Holiday friendly tongue-twisters, cont.

Valdiguie Noveau (2008)
Charles Shaw
Valdiguié
Napa, California

If you don't have a Trader Joe's nearby, I apologize. It's not going to kill you to not have this wine, or any of the other Charles Shaw brand, but it certainly doesn't hurt when you are looking for something low-priced at decent quality. At $3.49 a bottle, some of their varietals aren't that bad.

I picked up a bottle of their "Nouveau" Valdigué (say: val-de-gay) which I've read is similar to Gamay from Burgundy. This seems to be a mis-understanding though, but even still the grape is mis-labeled "Napa Gamay."

Appearance: This wine is clear and intensely violet. It's youthfulness shows in the clarity and brightness of color though.

Nose: A clean nose, medium intensity, with youthful aromas of red raspberry and cherry first developing. Further down is more of a perfumed, violet and rose aroma, and a slight medicinal smokiness.

Palate: Dry with light to medium acidity - think rhubarb with a little sugar. Soft to medium in all other respects regarding the alcohol and body. Red raspberry is almost overwhelming, strawberry, red fruit, a little mint, like on a sorbet.

Extremely fruit-forward, I would pair this up with dark meat off your turkey (or mix and match with your tofurkey if you will!) but save the cranberry sauce. This wine is going to compliment anything that has a little zip or tanginess to it, and I think would be a great accompaniment, or in place of a more traditional Beaujolais Nouveau. Serve with the slightest chill for best presentation.

Cheers!