He said that 09 is similar to 1999, and that it is his second favorite vintage behind 1999. This one will definitely have a place in my cellar. Fourrier's importer Neal Rosenthal organized the event. Equally instructive is tasting the same wines from 2008 and 2009. He said that there were "very specific aromas above each vat." MORE >>

The 2008 was vibrant and pungently mineral with great freshness and a core of energy that bodes well for the cellar. I was lucky to attend a dinner recently at which Levi Dalton poured a large selection of Jean-François Ganevat's wines. Domaine Ganevat is in the Jura, in a town called Rotalier. And indeed it was. Levi Dalton Ganevat Jura MORE >>

But I don't own any of the Diebolt-Vallois 1999's, which my good friend Peter Liem says is what we should be drinking now while we wait for the 02's and the '04's to develop. What will happen with additional cellaring that could make this wine better than it is right now? But what to open? did my best. tried, okay? MORE >>

had a chance to visit the property and talk with the cellar masters this past spring. Turning to the older vintages, the 2001 and 1999 were still drinking very well, giving me cause for reconsidering the ageability of zin. All too often, Zinfandel is a highway to a quick, cheap buzz. The lay of the land. But back to the tasting table. MORE >>

Following your late afternoon arrival and settling in, we serve a Champagne reception, followed by a “ fine wine dinner&# with us at La Madèlene - 4 courses of typical Provencal fare prepared expertly by Jude and each course accompanied by a different fine Rhone wine from my cellar chosen carefully to pair with the food. link]. MORE >>