It’s Thanksgiving, and this year we can only be with our families in spirit. We send our hellos, smiles, and just a smidge of our humor to loved ones enjoying a day of celebration and reflection.

On our holiday table are classics and new adventures. We have deviled eggs; we have hors d’oeuvre consisting of pickles, meat, and cheeses. Hard apple cider is a notable addition to the food prep phase, which includes fresh veggies (i.e., Brussel sprouts, asparagus, potato, carrots), jellied cranberries, and, most notably, a Cajun spice-rubbed turducken. Yup, it’s a day for new adventures.

Cremant d’Alsace Arthur Metz Brut Prestige, France.

The champagne–Cremant d’Alsace Arthur Metz Brut Prestige–fits into that same vibe. It is an odd mix both pale and gold, and it’s packed full of pear smells and fruits that you can detect on the nose and certainly on the palate. Compared to other bubbly that occasionally graces our celebrations, the Cremant is much sweeter in taste. Presumably more of a sugar profile than, say, a Veuve (which we’d prefer for its finish and its slightly drier taste). We’d hoped the Cremant might be a more affordable champagne option than Cliquot, and though it is less expensive than our go-to champagne it is certainly lesser in quality.

This isn’t a food blog, so I won’t spend too much time on the turducken–but it was delicious. I really enjoyed its soft, spicy goodness (not too rare or overdone but just right) and its unusual stuffings. It might have another seating soon, but the Cremant has run its course at our place. We’ll try another champagne in the future and hope for more Veuve.

Some tastings on Notes emphasize the grapes; others focus on the experience. Others, like this 2010 Laurent-Perrier Champagne Maison Fondee 1812, are an amazing combination between the two. This magnum we broke out tonight to help celebrate our wedding anniversary, and it was a great part of the evening.

2010 Laurent-Perrier Champagne Maison Fondee 1812, France.

Special thanks to the GDog for this gift. I am sure it was not inexpensive, both on the size of the bottle and the merits of the grapes themselves.  We made our way through the magnum, one flute at a time, as we savored slices of cucumber–fresh from our own backyard, lightly seasoned with both mayonnaise and salt–and sushi (our favorite rolls) from a local takeout joint. I’m going to refrain from tasting notes on this occasion because they’d only diminish how much I enjoyed the entire evening. Good food, good dockside ambiance, better wine, and best company.

The memories will keep.

We’re a family that celebrates milestones, and we do it best when we have a great bottle of something special to share together.  This bottle of Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Brut Yellow Label, a gift from my best friend, was just such a bottle–sent to congratulate us for our relocation to North Carolina.

Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Brut Yellow Label, Champagne, France.

We’ve been here nearly two months now, but with the Veuve on hand decided we would celebrate anew on this Sunday night.  Check out the delicious vittles that graced our table: Mustard-encrusted chicken breasts, fresh-cut green beans, and portabella mushrooms.  The Veuve, always a favorite of my wife, really accented the succulent food.  Its bubbles and inherent apple goodness complemented the flavors Becca wrangled from this light, healthy fare.

These guys have been producing champagne since 1772, so you know they’re doing more than one or two things right.  If you’ve had for yourself, you’re nodding in agreement.  If you haven’t had Veuve Cliquot yet, what are you waiting for?

Anniversary dinner–commemorated with Veuve Clicquot Brut Yellow Label to celebrate the occasion.  Always love its crisp peachy goodness and, enjoyed on the patio with my family around me, this one is right on target.  The combination is pretty had to beat.  It’s a favorite of my wife’s; a smile on her face and a full glass in her hand are all this man needs.

The Veuve preceded Chicken Limone, served with a light pasta and Italian bread, courtesy of Rosario’s.  Wish the bubbly had lasted a bit longer but all good things, right?

This year we opted to shake up familiar holiday traditions and decided to embark on a limo ride around Rochester to look in on some of the city’s most festive and “craptacular” light displays.  Our three-hour ride took us from North Chili to Henrietta, Irondequoit, Pittsford, and Gates (maybe others too?) as we gazed on lights that were plentiful, tasteful, and tasteless.  Secular and nonsecular alike were visible as we cruised in the comfort of our eight footer…

…oh yeah, the libations.  What could be better for a limo tour of the holiday lights than Veuve Clicquot Brut?  Four of us tackled a first bottle of Yellow Label lightning-quick and savored a second as we rolled in comfort through Rochester’s finest and flakiest displays, noshing on cheeses, beef stick, crackers, and shrimp cocktail.

A new tradition is born?

Special celebrations call for special beverages!  This one commemorated both!  We chose this bottle out of duress–because our favorite was not chilled when we stopped in to buy before dinner.  So Pol it was: with our hors de oeuvers, with our entrees, and right through cappuccinos as well.

Pol Roger Extra Cuvee de Reserve, Champagne, France.

The first thing we shared was a delicious, rich lobster bisque.  Not too heavy, kissed with sherry, and just an artistic smidge of cream. My wife opted for appetizers…a sampling that enabled her to dabble in all things French.  Next up was crusty bread with brie and pate’ drizzled with basil oil and some cranberry.  For her entre, my wife had diver scallops in the shell, served with a mushroom fricassee and aged Gouda glacage; her side was a frisee salad with bleu cheese, julienne-style apples, honey-glazed hazelnuts, and an apple cider vinaigrette.

My entre was sliced loin of venison, which they served with potato gallete, veggie (what?!?), and roast shallot jam.  I’d never had venison other than in sausage and this one, with a sauce smitane, was amazing.  You could cut it with a fork, and it was incredibly juicy and perfectly cooked.

Our Pol Roger stood his ground…a great pinch-hitter that we sampled throughout the sumptuous courses of our meal.  We were disappointed when the bottom of the bottle eventually showed but excited for the cappuccino coffees that sent us home with warm, full bellies and smiles on our faces.