The Ultimate Thanksgiving Red?
November 25th, 2023
Okay, so, I've traditionally shied away from making specific recos for Thanksgiving, and I suppose there are numerous reasons for that.
If you had to boil it down to one main reason, though, I think it would be this - I just can't decide.
It's hard enough for me to pick two wines to take to such an eating extravaganza, so I usually just end up opening way too many bottles so that I can have some of everything I want.
How, then, could I possibly come up with a single pick for all of you, my many thousands of customers, residing in all different parts of the country, each with your own Thanksgiving menus and traditions?
I suppose I could - using criteria like what the press says, or what other people in the business say, or what a supplier has a good price on - pick one red wine and say, 'this is your wine, baby!'
But, alas, I prefer nuance to binary decisions...at least I like to think I do...
To the shops that can do that...more power to ya. I have not the decision making ability to do such a thing, and much prefer the personal recommendation route.
All that said, though, there is one wine that I make no bones about referring to as one of the great red wines to have at a Thanksgiving table...
...Hervé Souhaut's La Souteronne.
Why?
It's 100% Gamay - grown on granite soils - in the Northern Rhône.
In other words, picture the finessed, lively, elegant dark fruits of focused, granitic Gamay, but give it a vein of smoky, meaty, intensely mineral nuance that you expect from reds wines in the Northern Rhône.
It's a wine that allows all that savory, wild personality to wink at you from behind its mid-weight, highly transparent, engaging wine.
It won't overwhelm any of the varied flavors on your plate, but it will sure as sh*t stand up to all of them.
So, yeah, it's probably the ultimate Thanksgiving red...should any of my above description of it sound good to you...
...and even if it doesn't, I think you'll want to give it a try.
And, if not...just ping me back and say 'Matt, I need some recommendations for Thanksgiving'.
After all, that's the way we like it best...
HERVÉ SOUHAUT
Gamay La Souteronne 2022
You may order by calling 212.255.8870.
Matt Franco
MCF Rare Wine, Ltd
249 West 13th Street NYC 10011
212.255.8870
Looking for a wine you loved from a past newsletter or a favorite you can't find anywhere? Email Raphael at raphael@mcf-rarewine.com, and we'll do our best to find it for you!
WARNING: DRINKING DISTILLED SPIRITS, BEER, COOLERS, WINE AND OTHER ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES MAY INCREASE CANCER RISK, AND, DURING PREGNANCY, CAN CAUSE BIRTH DEFECTS.