For 'old world' wines I have always enjoyed those from Italy and Spain and paid little attention to wines from France. The region, once a Cotes-du-Rhone village, earned its own appellation in 1971. I very rarely buy, order or drink French wines. nice dark garnet red color filled the glass. Aromas were awesome. This wine was delicious.

Born in Cognac in the same house where his father was born, and raised in Bordeaux, it would have been easy for him to continue his family’s wine tradition in France. His family has owned vineyard property in France since the late 1600s. Due to the similarities of several of his favorite wine regions in France, it was California’s.

With the end of the Prohibition profits, de Latour decided to embark on the quality route and went to France to find the best Frenchman for the job. I always relish the rare opportunity to taste a California wine from the 1970s, the era before rising temperatures and fruit bombs. In 1969, Beaulieu sold to Heublein; now it is owned by Diageo.

Now todayt I just returned back to New York after an extensive trip to France and Hungary. Founded in 1971 by Arnaldo-Caprai Caprai, and now in the hands of his son Marco, the estate has become the leading producer of Sagrantino wines in the region. So I just received two wines today from producer Arnaldo-Caprai.

But instead, three bottles of the closed and still unreleased at that time, 1971 Mayacamas cabernet went off to Paris, where the wine placed lower down in the pack, due to its very structured and reticent style at that point in its evolution. Needless to say, it is a rather impressive and exciting mélange of flavors and aromas. 2015-2050.

Not including the sweet Rose's and $1 bottles of wine we took to Virgina Beach, VA and Revere Beach in Boston in the late 60's while in the service, I actually did not start drinking wine regularly until 1971 or 72. New favorites are the Cabernet Franc, Lemberger (Blaufrankisch) and Syrah's from the Finger Lakes.

Even a potentially targeted wine such as one of Bruno Giacosa’s top cru bottlings from either Barbaresco or Barolo is much less likely to be fake if it is the 1974 or 1979 Santa Stefano, rather than the 1978 or the 1971. To my knowledge, chenin blanc reaches its greatest expressions in France’s long, meandering Loire Valley. think not.

There I tasted more reds and found an interesting blend 'Viridescens', a bordeaux style blend of Cab Franc, Cab/Sauv and Merlot. was impressed with the Cabernet Sauvignon and the Cabernet Franc. took home a bottle of the Classic Pinot Noir and the Ingle Vineyards Cabernet Franc. Our first stop was at Damiani Wine Cellars.

1971 Penfolds Grange Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon, Multi-region South Australia. 2005 Howard Park Abercrombie Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot/Cabernet Franc, Great. 2005 Château Mouton Rothschild Cabernet/Merlot/Cabernet Franc/Petit Verdot, Pauillac. 2006 Woodlands Reserve de la Cave Cabernet Franc, Margaret River. Day One.

This sweet wine has its origins in the Jura, the Alpine region of France, and gets its name from the straw mats that the grapes are dried upon for months after harvest and before a long fermentation (Stein said his takes 12 months). Ulli Stein has made a forbidden wine for decades. Stein appealed. The next court turned him down. Very nice.

Although he started his own Domaine in 1971, he was for many years the quiet force behind the wines of Domaine Leflaive. He should probably be nominated for France's version of "Living National Treasure." Perhaps the finest and most memorable lesson that I received in Burgundy terroir came at the hands of Pierre Morey. Delicious wine.

Peter brought this over from France, as it is not available yet in the US. We ended our meal with a Grand Cru Burgundy from my birth year, the 1971 Prince de Merode Corton Clos de Roi. Brooklynlady and I left the little daughter with her grandparents in San Diego and went to Portland for two days and one night. Is this normal?

Moving to the Rhone valley in France I tried some wines from Eric Texier. Next to Texier was Domaine Franck Peillot from the Bugey region of France (a place I had never previously heard of). wine I really loved and found quite unique was the 2005 Domaine de Roally Vire'-Clesse' from the Macconnais, France. don't know.