that great wine from Rhone varietals could be produced in America. His syrahs are usually the benchmark wines of this noble Rhone varietal. The 2000 vintage I would regard as a perfect quaff with turkey, stuffing and especially ham.
This Thanksgiving, eat well, drink well. Think local; drink local. We might not be here tomorrow.
Wine lover Bob Senn lives in the bucolic Los Alamos Valley.
