You can never have enough Champagne, and New Year's Eve is the opportunity to open your best bottle of the bubbly lying around, so in light of our house arrest we opened a bottle of Dom Perignon 1996 * the very same I purchased from a duty free shop in Puerto Rico some years ago. MORE >>

decided to focus on Champagne and Burgundy, and to taste whatever Loire wine I came across, but there are not many of those in the portfolio. Anyway, here are my notes on the Champagnes and other sparkling wines: Bruno Paillard 's wines were my favorite Sparkling wines of the event. cannot enjoy myself that way. Also very good. MORE >>

Anyway, here are the wines we sampled on this visit 1996 Cristom Pinot Noir Mt Jefferson Cuvee, Willamette Valley - Funky, rotting aromas at first, but blew off to reveal mellow red and black berries, leathery earth. 2001 Hafner Reserve Chardonnay, Alexander Valley - Great nose of vanilla and tropical fruit, pineapple, citrus too. MORE >>

Why should I have to buy all of the Champagne? 1996 José Michel Spécial Club Brut Champagne. longtime member of the Club Trésors de Champagne , his vintage "Spécial Club" bottling is essentially, as it should be per the Club's standards, his top wine, his tête de cuvée. Without further ado, take it away McDuff. MORE >>

NV Fleury Champagne Carte Rouge Brut , $40, Winebow Imports. He is credited as the first grower in Champagne to convert his entire estate to biodynamics. The Fleury estate is located in the village of Courteron in the Côte des Bar, a region of Champagne where Pinot Noir is particularly successful. MORE >>