Gnarly Vines

If you’re an Amex cardholder, simply register your card HERE and then spend $25 or more at Gnarly Vines on Saturday, Nov 26th – ONLY. Amex will credit you $25 on your next statement.
That’s it, there’s nothing else to it!

Over the next week we’ll be working hard to help you set the table for Thanksgiving, starting with an early bird special featuring one heady white, three deep reds, and an American Apple Brandy that’s been around since George Washington asked for the recipe.

2010 Valckenburg Gewurztraminer – Pfalz, Germany – $12.50
Full-bodied and a bit off-dry with pretty rose petal aromas. The tell-tale lychee and orange peel flavors are followed by more subtle spice notes of nutmeg, cinnamon and clove. If you like Riesling, try a Gewurztraminer  – it’s a classic turkey wine that’s perfect for Thanksgiving dinners.

2009 Avalon Cabernet Sauvignon – Napa Valley, CA – $16
Aromas of blackberries and violets make a fine introduction to this smooth, weighty Napa Valley blend of 76% Cab and 24% Merlot. Its dark cherry and raspberry flavors are framed nicely by fine tannins, a touch of vanilla and a little baking spice. Ripe and juicy, but not quite jammy – this is a just-right California Cab that will put some flavor on the Thanksgiving table, especially if Aunt Kathy insists on bringing her bland stuffing and boring potatoes….

2007 Four Vines – Heretic – Petite Sirah, Paso Robles, CA – $35
Sometimes Thanksgiving is the best time to let the wine shine, and this would make a great centerpiece. Among our biggest, boldest wines, the Heretic is deep, dark, opaque, smoky, gamey, leafy, spicy, firm and dare I say ‘balanced’ (like a sumo wrestler on a tightrope!).  This bad boy can stand up to pretty much any strong-flavored, spicy cuisine but goes particularly well with Abdul’s Senegalese Chicken over at A Bistro! Also pairs well with hyperbole…

2006 Amarone, Cesari – Veneto, Italy – $45
A traditional blend Valpolicella varieties – 75% Corvina, 20% Rondinella and 5% Molinara – that are air-dried until mid January, by which time they’ve lost 30%-40% of their weight. These uber-concentrated grapes make a rich, full-bodied, leathery wine with herbal and raisiny notes. A perfect pairing for strong cheeses as well as game, grilled meats, sausage and peppers.

Laird’s Applejack Brandy – Scobeyville, NJ (750ml) – $22
Laird’s has been distilling since 1780, and the only thing that goes into their Applejack is apples – that’s it. No other additives adulterate this blend of 35% apple brandy and 65% neutral spirits that retains a hint of delicate apple-y sweetness. Applejack may not be as complex as an aged Calvados, but it’s smooth, straightforward and tasty. Plus it’s as American as, well, you get the drift. Mr. Laird was a soldier in Washington’s army during the revolution.