drank the 2002 in Portland on the day that I met my good friend Peter Liem , back in August of 2008. Been so busy lately with work that I just haven't had time to write here. But I want to share some recent "Whoa," wine and food that really knocked me out. 1999 Clos Rougeard Saumur Bréze , Louis/Dressner Imports, price unknown. Briny.

Tannat Cab Frank Reserva 2008. Tannat 2008 Riserva de la Familia. named after a spaceship that sank in 2002 in Uruguay). "Welcome!" says attractive dark haired Federico Domingo, Export Manager for Bodegas Castillo Viejo as we squeeze into his tiny car. Alexander joins his. as well as a member of the Castillo Viejo family.

The blanc de blancs grand cru [cuvée 2008] has depth and minerality, a stony core that pleasantly lingers. The Crichet Paje on the table from 2002, a poor vintage but a great wine. The 2008 Barbarescos are delectable treats. Yesterday was the Polaner Selections tasting and I dropped by for a while in the second half. Quite fun.

Christian Seely led a very interesting test, in which we tasted two groups of base wine: Group 1 was 2008 Merlot, and Group 2 was Cabernet Franc. 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?”

Chateau Lynch-Bages: 1996, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2006 and Echo de Lynch-Bages 2008. Chateau Pontet-Canet: 2001, 2002, 2004, 2006 and Les Hauts de Pontet 2005. The venue, a private room at Felidia in New York City, where outside the large window one could see trees swaying in the rain and wind.

The non-vintage Extra-Brut we drank was based on wines from 2007 and 2006, but because of the ripe richness of the wine, I guessed it was based on 2008. My favorite on this night was the 2002 Brut Nature with its beautiful red fruit that really lasts in the nostrils, its vibrancy and clarity. These oysters were pretty perfect.

Then we drank the 2008 Domaine Gauby Vin de Pays des Côtes Catalanes Les Calcinaires , $27, imported by Weygandt Metzler. Then it was the 2002 Vodopivec Vitovska Venezia Giulia IGT , price unknown, imported by JK Imports. Two friends came over for dinner the other night. And I loved it. This wine, however, I loved. Me neither.

Anyway, we drank Les Chalasses from 2004 and 2008, and I thought they were both excellent wines. The 2008 was vibrant and pungently mineral with great freshness and a core of energy that bodes well for the cellar. The sous-voile wines were excellent too, including a show-stopping 2002 Vin Jaune. And indeed it was.

Vineyard work is thoughtful and very conscientious, and fully converted to biodynamic farming since 2002. This release is mostly from the fantastic 2008 vintage, the balance is 2007. This time of year there are a load of trade tastings, and even if like me, you only go to a few of them, you hear things. That's right.3 cases.

Wines included: Angels Gate Winery Mountainview 2008. Burrowing Owl Estate Winery 2008. Closson Chase Vineyards Closson Chase Vineyard 2008. Colaneri Estate Winery ‘Paese’ 2008. Flatrock Cellars 2008. Hidden Bench Vineyards and Winery Tête de Cuvée 2008. Lailey Vineyard Old Vines 2008.

The tannins are fine; the wine in 2009 exhibits fine tannins while the 2008 could benefit from more bottle age (or a good decant). I’d also venture that this wine would last a couple of decades and would like to buy a few bottles to tuck away for my son born in 2008. How does cabernet franc age? I’d tend to agree.

She disgorged a bottle of the NV Brut for us, based on the great 2008 vintage. Then we tasted her vintage wines, beginning with the utterly delicious 2002 Brut Nature Grand Cru. Ledru's 2008 Ambonnay Rouge was broad and airy on the nose, with spicy and floral nuances that complicated the rich fruit. neighbor helps her, she said.

Last summer I drank a bottle of 2002 Larmandier-Bernier Coteaux Champenois with a few friends and absolutely loved it. Here are the wines we drank in the order in which we drank them, along with a few notes: 2008 Roger Coulon Coteaux Champenois Blanc , $40-50, Rosenthal Wine Merchant. Not all Champagne is sparkling wine.

Ruca Malen 2008 was a favorite, very dark and well balanced, with well integrated oak, finesse, and notes of chocolate and slight spice. Ruca Malen Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 was delicious, typical of the region, with cassis, black current, and some chocolate. One day a woman looked up and saw this god, and they fell madly in love.

From 2002 the Domaine has practiced 100% organic and now biodynamic farming. In the cellar, Sylvain selects red wine from several barrels for a tasting of the 2010 and 2009 and 2008 vintage, including the 06 Foret St. George. Today Sylvain is giving me a tour of the property and a tasting. Surprise in the Vineyard. In the Winery.

The FMC 2008 (about $65), comes from unirrigated, low-yield, 42-year-old bush vines, grown organically (but uncertified since 2002 because of onerous fees, Ken says). Ken Forrester likes Chenin Blanc. Just don’t call it Steen. In his opinion, the best Chenin needs cool and sunshine, which may sound like a paradox. Prohibit corks.

Christian Seely led a very interesting test, in which we tasted two groups of base wine: Group 1 was 2008 Merlot, and Group 2 was Cabernet Franc. 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. the woman’s voice says, incredulous.

2008 Michel Delhommeau Muscadet Sèvre et Maine Sur Lie Cuvée Harmonie , about $15. 2008 Claude Riffault Sancerre Les Boucauds , about $28. The 2002 took a while to open up, very oxidative at first, but after about an hour it found a balanced and delicious place. Headrick's portfolio is small, but well selected. Silly me.

Here's what I drank recently: 2008 Marcel Lapierre Morgon , $20, Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant. I've read comments on the interweb about variation again in 2008, but specifically with the "N" lots - no sulfur as I understand it. 2008 Jean Foillard Morgon Cuvée Corcelette , $34, Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant. Sigh of relief.

The 2008 Alice and Olivier de Moor Chablis Rosette , $38, Louis/Dressner Selections is the first Chablis I've had from the 2008 vintage. We had a bunch of people over for dinner this weekend for Chablis night. Okay, that's not exactly what we did. But close. As I knew they would, our guests brought along some excellent wine.

Willm Riesling 2008 $35.98 That Meursault Henri Darnat Meursault 2002 par Francois Labet I was dragging my feet because I've been hating everything and was confused. had one terrific bottle of 3 Celliers Chateauneuf du Pape @ $44 but the second one stunk. The first one was exciting. could not believe it REAL kosher wines. oh dear.

That great Beaujolais that sold for $12 in the 2002 vintage costs $17 now. Here are my favorites right now (prices are with the 10% mixed case discount): Whites 2008 Benaza Monterrei Gode llo , $11.70, Jose Pastor Selections, Vinos & Gourmet Imports. 2008 Knebel Mosel Riesling Trocken , $12.60, Mosel Wine Merchant, USA Imports.

Driven by sales of red Bordeaux, which country saw a fifteen-fold increase in imports from France during 2002 – 2008? SIPPED: upgrading label info? Discussion ensued over at wineberserkers whether there was a loophole in the statement.) With this information, consumers can have a better handle on the freshness of such wines.

Every year from 2000 – 2008 (2009 data are not yet in but look to continue the trend), per capita wine consumption rose. 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!! Everyone’s looking back!

Pinon, Francois NV Vouvray Brut AND if you want to go ultra geeky-- Donati 2008 Malvasia dell'Emilia IGT Frizzante $2o. NV Raymond Boulard Rose, a gorgeous wine 2002 Drappier Grande They asked for help. tried to do my best. Here are the first four requests. 1 This one came in from Susan. What wine would be best to serve with this?

recently drank a glorious bottle of 1995 Chandon de Briailles Corton-Clos du Roi , a bottle I purchased in December of 2008 while in Beaune. In the first half of 2009, I drank a bunch of Muscadet and decided to age Marc Ollivier's 2007 Clos des Briords and Jo Landron's 2007 Fief du Breil , and the 2002 Luneau Papin Clos des Noelles Excelsior.

2008 Grosset Wines Polish Hill Riesling, Clare Valley. 2002 Pewsey Vale The Contours Riesling, Eden Valley. 2002 Grosset Polish Hill Riesling, Clare Valley. 2002 Peter Lehmann Reserve Riesling, Eden Valley. 2002 Seppelt St Peters Great Western Shiraz, Great Western, Grampians. 2008 Logan Sauvignon Blanc, Mudgee.

On a related note, his current release 2008 Polish Hill had excellent citrus character akin to the white of a pink grapefruit. The 2002 Peter Lehmann reserve Riesling Eden Valley had toasty, lightly honeyed nose with a strong attack, limey midpalate and expansive, rewarding, and lingering finish. Quite delicious.

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. Rivalries and conflicts simmer throughout the world. First up was a walk around tasting of both the wines from 2000-2006.

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."

home : wine recommendations : wine girl for hire : bio : articles : contact « LVMH--the machine | Main | Abe Schoener on Temperature Control » Salvation and the Plight of a Wine Writer December 19, 2008 I dont go in for the what I drank last night kind of blogging but every once in a while I have to give in to the temptation.

2002 Pierre Gimonnet Blanc de Blancs Cuvée Gastronomme , $40, Terry Theise Selections / Michael Skurnik Wines. With 25 hectares of vineyards in the Côte de Blancs, the Gimonnet estate in Cuis might be considered rather large for a grower/producer. There are also Special Club and "Vintage Collection" wines that tend to be old vines cuvées.

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?

As I assume we are currently experiencing not just the end of the year but the end of the world, I expected to have to make do with the few 2002 on my shelves and close my I don't go in for the what I drank last night kind of blogging but every once in a while I have to give in to the temptation. 1954 Tondonia? 1971 Giacomo Conterno? Gerald!

Back in February of 2007, I wrote in my notebook that the 2004 "will vie with the 2002 as the greatest Terre de Vertus that Larmandier has made so far." I have a special treat for us all to share this week. The good news is, you'll learn far more about wine by reading Peter's post than you do when you read typical Friday Night Bubbles posts.

The word that comes to mind as you sip Antonin Guyon's 2002 Gevrey-Chambertin ** is searing. The 2002 Gevrey-Chambertin ** has evolved into a puckering villages level Burgundy, with piquant cherry notes and a texture like sharp stones. This wine did not always require food to balance out; it was gorgeous by itself after release.

tasted the “novello&# 2008 oil from Tenuta di Caezzano in Tuscany, where 26,000 olive trees grow on 145 acres. At a tasting at the offices of the wine’s US importer, LVMH, I chatted with Beatrice Contini Bonacossi about their wine that particularly caught my fancy, the unctuous sweet 2002 vin santo ( find this wine ).

Better than the 1997, 1998, 2000, and 2002, the 1995 may be the least accessible modern Monte Bello , and the longest lived At thirteen, the 1995 Monte Bello is still a child. have tasted this twice before, and my thoughts on the wine have been consistent. keep waiting for this wine to fully reveal itself. It won't. As Robert Parker Jr.

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. I'm in a really great wine group now, and great ones are hard to find, trust me. Beautiful stuff.

According to a 2002 letter to the Wine Institute from the Dept.of In this chapter, Alice confronts the spectre of adding water to wine What do you want to do about the alcohol? My stomach churned as it digested the question that would lead me to harsh reality. All I had to do was accept the word do. Health Services, Food & Drug

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! The most recent session of my six-week introductory wine class at NYU wrapped up last week. For some odd reason, Mrs. Vino always refers to this as the party, but no!

2002 Seavey Vineyards Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ** A big Napa cabernet of dried cherries with smokey and chewey tannins. Mexico is a difficult place to find a good bottle of wine. Those were a Seavey cabernet and a Hansell chardonnay I purchased at Scotto's Wine Cellar nearby before we left. drink beer.  2004 Mouton Cadet Bordeaux.

Domaine de Belliviere Coteaux-du- Loire Le Rouge Gorge 2006 Im a long time devotee of Eric Nicolas wines but this Rouge Gorge seems to bring me back to the 2002 vintage where it was a coup de coeur. But here you go--here is the listing of LOVE Laurent Barth 2006s Love the pinot noir and the pinot gris. FINALLY! Great little wine. And now.we

home : wine recommendations : wine girl for hire : bio : articles : contact « Wine and Hope | Main | This Blogger and the Ethics Debate » Turning Water Into Wine Posting #9 November 07, 2008 In this chapter, Alice confronts the spectre of adding water to wine What do you want to do about the alcohol? That is a huge loop hole.

This is the April, 2008 disgorgement and it is based mostly on 2004 grapes with 20% from 2002. NV Chartogne-Taillet Cuvée Sainte-Anne Brut , $36, Terry Theise Selections/Michael Skurnik Imports. First of all, the $36 price tag is today's price, this is what you'll see the wine selling for right now.

The 2002 was a bit more awkward at this stage, but also shows elegance and balance to go along with the silky fruit. So after the hard and wonderful work of the Terry Theise Portfolio tasting, we rushed over to the east side for Louis/Dressner tasting. There was simply no way to taste everything, even if this were the only tasting of the day.

Audrey, reading Wine Spectator in Lake Tahoe, Spring 2008) So it was with glee and trepidation that I ordered one ticket for the California Wine Experience at the Marriot in NYC - but mostly glee. Heitz Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley "Trailside Vineyard" 2002 ** about as good as the Harlan, for 1/5 of the price. love their events.

2002 Henri Billiot Brut , $75. 2002 Chartogne Taillet Cuvee Fiacre Brut, $75. What's the right thing to do at an enormous industry wine tasting? Do you try to taste every wine being poured? Do you find some way of narrowing the field, and taste only a subset of the wines? The answer is personal, I suppose. Admit it - that just sucks.

Innocent "Temperance Hill Vineyard" Willamette Valley 2002 Deep garnet color. I don't know what it is that makes October pinot noir season, but it's always around now that I start to break out the reds in earnest again and the pinot noir is always the first off the shelf. Cellar selection. Reminds me why I love Oregon. Cellar selection.

My pal Adam and his wife brought a bottle of 2002 Domaine Ramonet Chassagne Montrachet 1er Cru Clos de la Boudriotte to dinner at my place. Once upon a time I owned six Riedel red Burgundy glasses, the Vinum series. Or so says Riedel , anyway. like nice wine glasses as much as the next guy. And shape matters too. And you know what?

I've not had the chance to drink either of these wines at home, but I do have a bottle of the 2002 Vieille Vignes sleeping in the cellar. NV Larmandier-Bernier Champagne Brut Premier Cru Blanc de Blancs , $37, Louis/Dressner Imports. There is a fragrant chalky finish that really lingers, the acidity tingling the cheeks.

Amazingly fresh. Tasted blind, I fingered this for a Central California pinot noir - Sea Smoke or Ojai - something from the Santa Rita Hills. I've never had a Willamette Valley wine that was so fresh or lively, and this at six years of age. sat there holding the cork in my hands wondering how this had stayed so young.

This Billard Pommard has thinned out a little since we tasted it on release a couple years ago. The acidity has come forward the fruit is like sweet strawberries with a dark chocolate dusting. Very enjoyable now, but I think it will still be good in six years

2002 Christoph Von Nell Ludovico Sekt Brut , $24, Mosel Wine Merchants. The wine is 100% Riesling from the 2002 harvest, all from the Kaseler Dominikanerberg vineyard, a monopole site with blue Devonian slate in the Ruwer Valley. My friend Adam poured this for me recently and it was fantastic. The overall effect is just delicious.

was lucky enough to find and purchase on bottle of the 2002 Mes Vieille Vignes a few months ago. NV Champagne Jos é Dhondt Brut Blanc de Blancs , $48, Becky Wasserman Selections. There are no lemons leaping out of the glass, no bursts of intense flavor, no laser beams of acidity. Think of Ally Sheedy's character in The Breakfast Club.

It turned out to be a 2002 Domaine Virely-Rougeot Pommard 1er Cru, Les Chanlins (I think). 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 some people, even experienced wine lovers, this is an exercise in apprehension and annoyance. Never met him before.

The organic movement was solidified in the US in 2002 with the USDA creating a division called the National Organic Program(NOP). I had so much fun doing the screwcap series. It was great learning all about how this "new" alternative to cork is making the scene. What does this mean? Is it a marketing ploy? Is it voodoo? Pretty cool. Cheers

Champagne Brut 2002 4. I was incredibly lucky to participate recently in the Wine & Spirits Magazine Champagne tasting panel. Lucky" sounds trite, but I don't mean it that way. It was an amazing experience, and I was so lucky to have been part of it. wish I could do this every week. It's a great format, I think. Champagne Brut 2.

Emilion » A Gamay In Burgundy August 28, 2008 Gamay, the underdog of the wine world has been in the work, deadline is Tuesday. It had a cherry chewiness, a firm meaty wine that outshone the Burgundy, a 2002 Pommard we had alongside of it. Over lentil soup and some fine local cheeses, I asked them about Gamay. She asked. Sturdy.

Now out of the cellar and away from the barrels I get to taste the Lenz Old Vines Cabernet Sauvignon 2002 from the bottle. Back at the Lenz Winery tasting room Eric Fry proudly speaks of the specialness of our climate and how the grapes are always visible with nice straight open canopies. not heavy, rich and sweet.

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). 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? Apparently not.

Coeur D' Alene Cellars founded in 2002 is located in Coeur D'Alene Idaho just east of the Northeastern border of Washington State. Often wines forms The United States seem unapproachable in price. They look enticing and compel us to splurge. In this economy we want to be sure we are splurging on something that will vibe with our palate.

Maybe open one of those 2002 Bourgognes you've been saving? There are piles of fava beans at the market beginning sometime in June all the way through the summer. They look so invitingly green and healthy. I've seen them for years and never taken them home - what would I do with them? Isn't there a lot of shelling and peeling involved?

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. The more I learn about wine, the more I realize that I don't know. This was also true when I played a lot of chess, when I was getting into economics courses in grad school, basically anytime I've undertaken anything of any import. Same is true with wine, I would say. Who knew. Raveneau.I

The "Senorio del Aguila Reserva" 2002 (Carinena) was showing its age with its brick orange color. OK, maybe it is just geographically challenged Wine Tasting Guy who doesn't know where Aragon is. But I found out today. It is in Spain. And I was lucky to be able to attend a tasting of Aragon wines at the NY Metropolitan Pavilion. The "8.0.1

Very deep ruby color. Heady nose of ripe cranberries and chocolate. Good texture and nice balance of acidity and tannins here, with some complex minerality on the palate and a little hint of dried herbs and mint. Over 15% alcohol but it's hard to tell. So this is probably as good as it's going to get. Drink up

We then opened a bottle of 2002 Cazin Cour-Cheverny Cuv é e Renaissance. I don't want to write about wine today, no tasting notes. It's gorgeous outside, things are going well with family, friends, and work, life is good. Instead I'll tell you that I had the chance to hang out with fellow wine bloggers recently. Aubert de Villaine.

We thoroughly enjoyed this wine, but I might have guessed it to be a 2002 if tasted blind. And I have a couple of the 2002's in the cellar, but it would seem prudent to grab a few more of those too, you know, for research. have a lot of the young stuff in the cellar - shouldn't I know more about what happens to this wine in 20 years?

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. This is honestly one of the finest bottles of white wine I have had the pleasure to consume in 2008. Puzelat's wines are delicious regardless of the particularities of the weather in the vintage. It works.

2002 Huet Vouvray Pétillant Brut , $33, Robert Chadderon Selections. It is without hesitation that I can say this is the finest non-Champagne sparkling wine that I've had. And it's better than many a Champagne, if you count Veuve Clicquot and the like. had the 2000 Huet Brut and I really liked it, but that was years ago.

But in the end I decided that this meal would be a great excuse to check in on a wine that I've been meaning to revisit - the 2002 St Innocent Pinot Noir Seven Springs , $32 on release. 2002 was supposed to be the vintage of the millennium in the Willamette Valley, but I haven't been loving the wines. went with holes above the brisket.

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. The North Fork of Long Island.

In addition to the 3 whites and 1 rose I tried, I also tried 6 reds, ranging from as young as 2002 to as old as 1976. LdH wines are very well regarded coming out of Rioja, and I really enjoyed the opportunity to try a 2002, 2000, 1999, 1987, 1981 & 1976 Rioja. This could help to make events of this size more manageable. don't know.

I've enjoyed Maréchal's wines since 2002, always finding a particular wine that I like enough to buy a few bottles. They're calling 2006 a "classic" vintage in Burgundy, which means that it was a normal year. In a normal year good wine makers make good wine. But that's part of the fun. An excellent wine to be sure.

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.

Damijan Ribolla Gialla 2002 made me change the way I look at white wine, and the first time I had Quintarelli Amarone I knew I'd never tasted anything even close to that before. Following is an interview with Augusto Cardona , Sales Manager, Italian Wine Merchants : What was the first wine that made you realize you loved wine? impact on me.

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. 2002 ** or ? The aromatics and top notes are woodsy: mostly soft cedar, a touch of evergreen, some fresh oak.

But they are different from the same wine in 2002, for example, in that they might mature more quickly. I only began cellaring wine a few years ago, so if I drink a mature wine at home it means that I bought a wine that some one else cellared for me. BrooklynLady and I loved this wine when we visited Adelsheim Winery. Yes, yes I would.

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. 2002 Damien Laureau Savenni è res Les Bel Ouvrage , $29.50, JD Headrick Imports.

Spain • This dry red wine in the familiar silver netted bottle is made from 90% tempranillo , 10% graciano y mazuelo grapes aged 2 years in American oak. Color is ruby red with medium to heavy weight and on the nose is raspberry and cherry and on the palate chocolate, tabasco and slight hint of mold or mushroom.

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.

2002 Bethel Heights Flat Block Reserve , price unknown. 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. And one of them was excellent by any standard. They're calling 2005 a "classic" vintage in Oregon. This is an Oregon vintage that can please Burgundy lovers.

great example of this last factor happened in Israel in 2002. So getting back to Israel, comparing the 2002 to vintages such as 1997, 1999 & especially 2001, these other years have shown to behave better and age longer than the 2002's as 2002 was a short, cold and unusual growing season. The question by Wayne W.

The oldest one I tried was a 1993, but I've also had the '97, '99 and have recently been drinking the 2002, & 2003. 2002 however was not a great vintage in Israel in general with some strange weather so if you are considering a case to put away for a few years I would stick with the 2003 or 2004. Buy it up, drink it and be proud.

This is a wonderful wine that no one has heard of. Dark ruby-plum color. Full of dark fruits - boysenberries, blueberry hints, black currant - but this wine is predominantly about earth and an overpowering barnyard musk. My friend Gabe noticed a light pepper note, too, which is present on the midpalate. This wine leaves its perfume upon you

But Bridge Urban Winery does have barrels and a steel tank and plans to make small lots of wine at their Brooklyn facility beginning in 2008. My favorite was the 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon , $19, with a great nose of slightly pruney cassis and loads of bright red currents. There is a winery located in Brooklyn. Definitely not.

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. 2002 Puffeney Arbois Savagnin , $29 - deeply nutty. 2002 Tissot Arbois Savagnin , $32 - this one moved me - old and oxidized and fresh and young and just delicious.

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. I wasn't going to write about this because I don't have much of anything nice to say. But I've been persuaded to just do it anyway, to tell you what I thought. unrelenting.

2002 Mazel Cuv é e Planet VdP de L'Ardeche (Rhône) - light, floral, perfume in the mouth, well balanced and absolutely delicious. Here are a few things that struck me during the tasting: If I had tasted blind, I would have guessed wrong on the grape varieties in many of these wines. Maybe it's just odd wine making. Maybe a bit of both.

In 2005 I tasted each of these wines at release from the 2002 vintage - another outstanding and outstandingly-hyped year for Burgundy - and I put a couple bottles from that vintage in the cellar. 2005 Burgundy! Like most wine lovers I've been awaiting the arrival of the 2005 vintage of Burgundy with baited breath. To the prices? stars. star

Pale gold. Bright acidity. Black licorice, fennel seed, and white flowers - lily, white rose, daisy petals. Bees' honey and honey mellon, with light white-chalk texture. Excellent ballance and a bright long finish. stars

» The Book Kick-Off Season January 24, 2008 Forget the Super Bowl, book season was kicked off with a wine gathering at my house to intro the aforementioned mistake-riddled galley. 2002 Domaine Bonnefond $45 Cote Rotie , Rhone (I put this in as a wild card. Dave on February 23, 2008 07:47 PM Post a commentMany thanks!

I'll be tasting the 2002 and reviewing it for the NFR in March See [link]. Varietal Wines & Spirits described Monte Bello this way: "The Monte Bello (originally Monte Bello Cabernet; until 1975, 100% cabernet) is the wine that introduced Ridge to the world, and the world to Ridge. It is a blend of bordeaux varietals.

• La Castellada 2002 Sauvignon (Friuli-Sauvignon Blanc) To come. Most of the wines I talk about in this blog don't go for more that $20, But last weekend I treated myself to a tasting at Italian Wine Merchants (Founded by Sergio Esposito, Mario Batali and Joe Bastianich) and sampled six wines from various regions in Italy. Amazing

2002 Quilceda Creek Columbia Valley Red Wine ** Deep ruby. Gorgeous forrest floor on the nose. Evergreen sap, licorice, butterscotch, and currants. Tight opening with good structure, not too heavy, nice mouth coating texture and a pretty long finish - probably 45 seconds before it escapes. stars

guessed the 2002 Louis Boillot Pommard 1er Cru Les Fremiers. went with the 2004 Mouton, after almost going with the 2002 Lafite. Some people can taste a wine blind, knowing nothing about it at all, and are able to identify it. I've heard of people who can do this in incredible detail, down to the vineyard and vintage. was wrong.

2002 Castello di Borghese Cabernet Franc Reserve , $32 from the winery. One of my favorite cuts of lamb is the shank, the lower portion of a foreleg. Shanks are almost always braised, and I think represent one of the easiest, yet most impressive dishes you can cook at home. That's the basics, the particulars are fun to play with on your own.

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. 2002 Clos Rougeard Saumur-Champigny Les Poyeux , $51, 2 bottles. Why $50? Good buy. Do I even drink Bordeaux?

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. BrooklynLady and I went to France together for the first time in October of 2005.