TN: few Thanksgiving wines

Wednesday we flew south to Atlanta to spend Thanksgiving with my family. Thursday AM I went to the local Krogers to get something to have with dinner (typical Southern Thanksgiving fare- turkey, giblet dressing, gravy, ham, turnips, turnip greens, green beans, buttorted cbutteroles). I chose the 2001 Saintsbury Pinot Noir (Carneros), as I had liked previous vintages (and the '01 Reserve). Upon opening, I rechecked label to ensure I hadn't somehow picked up the entry-level Garnet bottling - nope, regular Carneros. This was a bit lean and thin. Sharp black cherry fruit framed - almost overwhelmed - by toasty oak. Maybe just needs time, but I wonder if all the best fruit went into the Reserve this year. Still, an ok if austere PN for my tastes (my fruit-loving brother doesn't even finish his glbutt). B-

As desserts went around, so did a half-bottle of the 2001 Gsellmann & Gsellmann Trockenbeerenauslese (Burgenland) I had carried with me. Vanilla and honey on the nose, citrus (grapefruit) and dried apricot on the palate. A bit soft for my tastes, but interesting. B+-B

The following evening my brother wanted to take all of us to a restaurant in Buckhead called New York Prime (he knows an owner). But David came home early from a golfing outing with my dad and brother with a stomach virus, and Betsy decided to stay with him. I went however, and had a very tasty (and perfectly rare)NY strip, as well as good examples of chopped salad, creamed spinach, and baked shrimp (I confess to being a NY snob, I tend to have low expectations for restaurants elsewhere, but this place did well). My brother handed me the list, in respect for others' tastes I skipped the Bordeaux pages and ordered the 2001 Newton Claret. Rather explosive nose of crushed berries and vanilla, more subdued on the palate with black plum and blackcurrant fruit. Definitely more on the fruitplant side than the earthy side, not stylistically my favorite but pretty well done in a New World style. B, but B+ for value

Nice to be with family, even if by midnight that evening Betsy and I had joined the stomach virus crowd.

Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B a good wine, C mediocre. Anything below C means I wouldn't drink at a party where it was only choice. Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.