Stephen Bitterolf, the Wine Director at Crush , conceived of this event with an eye towards the famous La Paulée Burgundy dinners where everyone competes to bring the finest bottles and people walk from table to table tasting each others' wines. 2002 Bründlmayer Riesling Zobinger Heiligenstein Alte Reben. wonderful old nose. MORE >>

Jasper Hill Farm Bayley Hazen Blue Cheese, paired with 2002 Domaine du Closel Savennières Mo ëlleux Les Coteaux , $28, Louis/Dressner Selections. Not too salty, not too sweet, this cheese tastes of fresh butter, with herbs and roast nuts. We've been delving further into domestic cheeses lately with some very good results, mostly. MORE >>

And they taste so very good. This wine is all Bouzy, a blend of 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay, but it reminded me of a wine I tasted a few years ago by Moutard that is made with the obscure grapes of Champagne, things like Arbanne and Petit Meslier. cannot tell you how excited I am about this. This neighbor raises pigs. MORE >>

was happy to have the chance to check in with Syrah by organizing a small tasting at a private residence last week. The Carlei , Heathcote Shiraz, Green Vineyards 2003 from Victoria opened our tasting. After working as a nuclear scientist, Texier turned to wine, making his first in Burgundy. alcohol. Then we tried the J. MORE >>

still love Pinot, but moreso the wines of Burgundy, Cheverny in the Loire Valley, or the Jura. Yes, but the key for me is to drink them without comparing them to Burgundy, to accept them as fruit-driven wines and to enjoy them as such. No, but that's because my tastes have changed, not because they are bad wines. 2002 St. MORE >>