Ed Young. I’m going to recommend the white wine that has been my favorite for several years. This is the Newton Chardonnay (unfiltered) from Napa Valley. Frugal has this in the 2003 and 2004 vintages. This is a big, oaky, buttery Chardonnay that I’d be delighted to see on my brother-in-law’s table. I’m also going to recommend a Pinot Noir, because no grape goes better with the variety of tastes one experiences at a Thanksgiving dinner. My favorite Pinot, especially at this price point, is the 2003 Four Graces from the Willamette Valley of Oregon, which sells for $26.99. A delightful wine on the nose and the palate!

Jeff Warzynski. My first recommendation is Belleruche Cotes-du-Rhone 2003, a French red wine bottled by M. Chapoutier. It received a rating of “90” from Wine Spectator and sells for only $13.99! This is a very drinkable, light, red wine that I would be glad to see on my host’s table. For those who prefer a white, or want to offer two choices, I highly recommend the 2004 “Hugel” Gewurztraminer (guh-vertz-tra-meener). This wine is made from a grape grown in Alsace, in northeastern France on the German border. Wines from this region often exhibit residual sugar, but this one, though typically spicy, is very dry. A wonderful “turkey” wine! Our price is $19.99.



Bob Schmitt. I think a blended white wine offers more complexity and is more compatible with different foods. The one I like is Evolution ($16.99). It is made in Oregon using nine different grapes. This is an off-dry wine that is somewhat tropical. Chill, pour, sip, enjoy! The 2005 Babcock Pinot Noir is outstanding at $18.99. This is a blend of Pinot grapes from three locations in the Central Valley of California. My brother-in-law wouldn’t want to spend a lot of money, and this is a terrific Thanksgiving wine for under $20.



Jerry Hall. I think having choices is important, so I’m recommending a couple of reds and whites in different price categories. My top red wine is Tandem Syrah at $15.99. Tandem makes high-end wines, and this is their lowest priced red, a non-vintage-labeled blend of 2001, 2002 and 2003 Syrah from mostly Redwood Valley. If there will be a bigger crowd at dinner, my budget pick is the Meridian 2005 Pinot Noir at only $7.99. Yes, it is possible to get a decent Pinot for under $10! Meridian wines have won more than 200 gold medals in the past 15 years. My favorite white is the Girard 2005 Napa Sauvignon Blanc, which is priced at $15.99. For the budget-minded, I’d go for the Dancing Bull Sauvignon Blanc. This has grapefruit on the palate, and a zingy finish, for only $8.99.



J. Zinman. I just prefer red wines, and I think it is more important to drink wine you like than to try to match something up with all the clashing flavors that range from olives and pickles to sweet potatoes. I am especially fond of Zinfandels, and my pick right now is Earth, Zin, and Fire at $12.99. If you want to serve one of the best red wines in the store, go for the Rosenblum 2004 Pickett Road Petite Syrah at $26.99. My brother-in-law would make me very happy with either of those.



There you have it -- 12 wines recommended by 5 wine guys. As we said before, the question was strictly open-ended. Frankly, the price range for the recommended wines is impressive: two under $10; 2 between $10 and $15; 5 between $15 and $20; and 3 over $20. Maybe the choices are modest in price because we all have to live with our brothers-in-law, and with our customers too. If you want a $135 bottle of Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, we have that, but the wine guys want to sell you the best wines at the most reasonable prices. That is where experience and expertise come into play. Give these choices a try and see what you think! All of us at Frugal MacDoogal appreciate your business, and work hard to deserve your business. We wish you and yours a very happy Thanksgiving.

Credit the picture of Jerry Hall to Frugal MacDoogal wine assistant and photographer Kelly Sullivan.


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