#ThisWineThatDish | Little Engine Pinot Noir | Thanksgiving Turkey

“In this series I will be sharing my take on which BC Wine pairs well with some inspirational recipes”

What could be more traditional than the Thanksgiving bird paired with a BC Pinot Noir? Turkey, brussel sprouts, squash, stuffing and cranberry sauce should make a sommelier shudder at the thought of a suitable pairing. Good thing us ordinary wine loving folk have no such qualms.

So here it is and it doesn’t get any more traditional than roast turkey with all the trimmings and an elegantly delicious and juicy Pinot Noir from Little Engine. My pairing was with the 2018 vintage but luckily the 2019 is still available.

Suggested BC Wine pairing:

2019 Silver Pinot Noir

A bountiful nose of bramble fruit with licorice and a touch of eucalyptus leads into a silky palate of cherry, sassafras and basil leaf. The pleasing structure of this wine leaves you with a refreshing and clean finish.

Approachable upon release, this wine will develop well through 2024 under ideal cellaring conditions.

Vineyard Notes
Our Pinot Noir is 100% Naramata Bench fruit from our estate vineyards growing clones 115, 667, 777 and 91, and a small percentage from select growers. Particular attention is paid to canopy management of these vines to ensure airflow in the canopy, minimizing the need for spraying. Clusters are partially exposed early in the growing season to encourage phenolic development. Crop yields are an average of 2.5 tons per acre.

Production Notes
Hand harvested and sorted in the vineyard, the Pinot Noir grapes are de-stemmed into one-ton fermenters. After 7 days of cold soaking, the musts are gradually warmed to allow for natural fermentation. Hand plunging is used to keep the cap moist and ensure colour and tannin extraction. The fermentation temperatures are maintained cool early in ferment and then elevated to aid in phenolic extraction.

Winemaker Notes
It undergoes spontaneous malolactic fermentation and matures in barrel for 14 months with no racking until pre-bottle blending. The 2019 Silver Pinot Noir is matured in 2nd and 3rd fill and neutral barrels.

$45.00 available online.

My BC Wine pairing:

2018 Silver Pinot Noir

Winery notes:

A vibrant and juicy start on the palate with a slightly savoury character, accented with flavours of dried fruits and cranberry.

Ruby in colour, the aroma is a symphony of ripe cherry and cranberry, with figs and star anise. A vibrant and juicy start on the palate with a slightly savoury character, accented with flavours of dried fruits and cranberry. The wine has a smooth yet firm palate with soft, approachable tannins. Subtle acidity lifts the wine into an intense, lingering finish. Approachable and silky upon release this wine will develop well through 2024 under ideal cellaring conditions.

The Pinot Noir has aromas of raspberry, boysenberries, light plum, with hard candy scents. The Pinot Noir has medium body, medium tannins and is deliciously smooth with flavours of fresh grape juices. It pairs very well and I found it rich with good acidity. The wine stood up well to my combination of traditional Thanksgiving fare. Challenging pairing but it was excellent. The wine had a wonderful finish of ripe fruit. 

Thanksgiving Turkey

No explanation required on this one. Everyone has their own version and way of putting together a Thanksgiving dinner that speaks of their own family traditions.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Winery, vineyard, production, winemaker notes, and 2019 Silver Pinot Noir bottle shot courtesy of the winery. My notes (in bold italics) I received this complimentary bottle of wine in thanks for the #FavouriteThings Holiday Gift Suggestions 2020 campaign, see the feature here. See other MyVanCity.ca posts featuring Little Engine wines here, including the #ThisWineThatDish featuring the Little Engine Gold Chardonnay pairing and review, read the feature pairing Asparagus with Scallops here.