beginning with the first ever vintage of 1997, and including 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2004. 2000 and 1997 are rated as essentially perfect vintages. That was the 1997. But there were at least two other people at the table who preferred the 1997 to any of the others. One of the things I used was a vintage chart. MORE >>

So it was that the 1997 Chardonnay that we tasted was made by Williams-Selyem but the 2007 was from Hirsch Vineyards. found the 1997 to be still surprisingly big and creamy, with stiff peaks of 16% alcohol. Then we moved on to pinot noir, namely three wines from Littorai, Williams-Selyem, and Siduri from each 1997 and 2007. MORE >>

Perhaps there is something ironic about a young, white, fresh-tasting wine called Frascati, meant to drink in its youth, that tastes fabulous at 14 years (1997 vintage). Winemaker Merz in white shirt. Once made to satisfy the masses, the new style of Frascati is carefully vinified and made from carefully selected grapes. MORE >>

1997 Prager Riesling Smaragd Weissenkirchner Ried Achleiten. 1997 FX Pichler Riesling Smaragd Kellerberg. About 50 or 60 wine lovers came together to celebrate Austrian wine the other night at Seasonal Restaurant in midtown Manhattan. That's right - Austrian wine, La Paulée style. Allan is in education and Gene is a mathematician. MORE >>

The vertical spanned the years 2010 to 1997 consecutively, then after 1997 we had 1991, 1969, and a 1955 remarkably fresh with terciary flavors of spice, cinammon, and truffles. Extremely honored to be present at the Domaine Lamarche La Grande Rue verticle in Vosne Romanee just before the 2010 Hospices de Beaune auction on November 18. MORE >>