Maison Bouchard Carton "Le Corton" 2005, Mazis Chambertin 2002 from Maison Jean-Claude Boisset, and 1982 Batard-Montrachet from Maison Louis Jadot. "This is absolutely fantastic!" Everyone here is thrilled to be invited to the Union des Maisons de Vins de Bourgogne event which features the world's finest wines.

The Hugues de Coulmet has a creamier quality that is more easy going, while the vintage 2005 has a still-wine character that brings depth. The Crichet Paje on the table from 2002, a poor vintage but a great wine. It’s the time of year when distributors and/or importers have annual (or semi-annual) portfolio tastings. Quite fun.

2001 with its silky cherry notes, sweet vanilla, and delicious balance along with flavors of mocha and casis; - 2003 with its notes of Prince Edward Cherry Tobacco, vanilla, and ripe fruit; - 2005 with the flavors described above along with more ripe red integrated and concentrated fruits, much more extracted too …. Perfect Berries.

Zidarich 2005 Vitovska. Zidarich 2005 Malvasia. For example, you can still find Gravner 2001 and 2002 bottlings around without much trouble in NYC market. Orange wines are sweeping the nation! Well, something like that. These white wines emerge from their fermentation on the grape skins with a rich, sometimes orange, hue.

Some of the wines tasted: Chateau Clerc-Milon: 1994, 2004, 2005, 2006. Chateau Pontet-Canet: 2001, 2002, 2004, 2006 and Les Hauts de Pontet 2005. Chateau Mouton Rothschild: 1995 and Petit-Mouton 2005. Pauillac is a small region, only about 5,000 people, and had very humble beginnings.

Those of us lucky enough to be present in 2007 (myself included) tasted the 2002 vintage of various cru wines from Domaine LaRoche in both cork and screwcap. 10 Domaine Laroche Chablis Saint Martin 2002 Cork. 12 Domaine Laroche Chablis Saint Martin 2002 Screw Cap **. Domaine Laroche Chablis Premier Cru les Vaudevey 2002 Cork.

Owner/winemaker Nicolas Heeter-Tari first got the idea for Esquisse in the great vintage of 2002, when he saw the quality of the wine was so superior it would be a shame to negotiants as generic wine in bulk. Adele. What a fabulous wine to enjoy as an aperitif!” I exclaim, sipping 2006 Esquisse, a new brand from the 2nd growth Chateau Nairac.

Excellent Wines 2002 Houillon/Overnoy Arbois Poulsard , $36, Louis/Dressner Selections. 2002 Albert Boxler Riesling Grand Cru Brand , $35, Robbert Chadderdon Selections. These, I had Problems With 2005 Jacques Puffeney Trousseau Arbois Les Berangères , $32, Imported by Neal Rosenthal Wine Merchant. The nose is really beautiful.

Francois et Antoine Jobard, Meursault, “En la Barre,” 2002 : only slightly oxidized, but still too tired at this young an age. Ballot-Millot, Meursault Perrieres, 2002 : oxidized. Domaine Jacques Prieur, Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru, 2005. It’s not every evening I get to taste ten white Burgundies with a decade or so of age.

Burrowing Owl Estate Winery 2005. Closson Chase Vineyards Beamsville Bench 2005. Mission Hill Family Estate Winery Select Lot Collection 2005. Pelee Island Winery Barrique 2005. Tawse Winery Beamsville Bench Reserve 2002. Burrowing Owl Estate Winery 2005. Closson Chase Vineyards Beamsville Bench 2005.

2005, on the other hand - a vintage of the decade. We also drank the 2002, although it was released as Limpido!, Everything, in fact, with the exception of 2002, is supposed to be very good. would drink the passable 2002 over the '97 every time. One of the things I used was a vintage chart. still have it, actually.

very much liked the 2002, and found a curious note of a caraway seed along with saffron and East Indian spices. 2000 (white peach) and 2002. “A French insurance company owns a Chateau?&# the woman’s voice says, incredulous. Sunday: Dinner in a Chateau. Monday: Tour of the Chateau Pichon Longueville Vineyards and Winery.

Azienda Agricola Moroder Rosso Conero 2002 Didn't take notes on this but do remember deep balsamic notes with waves of super ripe strawberries, unfiltered with lots of sediment, but a very interesting take on a Montepulciano. My friend Eric Guido has done it again. He's obsessed with Risotto, and I'm so glad. It's a tough job, but hey.

The most interesting aspect of the tasting was experiencing the 2005 and 2009 Foja Tonda grape, an indigenous grape to Vallagarina in Italy’s Adige Valley. Mr. Armani experimented with the grape, and in 2002 petitioned the government to reinstate Foja Tonda for cultivation. Incredible!

2002) Larmandier-Bernier Vieille Vignes de Crama nt Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs , $70, Louis/Dressner Selections. The precious few bottles I'm glad that I saved this for at least a few years (2005 is the current vintage), as it seems to be in a particularly sweet spot right now. loved this rosé. To me, a truly great Champagne.

We then enjoyed two wines from the 2005 vintage with my fish soup. 2005 is thought to be a great vintage because, as in most of France, conditions were essentially perfect. I'm not sure yet where I stand on 2005, as I've had some wines that are more about ripeness and grape character than they are about terroir. But close.

2005 Damien Laureau Savennières Le Bel Ouvrage , $32, Jon-David Headrick Selections, Imported by European Cellars. That's to be expected from 2005, but it was also very floral and mineral with an almost powdery sense to it, and with great poise and balance. I'm starting to believe in the influence of lunar cycles on wine.

Opening this 2005 Monte Bello with the affluent aromas of only Monte Bello mountain surfacing, the only thought I had was life seemed a little back to normal, at least somewhat, and if only for a moment. Let this 2005 Monte Bello develop in the decanter for a good three hours before trying it -- secondary notes will emerge.

Here's what we had: (2005) Cédric Bouchard Roses de Jeanne Les Ursules Brut Blanc de Noirs - solo. 2002 Luneau-Papin Muscadet de Sèvre-et-Maine Excelsior Clos des Noelles with fish soup. If you look at the left side-bar of this blog you'll see that with 2010, this blog enters its fifth calendar year. am not in the wine business.

In volume terms, this is largely thanks to Yellow Tail, created only in 2002 but has since quickly hopped to the biggest wine brand in the history of the world!! Domestically, the boutique wine industry got a shot in the arm from the 2005 Supreme Court decision that paved the way to opening up shipping from wineries to consumers.

blend of grapes from 8 parcels, this version is 72% 2006, the rest 2005. About 10% of the final blend is 2004 and 2002, but from bottles that are disgorged for this blend. 2002 Brut Nature Blanc de Blancs , $90. The 2002 was completely different from the other wines, another style entirely. Excellent wine.

Here is what I found, in the approximate order of my preference: 2002 Panther Creek Pinot Noir White Rose Vineyard , $35. 2002 St. 2005 Adelsheim Pinot Noir Ribbon Springs Vineyard , $44. 2005 Adelsheim Pinot Noir Elizabeth's Reserve , $44. 2005 St Innocent Pinot Noir Justice Vineyard , $35.

Peter and I drank the 2005 Saignée de Sorbée merely days before this Seattle dinner, and it was also a great, but an entirely different wine. The 2005 was not as much about fruit, it was completely saline and pungently rocky and earthy, and it was great with our roast bonito. These things come in waves, I guess. Such a joy to drink.

Several years ago I drank the 2002 and didn't get it at all. 2005 Jacques Puffeney Poulsard Arbois "M" , $26, Neal Rosenthal Selections. I've recently emerged from a bit of a "red wine stand-still." I've wanted to branch out some more. Not merely for the sake of branching out - I wish there was more red wine that I really like.

Our bottle of 2007 Domaine de la Pépière Muscadet Clos des Briords was corked, sadly, as was our 2005 Luneau-Papin L D'Or. The palate was as youthful as the 2005 I had a few months ago. Domaine de la Pépière's Granite de Clisson is an example of this kind of wine - a superb wine last produced in 2005. Someone said pineapple.

Then there's Quivira Vineyards , a family run Demeter certified estate whose 2002 Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel ** was chunky and polished at the same time, not overripe, and not too dense, with good texture and Zzzzing! Rafanelli , whose 2005 Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel ** at 14.8% At the top of my list is Dashe Cellars. on the finish.

2002 Pewsey Vale The Contours Riesling, Eden Valley. 2005 Leeuwin Estate Art Series Chardonnay, Margaret River. 2005 Jacob’s Creek Steingarten Riesling, Barossa. 2005 Mount Horrocks Riesling, Clare Valley. 2002 Grosset Polish Hill Riesling, Clare Valley. 2002 Peter Lehmann Reserve Riesling, Eden Valley.

The 2005, by contrast, was in a very nice spot, exhibiting more muted lime and floral character. The 1998 was oddly phenolic and, while quite solid, not as rewarding today as the 2005. One question that led me to Australia is whether Australian Riesling can age. At the outset, it was a single vineyard wine of tiny production.

This was paired with the Pieropan Soave Classico 2002 I brought that I think might have been just past the curve. This week I had the good fortune of experiencing a traditional Venetian themed dinner and wine pairing at the home of my friends Eric and Deborah. So this evening was an education for me. with a kick. 16% alcohol! loved this wine.

The thing that made this particular bottle so special is that it was disgorged in June of 2005. There is no code etched onto the bottle (recent bottles have an etched on the glass that reveals base year and disgorgement date) so I cannot be certain about the base year, but I'm guessing 2002 grapes primarily, and bottled in 2003.

My favorite sous-voile wines of the tasting, in no particular order, were the 2005 Domaine Andre and Mirielle Tissot Arbois Savagnin , 2005 Domaine Labet Savagnin Vin de Voile from Côtes du Jura , and the 2004 Domaine de la Pinte Arbois Savagnin. beneficial layer of yeast (the veil) is encouraged, somewhat akin to the flor in Sherry.

found the 00 and 04 Lalandes the unfortunately disappointing from this portion; the 2002 was particularly lovely, especially given the vintage; and the 03, 05, 06 were richer, with 06 carrying the style most successfully. The 2005 was fantastic and the 06 excellent. Rivalries and conflicts simmer throughout the world.

2002 Domaine René Engel Vosne-Romanée , $28. 2002 is supposed to be such a great year, and this is a good producer (although that reputation grew under a different wine maker). 2005 Lafouge Auxey-Duresses 1er Cru Les Duresses , $27. 2005 Domaine des Croix Bourgogne , $25. 2005 René LeClerc Bourgogne , $25.

In contrast to the 2005 or 2002, it is not an exuberant wine, even after 3 days open. 2007 Domaine Hu e t Vouvray Sec Clos du Bourg , $28, Robert Chadderdon Selections. I'm putting together a case of birth-year wine for my older daughter, who was born in 2007. And happily, I can afford to buy and drink them. We loved this wine.

To the tape: Mr. Staples pointed to the example of Château-Lafite Rothschild, a first-growth Bordeaux, which soared from £675, or $955, for a 12-bottle case in the 2002 futures to £4,000 a case for 2005 — which he called “the best vintage I’ve ever tasted.” He estimated it cost the château €10, or $13, to make a bottle of the wine.

If I prefer, for example, your NV Brut that is based on 2004, blended with reserve wines from 2003 and 2002, but your NV Brut that is based on 2005 with reserves from 2004 and 2003 is also on the market (quite common here in New York), I want get the wine that I prefer when I put down my $47. 2004, 2005, who knows? That's it.

He brought a few truly special bottles of wine from France for this dinner, one of which was the 2002 Benoît Lahaye Brut Champagne Millésime. This version is, anyway, which I am guessing is based on 2005 grapes, bottled in 2006, and disgorged in August of 2008 based on the hard-to-spot code on the back label that reads "08 2008."

As previously reported, the 2002 Girard Caberent Franc Napa Valley displays bright and luscious strawberry notes on opening. There is a very Girard-esque cherry-cola cum bay leaf and vegetal note characteristics about this wine, which showed as well in the 2002 cabernet. History, like beauty, is in the mind of the beholder. Elegance.

It is a different style zinfandel than the 2005, and may be the best Dusi Ranch I've had since the 2002, but it still lacks the complexity of the Dry Creek and other Sonoma County zinfandels , which I have been favoring lately. The wine is concentrated, ruby red, and has mild smoke and bacon notes underneath.

numbered them and we did a blind tasting, pitting Girard's 2002 Cabernet Franc against a 2000 Ch. Charmail **, a 2005 Mondavi Napa Valley Merlot, 2000 Ch. Haut Gravet ** and the fifth wheel 2005 La Crema Pinot Noir Russian River Valley * It was interesting to note how these wines had evolved over the past 3-6 days.

First vintage bottled in 2002, 150,000 bottles produced annually. Along with a delicious dinner, we had this wine as our second bottle at Il Poeta this weekend. Lamùri, which means “The Love” in Sicilian dialect, reflects its name very well. Producers notes: First vintage bottled in 1967, ?900 900 acres, produce 2,500,000 bottles annually?

The word that comes to mind as you sip Antonin Guyon's 2002 Gevrey-Chambertin ** is searing. found this bottle in the basement refrigerator recently, shortly after I had purchased its younger sibling, the 2005 *, for which there are no words to adequately describe, but I digress.

It's also an egalitarian system - the host who feels flush can select 2002 Vosne-Roman é e 1er Cru wines as the theme. The exceptions for me were the Pinon wines - the Brut was fine but the 2002 Vouvray Tradition was just no good. Although I am not a fan of the 2005, my commitment to cellaring my '02s and '04s is renewed.

Another participant brought in a wine from Hungary, the Tibor Gál Egri Bikavér 2002 ( find this wine ), a traditional wine from Eger known as “Bull’s blood&# (mmm! Sadly, Tibor Gal died too young in a car accident in 2005. The most recent session of my six-week introductory wine class at NYU wrapped up last week.

The 2006's from Chidaine are quite good, although if you're used to the 2005's they will seem light. The 2006's are probably typical and the 2005's are probably extra rich and intense. My favorite was the 2006 Clos Habert , a demi-sec wine that I also love in 2005. The Italian wines - I didn't taste 'em. How thoughtful is that?

routinely disagree with their wine scores (they gave Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello 2005 only 85 points - WTF are they thinking?!) Araujo Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley "Eisele Vineyard" 2005 * Smoky garnet color. wine of great depth and class, and my favorite 2005 Napa cabernet of the night. Merus 2005 ? love their events.

It turned out to be a 2002 Domaine Virely-Rougeot Pommard 1er Cru, Les Chanlins (I think). He guessed a 2005 Burgundy, young and tightly closed. Here are five red wines. They could be anything from anywhere in the world. Would you like to taste and try to identify them.blind? For others, it is a pleasurable and challenging experience.

We began with the 2002 Champagne Raymond Boulard Extra Brut Les Rachais. We then opened the 2002 Benoît Lahaye Champagne Millésime (another bottle checked in his suitcase). reminder not to touch my 2005's for a long time. It was a real treat to spend adult time together visiting such an interesting city. Is this normal?

After they met in November 2002, they created an escape in their home by hosting frequent dinners to celebrate friendships and family, food and wine. What was the first wine that made you realize you loved wine? simple moscato that made me get up at 6 am on a sunday morning at the age of 10 to go have a sip all by myself.

2002 Domaine du Closel Savenniè res Clos de Papillon. 2005 Puzelat Touraine La Tesni è re , a lovely smoky and funky white made of Menu Pineau, and the 2004 Puzelat Touraine La Tesni è re , a red made of Pineau D'Aunis. The more I learn about wine, the more I realize that I don't know. Same is true with wine, I would say. Who knew.

He brought a lovely gift of a bottle of 2005 Bouzeron crafted by the master M. We enjoyed the remaining half of a bottle of 2005 Desvignes Morgon Javerni è res, 2nd Upper Terrace Bottling , on its second day open. We then opened a bottle of 2002 Cazin Cour-Cheverny Cuv é e Renaissance. Aubert de Villaine. We'll see.

2002 Puzelat Touraine Pinot Noir La Tesni è res $18 I stumbled on this bottle, the last in the store, at Astor the other day. 2005 Puzelat Touraine La Tesni è res , $19. The family estate is called Clos du Tue-Boeuf, but Thierry Puzelat also operates a négociant business, buying grapes from nearby growers who farm as he does. Sushi!

Owner and chef Chris, who just that morning had been a total teddy bear serving his delicious apple-cinnamon pancakes, became an utter tyrant while pouring a fabulous 2002 Peconic Bay Cabernet Sauvignon and an equally impressive 2005 Reisling. Dee and P were happily surprised at how much they liked the wines. suspect it was the latter.

wine I really loved and found quite unique was the 2005 Domaine de Roally Vire'-Clesse' from the Macconnais, France. tasted 4 of them; a 2005 from grapes with botrytis (a desirable mold that when properly managed leads to long lived sweet wines), and 3 Vouvray. Interestingly enough, they make a 100% grenache wine called the (2005) St.

Classic," or normal vintages in Burgundy can often present good value (although prices haven't really dropped much from the astronomical 2005's), but can require lots of splashing around in order to identify the wines you like enough to buy multiple bottles. In a normal year good wine makers make good wine. But that's part of the fun.

went with the 2002 Domaine des Baumaurd Coteaux du Layon Clos du Sainte Catherine , $28 on release, imported by Ex Cellars Wine Agency. And the 2002, a great year in this part of the Loire Valley, should still have plenty of ripe fruit to go along with complexity and some sweetness. Woody Allen - 2002 Carillon Puligny Montrachet.

Overall, I think that right now, at six years of age, the 2002 is in between its fruity, sweet beginnings and a sophisticated adolescene just around the corner. The 2002 was the sixth Monte Bello I tasted this year. It's a combination of 2007's gorgeous and pure fruits and 2005's depth and class. 2005 Very sophisticated.

But they are different from the same wine in 2002, for example, in that they might mature more quickly. It certainly went well with steak, but it was not memorable, didn't inspire me to buy the 2005 version ($35) and lay it down. BrooklynLady and I loved this wine when we visited Adelsheim Winery. Now THIS, this is mature wine.

But then Peter Liem in his truly excellent blog Besotted Ramblings and Other Drivel wrote about Damien Laureau's Savennières in his February 9, 2008 post (to which I cannot seem to create a link), calling it the finest example of Savennières from 2005. 2005 was a very good year in Savennières, as it was in most of France. Rabbit?

Back in January I lamented my past wine splurge results. Many of you commented with excellent suggestions, some of which I wound up using for Splurge 2007. Yeah, just like the NY State legislature, my budget comes out later than it's supposed to. But the good news is that I had a little more to spend than the $400 that I originally planned on.

In the past month or so I've tasted a few 2005's, some old familiar faces and some from producers that are pretty much new to me. They're calling 2005 a "classic" vintage in Oregon. If you haven't tried Oregon wine because you're a Burgundy lover, you might try something from 2005. And one of them was excellent by any standard.

You will find both 2005 & 2006 vintages in stock. The 2005 is selling for $12.50 have found 2003 -2005 in stores ranging in price from about $ 13.50 kosherwine.com says their 2005 is sold out and I did not see the 2005 elsewhere. The Unfiltered is available in 2002 & 2003 , each for $50. category.

My past includes exactly one Jura red ( 2002 Pierre Overnoy Arbois Pupillin - my notes say that I didn't like it) and a couple of Crémants - love 'em. Reds 2005 Puffeney Arbois Trousseau , $30. 2005 Ganevat Pinot Noir , $30. 2002 Puffeney Arbois Savagnin , $29 - deeply nutty. And it's time for me to grow up.

also liked the 2005 Cantina Terlano Sauvignon Quartz , a lively and energetic wine with good acidity and length, and pretty good balance for a wine of 14% alcohol. The 2003 Franciacorta Dosage Zero was lovely, and quite dry as you might expect, and the 2002 Franciacorta Saten was also very nice, both of them based on Chardonnay.

2002 Mazel Cuv é e Planet VdP de L'Ardeche (Rhône) - light, floral, perfume in the mouth, well balanced and absolutely delicious. 2005 Clos Siguier Cahors - I never would have guessed. 2005 Haut la Vigne Côtes de Duras - the first time I've ever smelled cat piss on the nose of a red wine. Maybe it's just odd wine making.

2005 Burgundy! Like most wine lovers I've been awaiting the arrival of the 2005 vintage of Burgundy with baited breath. So I made my first foray north to pick out a case of 2005 Burgundy at Garnet on the Upper East Side, and to get my feet wet in this venerable (or venerably hyped) vintage. To the prices? How much should I buy?

The line up was: Welcome White: 2005 Cascina degli Ulivi Filagnotti (Gavi, Piemonte)--comments? 2- 2005 Fontedicto Pirouette #5 $15 Grapes: Carignan Languedoc, France (for some reason, this one, which was rich and sunny and fruit forward wasnt a smash hit. Flight Two: All Syrah all the Time 2005 Edmunds St. Many thanks! Epine?

guessed the 2002 Louis Boillot Pommard 1er Cru Les Fremiers. guessed the 2005 Kistler Durell Vineyard. It was, in fact 2005 Kistler, but Dutton Ranch, not Durell. went with the 2004 Mouton, after almost going with the 2002 Lafite. I've heard of people who can do this in incredible detail, down to the vineyard and vintage.

Following is a list of Brooklynguy's splurge wines from the past two years or so, some in the cellar, some just a memory, in order of price: 2002 Dominique Gallois Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Les Cazetiers , $50, 2 bottles. 2005 Domaine Lignier-Michelot Morey St Denis 1er Cru Les Faconnieres , $50, 3 bottles. Why $50? Good buy. Oiy vey.

BrooklynLady and I went to France together for the first time in October of 2005. Had I used this kind of thinking a few years ago I would have purchased and cellared some of the 2002 Le Bourg. have not had the cohones to open one of my two bottles of 2002 Les Poyeux, which is a good thing, as this should be an incredible wine.

The 2002 Colin-Deleger Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Vergers was much better. Not sure that it was so much better than, say the 2005 Macon-Charnay Vieille Vignes by Manciat, and that is literally one quarter of the price, but whatever. I'm in San Diego now at the in-law's place. My second round trip west coast flight of the week.

Well ladies and gentlemen, the results are in. will be copying a list of wines & their scores from Israeli Wine Critic Daniel Rogov's "Wine & Food Forum".  I am waiting for my physical copy of the issue to arrive before I comment specifically.  More comments later.  Without further ado, the scores.

opened a bottle of 2002 Meursault en la Barre, a wine that retailed for about $50 back then, and man, did I feel unsyatisfied, as John Malkovich said in Rounders. So I used the other half of the Jobard to make fish stock and opened a bottle of 2005 Texier Mâcon-Bussières Très Vieilles Vignes. But what does hit or miss really mean?

Before getting into the specifics, here are a few things that jump out at me when looking at our notes as a whole: 9 out of the 14 reds tasted were from the 2005 vintage, a ripe and glorious year. Lyle Fass of Rockss and Fruit also participates for the first time, writing about a Tres Vieille Vignes 2005 Mâcon Bussieres by Eric Texier.

2005 Chidaine Montlouis-sur-Loire Les Tuffeaux (about $23, Dressner stuff again, might be sold out at this point but there are other Chidaine wines on the shelf - try one). 2002 Olga Raffault Chinon Les Picasses (about $17, readily available). This is the top wine from that estate and 2002 was a good vintage in Chinon.

2005 Francois Cazin Cour-Cheverny Vendanges Manuelles , $13.50 (Chambers Street Wines). 2005 Champalou Vouvray , $16 ( Big Nose Full Body ). very much enjoyed the crystalline and incredibly drinkable 2004 Vouvray, so how would the "vintage to end all vintages" 2005 be? I'm not taking sides in the rose debate. prefer the 04.

Both dinners will feature 2005 red and white Burgundies from Voillot and 2005 Pinot noir and Chardonnay from St. As a bonus, both wineries will pour Pinot noirs from the great 2002 vintage and in Portland, library wines from the early 1990's.Here is the sample menu for the Portland event: Black Lentil and Citrus salad with Mussels D.

Here are some notes on wines that did not get their own post: Burgundy 2005 Jean Manciat Macon Charnay Vieille Vignes , $21 (Chambers Street Wines). 2005 Lafouge Auxey-Duresses 1er Cru Les Duresses , $28 (Chambers Street Wines). 2005 Domaine Monpertuis Cote du Rhone Vignoble de la Ramiere , $14 (Chambers Street Wines).

My "4"s: 2005 Lieb Pinot Blanc , $19. 2005 Waters Crest Private Reserve Chardonnay , $25. 2002 Scarola Merlot , $?? 2005 Channing Daughters Enfant Sauvage Chardonnay , $35. 2005 Waters Crest Nightwatch , $45 (375ml). Did I make a mistake on the vintage here - shouldn't this be 2001 or 2002? alcohol. Yummy.

2002 Sylvan Cathiard Vosne Romanee , $25 (secondary market). 2005 Belle Pente Willamette Valley Pinot Gris , $17. 2005 Domaine de Belliviere Jasnieres Les Rosiers , $28. 2005 Mark Angeli Anjou La Lune , $26. Its been a really good wine drinking month. 2001 Domaine Rollin Pernand-Vergelesses , $30 (375ml). California (huh?

Most are from 2005, a wonderful vintage. White: 2005 Domaine de la Pepiere Muscadet Sevre et Maine , $10 (so far, my case is the same as Lyle's). 2005 Thomas-Labaille Sancerre les Monts Damnees , $21 (Our cases diverge here). 2005 Chidaine Montlouis sur Loire Clos Habert , $26. 2002 Clos Rougeard Les Poyeaux , $55.

have enjoyed this wine very much in recent years, although the 2005, supposedly a great year in the Loire Valley, is not yet drinking well in my opinion. The 2002 was just excellent, and the last time I tasted the 2003 I was really impressed. The theme this month is regular versus reserve, or is reserve worth the difference?

We enjoyed this soup tremendously with a hunk of bread and a glass of Muscadet, specifically the 2005 Domaine de la Pepiere Muscadet Clos des Briords Vieille Vignes, $14. I am so psyched that the fish people are back at the Grand Army Plaza farmer's market. Their fish is always delicious, the freshest and must flavorful I can get.

2005 Eric Texier Vins de Pays O Pale , $16 - This is a sweet wine made entirely from Viognier grapes. My 4's 2002 Domaine du Closel Savennieres les Coteaux Moelleux , $28 - this is a rare sweet wine from Savennieres, crafted only in certain vintages. 2005 Marechal Pommard La Chaniere , $50 - who would have thunk it? Just yummy.

JS Score: 93, Oct 2005, Release Price: $78 Piero Busso Barbaresco Borgese 1999 x 3 WS: Refined red. JS , Score: 90, Nov 2002, Release Price: $52 Guido Porro Barolo Vigna S. JS , Score: 90, Release Price $40 Tua Rita Toscana Giusto di Notri 2002 x 2 WS: This shows beautiful vanilla, violet and berry character on the nose.

But here they are, the wines that we should be able to find right now on retail shelves (and I will indicate where I bought mine), my absolute favorite under $25 Pinots: 2005 Paul Pernot Beaune Clos du Dessus des Marconnets , $22 ( Garnet , Chambers Street says they will carry it soon). Why not? So that's it?" You ask, "only those two wines?

We decided to open these particular wines before our blind tasting because: 1) The Raffault wine is from the 2002 vintage, and is not as young as the other wines in the tasting. Here are some notes from our "exercise" over the past few nights: 2002 Olga Raffault Chinon Les Picasses, $16 Raffault is a venerable estate in the Loire valley.

have been sampling some older experiments using this strategy, a few 2001 Pinots from Oregon and Burgundy, 2002 was considered the star vintage in both regions. 2005 is supposed to be an incredible vintage, and from the little I have tasted so far, it's not hype - the wines are amazing. So beautiful.

For example, 2002 was considered to be a great year in Burgundy and in Oregon, and the wines tend to be priced accordingly. Wines are generally priced accordingly - in other words - people like you and me might be able to afford wines that are out of range in 2002. This idea is applicable in all of the "great" wine regions. Absolutely.

2005 Catherine and Pierre Breton Bourgueil Trinch ! , $17. Oregon 2002 St Innocent Seven Springs , $32. 2002 Domaine Robert Groffier Bourgogne , $26. I find it hard to share notes about every wine that I enjoy. Think of this as me cleaning out my closet, and sharing whatever I find in there with you. Remondo , $24. Good acidity.

Our tasting notes: 2005 Moillard Grivot Meursault 1er Cru Charmes , E29. 2002 Domaine Charles Thomas Nuits St Georges , (price info lost). 2002 Moillard Grivot Moray St Denis 1er Cru Les Monts Luisants , E19. And you don't need an appointment. The house was literally the tip of the iceberg. Like an airplane hangar - HUGE.

2005 Domaine Huet Vouvray Sec Le Haut-Lieu , $26. Mike cracked open a 2002 Barton & Guestier Sauternes to serve with dessert. She served some leftover caramelized apples too, that were snatched up faster than 2005 Bordeaux futures. Jess and Mike hosted Wine Dinner last night in their lovely South Slope townhouse.

2002 Pian del Ciampolo was in stores until a few months ago and it was graceful, light bodied, but pretty intense wine. 2003 is supposed to be far superior to 2002 in Tuscany and I was excited to try the new vintage. Fuller bodied than the 2002, intense smokey cherry and leather flavors, very earthy. Now, the weekend's wines.

Their unoaked 2005 Estate Sauvignon Blanc was fresh and lively. We emerged from our tasting there with a few bottles of their 2002 Cabernet Franc Reserve and a 375 ml of a 2004 zippy desert wine made from late harvest chardonnay called Allegra. 2005 Lamoreaux Landing $18 - light golden hue, very reserved nose. 2005 Hermann J.