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wine pairing

For red wine and turkey, follow the ABC rule

This holiday season, follow the ABC rule to pairing red wines with your Turkey dinner: Anything but Cabernet Sauvignon. This is a tough thing for me to do, as it is one of my favorite types of wine. I love the notes of black cherry, blackberry and plum flavors that typically describe our local Cabs from Washington, but most have huge tannins; a no-no with Turkey. These tannins overpower the meal (there isn't enough fat in turkey to cut the tannins, like a juicy strip steak) and make most of the food taste off, or worse, hot.

Cellar Picks
Seven Hills Syrah Walla Walla 2008
The Magnificent Wine Company, The Originals Syrah, 2007 (Walla Walla WA.) $22
Apex, Merlot, 2006 (Sunnyside, WA.) $35
Penfolds, Bin 407 Cabernet Sauvignon, 2007 (Australia) $33
Castello di Gabbiano, Chianti Classico Reserva DOCG, 2006 (Tuscany, Italy) $22
complete list

Value Picks
Maryhill Winemaker's Red
StoneCap Syrah 2009
Murphy Goode Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
Cupcake Vineyards, Pinot Noir, 2008 (Central Coast, CA.) $14
Robert Mondavi Private Selection, Sauvignon Blanc, 2009 (CA.) $11
complete list