STAR-SPANGLED WINES

The land of the free and the home of bold and exhilarating wines. The USA is a hotbed of talent, so this Thanksgiving, we’re highlighting three of our favourite estates, all producing thought-provoking, characterful, and utterly delicious wines.

We start with the superb Walter Scott La Combe Verte, Chardonnay, 2022 (£33.66/bt inc UK taxes). The Pahlows are producing some of the most thrilling Chardonnays from the US. This gently reductive style really appeals to Burgundy purists with its flinty, smoky notes paired with crystalline fruits – a perfect balance of tension and richness.

Our next choice is the Rhys Vineyards, Alesia, Santa Cruz Mountains, Pinot Noir, 2019 (£37.26/ bt inc UK taxes). Again, there’s more than a nod to the old world here. Amazing attention to detail from clonal selections, understanding of terroir and hands-off winemaking results in wines of gorgeous purity and finesse. There’s a generosity and silkiness here combined with wonderfully transparent and vibrant Pinot aromas.

For our final selection, we had to include a Cabernet Sauvignon, after all, this is perhaps the variety that put Californian winemaking on the map. Frog's Leap, Estate, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2021 (£51.52/bt inc UK taxes) is proof, if it were needed, that you don’t need to spend a fortune to get a great Cali Cab. A Rutherford institution, Frog’s Leap produces traditional styled wines with depth, complexity and refreshingly low alcohols. The 2021 is sumptuous, sophisticated and already hugely gratifying.