Thanksgiving is sneaking up and it is time again to pair up some wine to go with that classic menu. Put aside the big reds and buttery chards for the day (or at least wait until after dinner.) Turkey calls for a lighter bodied red wine and Pinot Noir is a perfect match. Fruity enough to quaff down and lots of complexity to keep the palate interested as you make your way through all that food. Stop by this Saturday as we’ll be pouring three distinct Pinots that will stand up to this and many other occasions. We’ll also be pouring a couple of whites to round out the banquet. Brian Huse will be on hand to tell you more. We’ll be pouring:

2007 Jezebel Blanc, Willamette Valley   $14

Made by Daedalus winery, the Jezebel is a blend of Pinot Blanc, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris and Riesling. This unusual blend is a great match for the big bird as well as lots of other foods. This blanc has good aromatics, lots of body, and is crisp and fruity yet dry. It keeps the palate guessing.

2005 Walnut City Wineworks, Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley   $16

Pinto Gris is an excellent choice for big meals. The Walnut City Gris has aromas of ripe Bartlett pears, apples and spicy notes that lead into flavors of citrus, pineapple, and lemon peel. It can hold up to the yams.

2005 Cherry Hill Winery, Papillon, Estate Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley   $18

Cherry Hill produces three Noirs from their boutique winery in the Eola-Amity hills. Papillon (a small French breed of dog) is their biggest and boldest. The story of the wine goes like this: “We noticed in our frequent barrel tasting of the Dijon clones that our winery dog Daisy would anxiously wait for the leftovers from the wine thief. Since Daisy is a Papillon of French descent with a cultured palate, we decided that we would label this wine Papillon. We now follow the Papillon to the barrel of her choice and will only select that which she seeks.” The Papillon has been a shop favorite for quite a while now. It is classic Willamette Pinot with soft and ripe fruit balanced with a bit of Oregon earthiness.

2005 Schoenheitz Pinot Noir, Herrenreben, Alsace   $23

This single vineyard Pinot Noir from Alsace is a long way from Oregon, but we had to throw it in. "Herrenreben" means " the vines of the Noblemen" because this part of the vineyard formerly belonged to the Noblemen of Ribeaupierre who were cultivating Pinot Noir on the site in the 15th century. The vineyard’s granite soil is stony, sandy and very high in silica, which produces a full-bodied Pinot Noir rich in aromas. Only 380 cases of this wine were produced from the vineyards 35 year old vines. The Herrenreben shows fruity flavors of small red berries and cherry blended with silky tannins.

2006 Cottonwood Winery, Marina Piper Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley   $28

From this boutique winery, the Marina Piper is a blend of three Willamette Valley vineyards. This wine is medium bodied and packed with flavors of dried cherry along with earthy aromas that develop over a long period in the glass. When it comes to Oregon Pinots, you could pay a lot more for a lot less.