Thanksgiving 2015
Notes by
Gerald Weisl
We gathered at the appointed hour in the sleepy little burg of
Woodside, California to celebrate Thanksgiving Day.
Joining us this year was Romain Ferreira who is visiting from France where he
studies wine marketing.
This year's guest list also included Ellen and her son Brian, Tom, Connie, Mark
and myself. Henry and Alexia were in the cellar and kitchen.
Toohey was also in attendance.
Alexia Moore, the Hostess with the Mostest.
The table was set and ready for "action."
Henry! got busy and opened a magnum of Perrier Jouet Grand Brut Champagne.
We brought the nibbles to the living room to enjoy with the
bubbles.
The "bubbly" Romain Ferriera, our Portu-French guest.
A toast...
Back in the kitchen, Alexia, The Salad Queen, was plating the
first course.
Alexia paired the salad, which featured fresh pears and walnuts, with a Ricardo
Santos 2013 Semillon from Argentina and a Preston 2013 Dry Creek Viognier from
Sonoma, California.
We all raised a glass and had a toast to our late friend Bob
Gorman who passed away Thanksgiving week in 2012. We also toasted our
sister Barbara Weisl-Beacham who passed away earlier this week in 2015.
The Viognier had faint hints of apricot and
peach...dry...medium-bodied.
The Semillon displayed an earthy tone with a faintly smoky note.
Back in the kitchen, Henry! got busy and carved the turkey
he'd been smoking for hours earlier in the day.
Alexia raced around the kitchen, assembling the various accompaniments to the
bird.
I was busy working to decant a pair of 1982 Bordeaux that
Alexia had selected to share with the group.
Henry's Handiwork:
In honor of Bob Gorman, Henry "does a Bob" in
presenting (and showing off) his culinary artistry.
This was a nearly complete rendition...
...it lacked only the "Hurry up, Gerald...I have to serve this now!"
Gravy.
Cranberry Sauce is tradition and Alexia's had a nice orange/citrus enhancement.
We had two kinds of "stuffing" or "dressing", some Potatoes,
onions, bread and braised vegetables.
The 1982 Giscours was leathery and a bit earthy. Some people thought there
was a corky quality to the wine, but it did not remind me of the musty character
one encounters in "corked" bottles. I suspect this was more an
issue of age and maturity.
The L'Evangile was brighter and showed more red fruit notes along with a faintly
cedary, woodsy note. There was also a tobacco tone in the wine...very
fine!
Both wines are, as the late Mister Gorman might have said, "a point."
Another toast...this time to the host and hostess.
Romain realized, now two weeks into his 7 week stay in California that the term
"Crazy Americans" is redundant.
For dessert Alexia pulled out a bottle of a hall-of-fame candidate...1977 Taylor
Vintage Port!
Ellen baked one of her hall-of-fame "Crustless Apple
Pies."
The Port was as fantastic as the pie!
Despite being 38 years old, the Taylor is still youthful and beautifully fruity
and full-bodied.
The tannin level has mellowed out nicely, making for a rather smooth, polished
dessert wine.
Another toast was called for!
And with that, we adjourned the proceedings until next time!
We give thanks to Alexia and Henry!, as well as all the others
who share their lives and friendship with us.
Many thanks!
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