Our friends at Petit Philippe released their annual Top Ten Thanksgiving Wines and we’re sharing the good news you can use. If you need to bring a bottle or two or ten to Thanksgiving dinner this week, up your game and swing by their new flagship wine store and tasting room at 4001 Park Road this Tuesday or Wednesday. (Their South End shop is closed early week). If these wines sell out before you get there, not to worry, they’ll have something perfect on hand. And since we’re like the Norm to their Cheers (sorry 80s reference) we’ll probably see you there!
100% Grenache Blanc from 30 year old vines planted on the slopes of Cheval Long à Sablet AOP.
This white Grenache is delicate, pure and intense with lime and tangerine that mark the nose along with some subtle notes of stone fruit and tulips/daisies. On the palate it shows a beautiful amplitude with streaks of honey and candlewax that lend weight to the yellow-apple and pear flavors in this broad-shouldered Rhone white. Fermented and matured in oak demi muid, it is a rounded, dry white that finishes with just a hint of smoke and vanilla bean.
$52/bottle
100% Gamay from the Corcelette vineyard (avg. 70 years old) on south-east-facing granite slopes from two vineyards, Bellevue and Montillet.
A subtle and complex Morgon that’s sleek, concentrated and pristine with a perfume of red forest berries that is laced with touches of spice and freshly tilled earth. Medium to full-bodied, bright and succulent on the palate with a fleshy core of fruit. Long, focused finish with stony minerality that give it a wonderful tension and an austere elegance.
$49/bottle
100% Syrah from the terraced vineyards in the village of Ozon in the Saint Joseph AOC.
Beautiful ruby color with purple hues in the glass. The very pleasant nose is characteristic of a ripe Syrah with black fruits and pepper at first. The bouquet then evolves to incorporate a touch of violet and a hint of smoked meat. On the palate, it is full-bodied and concentrated with flavors of black cherry, cassis, and a touch of oak. The mid-palate is well-structured with firm tannins and a lively acidity that enhances the fruit. The finish is long and satisfying, with notes of licorice, spices, and a touch of minerality.
$48/bottle
50% Chardonnay & 50% Pinot Blanc. The wine rests on its lees for a minimum of twenty-four months (most French Crémant, regardless of origin, ages on its lees for about nine months or so). Production averages 800 cases annually. Extra Brut style (Dosage of 3-4 g/L).
Pale gold with a rich mousse in the glass, this Crémant offers rich aromas of fresh brioche, yellow apple skin, white peach, green grape, and wet limestone on the upper register. On the palate the wine is bright, full-bodied, focused and complex, with a fine core and excellent soil signature. Brisk acids and a long balanced and quite dry finish.
$39/bottle
100% Nebbiolo from 40+ year old vines that grow in a clay rich soil. Aged in Slavonian oak botti (barrels) of 20-30 hectoliters for 2-3 years.
An elegant & inviting, old-world garnet color in the glass that entices the senses with its captivating aromas of ripe red cherries, crushed flowers, and delicate spices. On the palate, the wine reveals a harmonious balance of rich fruit, vibrant acidity, and velvety tannins. It boasts a medium to full body, showcasing the classic structure and elegance of this textured Barbaresco. Enjoy the long finish that fills the mouth with lingering power and energy.
$45/bottle
100% Pinot Noir from the East/West facing Cygnus Block of Brittan Vineyards. Aged for 15-months in French Oak (28% new).
Shimmering ruby-red in the glass and complex from the get-go, the Cygnus shows red plum, red cherry, even a hint of strawberry/raspberry and candied rose on the nose. The ample fruit is supported by a judicious use of oak, lending just a touch of vanilla and baking spices to the nose. A concentrated yet lively mid-palate of red brambles, bitter cherry, and spice cake flavors pick up cola notes with aeration. Closes very long and gently chewy, with repeating floral and cherry notes and a late suggestion of barrel spice & licorice.
$71/bottle
100% Chardonnay from a single block of 60 year-old vines in the Côte de Léchet. Half of the wine is fermented in barrels and remains for 12 months on fine lees with regular “batonnage”. After some time, the wine aged in barrels is blended with the same “cuvée” that has been aged in stainless steel tanks. The final blend is bottled 18 months after the harvest.
With a bouquet that marries floral elegance with the mineral intensity of the terroir, this ‘left-bank’ Chablis opens expressively with lemon rind and yellow orchard fruit combined with delicate floral and saline aromas alongside white tea-like suggestions. The palette is characterized by roundness, plenitude, richness and length. The mid-palate delivers the fleshy and seamless extract of the season and is shaped impeccably by cool, juicy acidity and a delicious, quinine-like lengthy finish.
$48/bottle
100% Cabernet Sauvignon fruit from elevations as high as 2200ft and hillside slopes at 30% gradient. Aged for 20 months in 100% French Oak (Fouquet, Taransaud, Vicard) – 80% new & 20% well seasoned. FUN FACT – local QC owner
A dark & vibrant garnet color in the glass with black cherry and currant that dominate along with hints of forest floor and dried tobacco. On the palate, a seamless transition from the aromatics delivers a richly layered texture of moderate and bold tannins with flavors of blackberry, black cherry, bay leaf, bramble berry and cherry tobacco with a silky but assertive, finely textured finish. To be enjoyed in its youth, and will reward those with the patience to cellar.
$89/bottle
A meticulously crafted blend of classic Champagne grape varieties, including Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier. As the name suggests, the NV Composition #5 has several vintages and relies more on reserve wines while at its core is also a base wine of 2018. Made via a long, cold, and slow fermentation in stainless steel for 10 weeks and full malolactic fermentation and lee aging in bottle for 24 months. Also hand riddled, disgorgement is done by hand “à la volée” as well. Dosage of 1 gram/liter
In the glass, this Champagne is crystalline light straw/gold in color with a frothy and heady mousse of very tiny bubbles. The nose is fresh, precise, and tense. The aromatics are chalky mineral, citrus lemon fruit and fresh zest, green apple, white peach, white florals, and hints of brioche. On the palate, it offers a perfect balance of fruitiness and crispness, with flavors of ripe apples, pear, and a touch of toasted almond. The fine persistent bubbles dance on the tongue, while a vibrant acidity and a long, refreshing finish leave a lasting impression.
$82/bottle
90% Sangiovese, 5% Canaiolo and 5% Colorino from the hills between Siena & Florence, in the heart of Chianti Classico. All organically farmed. Aged in oak for 30-months.
Dark garnet in the glass that offers aromas of black-skinned berry, underbrush and eucalyptus with secondary notes of espresso and tilled soil. The taut & concentrated palate presents dried cherry, vanilla and subtle hints of mocha. Secondary notes show ripe black plum and star anise, alongside firm, fine-grained tannins. The lengthy finish just hangs and welcomes another sip!
$45/bottle
