Thanksgiving Dinner with the B Family

A smaller crowd than usual - only their newly married daughter & husband, plus the core.
Their newly married youngest son & wife were celebrating with their oldest son's family in CA.

These wines were opened with the hors d'oeuvres along with a bottle of unoaked Chardonnay, then carried over to the dinner table.

• 2013 Scherrer Winery Zinfandel Old and Mature Vines Scherrer Vineyard Alexander Valley 92 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley

  We enjoyed this wine so much over the last couple of months that we brought a bottle with us to Thanksgiving dinner. This bottle was just as enjoyable as the previous two bottles and the other attendees mirrored our tasting profile, which I repeat here:
  Slo-oxed for 15 minutes. This bottle showed lots of red and black cherries, dark berries and pepper on the medium bodied palate, along with touches of earth and spice. The acidity was juicy, and all tannins and oak are fully integrated. This wine could hold for another couple of years but is quite enjoyable now.

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• 2014 Tensley Syrah OGT 93 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County

  This wine may be a bit heavy for turkey & sides, but it is a crowd pleaser, and something of a Thanksgiving tradition.
  Decanted half the magnum about 30 minutes before dinner; left the other half to slo-ox, then refill the decanter.
  Tensley's OGT is made from 100% Syrah and the medium plus bodied palate is loaded with dark fruits -- blackberry, black currant, blueberry, black cherry -- along with a good dose of spice and some pepper and minerality. The acidity is firmly balancing, the tannins are completely resolved, and the mouthfeel is smooth and plush. This wine should continue to hold for several years.

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A good, sweet dessert wine that was showing some age.

• 2013 Cantine Pellegrino Passito di Pantelleria 89 Points

  Italy, Sicily, Passito di Pantelleria

  Brought to Thanksgiving dinner as the dessert wine to accompany several different fruit desserts.
  PnP, chilled. Some floral and honey notes on the nose. Muscat notes of orange and apricot along with citrus and a touch of honey on the medium bodied palate. Already a decade old, I would suggest drinking up as the color and some of the tastes showed signs of age.

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As usual, a good time was had by all.