The 1996 , 2001, 2003, 2005, were all fab with their own special character. News 1997 1998 2001 2003 2005 antonio gaia sperss tasting vinexoFabulous vertical of sperss today at  Vinexpo. packed audience gathered together at 10am to hear Antonio Gaia speak about the Sperss vineyard which means "nostalgia" in Italian.

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.

1780 Castell del Remei 2005, D.O. Lo Piot 2003 Cesca Vicent, D.O.Q. "20 wines!" exclaimed a fellow particpant at today's Master Class tasting of Catalunya wines led by Josep Roca, Co-Proprietor, Sommelier, and Wine Director of the (Catalunya based) Michelin 3-star restaurant El Celler. The menu follows. November 8, 2011, 6:30 p.m.

Damijan 2003 “Kaplja” Damijan 2004 “Kaplja” Radikon 2003 “Jakot” Radikon 1997 Ribolla Gialla Riserva. Zidarich 2005 Vitovska. Zidarich 2005 Malvasia. Vodopivec 2003 Vitovska. Orange wines are sweeping the nation! Well, something like that. Do they tell diners to call in advance?

Following a tasting of Médoc and Sauternes Grand Cru Classé wines from the 2005 and 2008 vintages there was a “9-star” dinner created by a trio of three-star chefs: Alain PASSARD (L’Arpège, Paris), Anne-Sophie PIC (Maison Pic, Valence), and Yannick ALLENO (Le Meurice, Paris). Fabulous opening dinner at Haut-Brion last night for the press.

As a special treat, we also tried six topaz colored sweet wines called VinSanto with vintages that inclueded 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, and 1989. Wines from Santorini. Today the Wines of Santorini hosted a fabulous seminar, with the tasting guided by Dr. Yiannis Paraskevopoulos o of GAIA wines, one of Greece’s top oenologistss.

Bernard Morey et Fils, Chassagne-Montrachet, “Les Embrazées,” 2003 : from the hot vintage, the wine was flabby and a little tired. Marc Colin et Fils, Chassagne-Montrachet, “Les Chenevottes,” 2003 : fresher than the Morey, not oxidized, but I just couldn’t get into it. Domaine Jacques Prieur, Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru, 2005.

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. Southbrook Vineyards Poetica 2003. Burrowing Owl Estate Winery 2005. Closson Chase Vineyards Beamsville Bench 2005.

But since 2005, in a move somewhat at odds with the region and age-worthy wines, he’s been putting the wines all under screw cap. The experiment first started in 2003. Florent Baumard makes gorgeous, beautifully precise wines from Savennieres, Coteaux du Layon and Quarts de Chaume, among other appellations. Who knows.

By contrast, the 2003 vintage of the same wine is much more accessible, with toasty almost honeyed notes, and a much rounder texture. I really liked the 2005 Contours and apparently the “Wigan&# was such a medal hog on the wine competition circuit Down Under that it was all but disinvited. Australian wine

Rita is a woman with a great deal of charm who is managing the enormous property for her father, a businessman from Lisbon who bought it 2003. Though the winery uses a combination of local and international grapes that span many price points, my favorite is the 2005 oak-aged Chardonnay that tastes like a Chassagne Montrachet. Alorna.

Visiting Pichon Longueville. AXA generously hosted the winners of the AXA Millesimes scholarship offered to students of the Master of Wine educational program a week in October 2010. It was an incredible week of excitement, learning, travel, exploration, and a fairy tale few days at this incredible Chateau (see that second floor turret? The Cellar.

Biondi-Santi Tenuta Greppo Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2003 100% Sangiovese Grosso, 3 years in oak barrels, at least 4 months in bottle, aromas of sweet violets and roses, rosewater, sour cherries, structured tannins, great long finish. friends with a common bond of terroir, history, tradition, art, and vineyards hundreds of years old.

“A French insurance company owns a Chateau?&# the woman’s voice says, incredulous. Yes, one can imagine that most people think that a top wine chateau in Bordeaux is owned by a French aristocrat, yet the world has taken quite a turn since the days that this might have been the case. Sunday: Dinner in a Chateau. The Control Room.

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. This one was probably a blend of wines from 2003, 2002, and 2001, and was aged on the lees for five years. I hung out with Peter Liem for a lot of the past two weeks.

Getting time to clean out the old wine fridge. After two months of laying around, drinking coffee, tea, water and gatorade and laying off the good stuff I am beginning to feel the need for a long day of wine shopping, but the fridge is full and I will just have to do my part in making room for more. Here the grapes for Frascati are grown.

I love it when Shirley decides to experiment in the kitchen. It either means we end up going out to dinner or I am in for a special treat. don't always know where she gets her inspiration and last night I did not see any of her cookbooks on the counter, so that means she thought about this recipe while trimming her herb garden.

I don't often go with Shirley and Pam to the Saturday morning Central New York Regional Farmer's Market, but I made an exception today. was also out of bed early enough to tag along, which is unusual. did stop at one and tasted their 2007 Meritage. It seems to be that the wine always is a bit different, no, a lot different than what I remembered.

I've been holding out on the wine reviews until everything gets back to normal after my surgery. At present, my Cardiologist has OK'd 3-4 oz. of wine per day and, for me, that just don't cut it. do cheat a bit and I also skip some evenings. That is what happened with the first bottles I opened. little lighter bodied than what I'm used to in Zin.

But even my friend is not that crazy, to open a 2005 La Tâche just like that, on a random Thursday night, and without a proper dinner. 2000 was not as hot as 2003 but it was a very warm year. The other night, and for the first time in my life, I drank a bottle of Richebourg. didn't even want to hold this bottle in my hands.

Last March I posted a press release on a new collection of artisan wines in an innovative attractive new package. An international wine collection with six brands and ten items packaged in a new exciting premium 3L wine cask from the Octavin Home Wine Bar ™. The Chardonnay was not impressive. Definitely a good party wine.

With May and New York Riesling month coming to close soon, it is safe to say that I tasted more Riesling this month than any one year in my life. The hard part was deciding which ones I would post on the blog. After this article I will post once more on a NY Riesling and may list all those I have had. Both were opened with a BBQ chicken dinner.

This past Monday evening was a first for me on-line. Because of my work schedule and Shirley's extra long 'honey-do' list I never have the chance to do a tweet up on Twitter or follow a wine party on Facebook. You can add comments or photos or just sit back, relax, read what others are having and just sip away on your own wine.

This past weeks edition of the Syracuse New Times, a weekly alternative newspaper published in Syracuse, New York, contained an interesting article on Finger Lakes Riesling. Gary noted four wineries, one of which I vaguely remember from an article written by Evan Dawson for the New York Cork Report. Sipping later was delightful.

To continue Riesling month here in New York, I wanted to find something other than my favorites from the Finger Lakes region. Doing so seemed almost impossible. Other than ordering on line, it is very difficult to find New York wines other than Finger Lakes and Adirondack wineries in the local shops. Enough history.

Universally these wines tend to be slow to age (often a 2001 is as youthful looking as a 2005) and offer med+ acidity and flavors of faded red flowers. The best are quite full-bodied, full-flavored, and succulent ( Perillo 2003 Castelfranci, Catello dei Monaci "Monaco Rosso" 2003 Monteramarano).

Just finished watching the movie "Avatar" while sipping on my first Riesling of the summer. Finger Lakes Riesling of course. This month is Riesling month in New York and this will be the first of many I'll enjoy over the next 30 days. The 2008 Red Tail Ridge semi-dry Riesling was suggested by my sister-in-law. This is now one of her favorites.

Recently, the wife and I have been discussing a possible trip to California next year. few of the issues are for how long and where. Of course my choice would be Napa Valley, Sonoma Valley or Russian River Valley, the home of some of the best wines in the world. Oh, I'm sorry, did I leave out Paso Robles, Lodi, Central Coast or Livermore Valley.

I'm leaving Chile(till later) and heading over to California to try a few more Zin's. I'm starting to surprise myself with what I am finding with Zinfandel and also a bit disappointed that I wasted so many years with such a limited selection or narrow palate. Deep dark fruit aromas with some cherry. Hey, you're never too old to learn.

This is the third of the Carmenere wines I tasted this month. As I stated in my previous two articles, Carmenere is one of the wines I've pushed aside in the past, but have placed on a list to re-examine in 2010. The first two left me with mixed feelings about the wine. did enjoy this with some Muenster and Dubliner cheese. It'll be fun!!!

It's been a few years since I tasted Carmenere. If I remember right, it was a take it or leave it, nothing special, too many other fine wines, don't shop for wine. My last review confirmed that feeling, but in a very serious attempt to expand a lazy palate I purchased a few different labels to compare. The first was disappointing.

Wish I had a nice Canadian wine tonight so I could toast the Canadian Olympic Hockey Team on their winning of the Gold medal. am not an avid hockey fan, but I do watch occasionally and tonight enjoyed one of the best ever games. Instead, I uncorked an Arboleda Carmenère 2006 from the Colchagua Valley of Chile. Bring on the steaks!!! Wine Acidity: 5.31

with the first course of shrimp, we enjoyed the Macabeo described above and Realce Crianza 2005, 100% Tempranillo with spice and concentrated red fruit. Michael Apstein. Have you heard of Manchuela? It is a very small, rather new D.O. in Spain that makes quality white, rose, and red wine.

Think my taste buds are back. I've been having a few problems with red wines since finishing some prescribed meds a few weeks ago. No matter what was tried I was getting a very musty taste. opened a few old reliables thinking there must have been some bad bottles in the rack, but they turned out to be the same. Bogle Winery 2007. Great value!!

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.

One of the great things about social networking is that you often get in contact with friends and classmates from a time when all was great, life was fun and we were all going to live forever. was reminded of just that this past week as I chatted with an old friend and High School classmate from the mid-60's. Here's what I learned.

2005 Barolo DOCG Einaudi. 2005 Barolo Gallinotto DOCG, Mauro Molino. 2003 Barolo Margheria DOCG, Pira. 2005 Barolo La Villa DOCG, Seghesio. 2003 Barolo Riserva Bricco delle Viole DOCG, Viberti. “Why is Barolo so expensive!&# Even the new vintages were over forty dollars. The Grape. The Region. Tasting Barolo.

Sometimes when you least expect it, you open what may becomes your new favorite bottle of wine. Tonight I opened one of my remaining bottles of Finger Lakes wine purchased at my last tour in December. An Atwater Estate Vineyards , Cabernet-Merlot 2007. blend of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon and 47% Merlot. Can't do much better than that. Alcohol: 13.0%

Big break in weather today here in Central New York. Temperatures will reach about 30F. Must be the annual January thaw! To celebrate I figured to open one of my usually reserved for warm weather whites. My choice is one that was recently purchased at Lakewood Vineyards on Seneca Lake at the December 'Deck the Halls" event. 2007 Riesling.

Somewhere among my 50 New Year's resolutions (99.9% failure rate) was to leave my wine comfort zone more often as I continue to expand my trapped palate. To do so, I will have to taste, I mean drink, more wines that I never tried or wines I just never liked. So, to start off the new year I opened one of my least favorite wines, Zinfandel.

Syrah has always been one to those wines I could take or leave it. Almost all that I had ever tasted were the Shiraz from Australia. While visiting Damiani Wine Cellars on Seneca Lake this past spring I tasted an excellent Syrah and I was sold. From that day on I was a fan. enjoyed the Syrah with Shirley's three bean chili.

This has been one fantastic year of enlightenment for me when it comes to all things wine. Believe I may do a year end article on the subject. If I do, I will have to include the German grape, Dornfelder as one of the highlights. Dornfelder is a cross between Helfensteiner and Heroldrebe grapes. It is the 3rd most planted red wine grape in Germany.

** Disclaimer: I received these wines from Martellotto Wine s One of the benefits of writing a wine blog is the occasional UPS delivery of wine to taste and review on the blog. It can also be disappointing when the wine received is one that I don't normally drink or one that I have a hard time with. Now Cabs I have no problem with.

Can't seem to find a Finger Lakes Riesling I don't like. Thanks to my son, this past weekend I opened a dry Riesling from Lamoreaux Landing Wine Cellars located in Lodi, NY, on the east side of Seneca Lake and my first stop on the annual " Deck the Halls " event on Dec. have to say his timing was impeccable. g/L pH: 2.93 Alcohol by Volume: 12.1

So, to satisfy our thirst for a nice red wine to pair with my Chicken Parmesan, Shirley's Cavatelli Aleta (a cream sauce with Asiago cheese, prosciutto, baby peas, mushrooms, and roasted red peppers) and my daughter Pam's Fettucini with Joey's fabulous marinara sauce, we chose a Banfi Chianti Classico Reserva 2005.

Sometime near the end of the year, I would like to post all that I have learned and the wines that I have come to enjoy over the past two years. From a European reds only wine drinker who could not tolerate most white wines or any wines over 0% RS, to be even drinking the many wines I am now, I think I have come a long way.

blend of grapes from 8 parcels, this version is 72% 2006, the rest 2005. He made a 2003, for example and he says that he got rid of it too soon, thinking it would fall off quickly. The difference between good producers and others is very big in a year like 2003, less so in a year like 2004," he went on to say. Excellent wine.

I think it gets a little scary when you choose a not so good wine for three consecutive nights. When the fourth night comes and you just get home from work and you are looking for a nice wine just to sip, watch a little TV and catch up on a little blog work, you check every bottle in the wine fridge and just can't decide for fear of failing again.

Every Friday and Saturday after work, a few friends and I visit our favorite lounge for some great food off the bar menu and to down a few glasses(maybe more than a few) of wine. Of course, the lounge is owned by my son and his fiance and has become our regular hang out since opening one year ago. Finally, he has listened to his dad. At that price.

About two years ago I found a special deal on a gift pack of two wines from Candoni Wines. The gift pack wasn't what sold Shirley and I on the purchase, it was the label. The gift pack included a bottle of Merlot and a bottle of Pinot Grigio, of which we opened at a dinner dance held during my annual military reunion. First, the label. for $11.

Alright, here's my dilemma or at least one of them. Tonight Shirley and daughter Pam are making 'halupkies' for dinner. Halupkies are also known as stuffed cabbage or as we called them in our house as kids growing up in the Pennsylvania coal region, 'blind pigeons.' The dilemma, I have no clue as to what wine to open. That only added to the dilemma.

There comes a time when you believe that a certain wine just can't get any better. hope I never get to that point in my lifetime. don't hide the fact that in the past two years I have fallen in love with wines from the Finger Lakes region of New York. have my favorite Finger Lakes wineries and my favorite Finger Lakes wines. Such is the case today!

While in Virginia on vacation, I picked up four bottles of Virginia wines, figuring I would try all four and choose one to review. Tonight I opened up the second bottle and had maybe the best white wine find of this summer, a 2006 Michael Shaps Viognier from the King Family Vineyards. The wines are produced with a traditional old-world style.

I 'm currently making room in my wine cooler for a recent large quantity buy, so I pulled out a Cantina Zaccagnini Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2005 Riserva for a pizza dinner tonight. had this wine about four years ago and wasn't fully impressed at that time, but thought I'd give it another chance and the price was right. Great Buy!

One of the problems with bringing home lots of wine from a Finger Lakes wine tour is deciding which ones to try first. Shirley helps make that decision easier by planning some meals ahead of time or by just giving me a warning of what's on the menu for the night. Sometimes though, it can be challenging choosing the right wine for the meal.

Especially noted were the 2003 Pinot Noir reserve, the 2005 Cabernet Franc reserve and the 2005 Merlot reserve. Can't think of a better way to start a 2 week vacation then to spend it at some fantastic wineries in the Finger Lakes. don't know where to rank the day's events. have to say it was the folks we met. mean Damn!

Winemaker Tasting notes from the 2005 vintage Côtes du Rhône-style, this Syrah is a blend from the Mandeville Island Vineyard and two proven Northern Lodi area vineyards– Kirschenmann and Knoll Vineyards in the Victor and Lockeford areas, respectively.Fermented and aged in a combination of oak barrels; French, American and European, for 18 months.

OK, today I sinned again, at least according to some. took my list of New York medal winners to another local wine shop. Unfortunately, I found only one, besides another Anthony Road Vinyards 2008 semi-dry Riesling which I already have in the cooler. Oh yeah, for those who don't know, that wine was judged the most outstanding New York wine for 2009.

Having recently retasted the 2005 On The White Keys * infra , my confidence in this little producer is renewed. Cult White Wines: Drink 'Em Or Lose 'Em -- Highlights from Summer 2009 2005 Arietta "On The White Keys" * a green tinged pale golden sauvignon which, I believe, hails from Sonoma. 2003 St. as well. Are we journalists?

Well it's time to try a new wine, at least new to me. Before now I have never tasted Gewurztraminer. Please, no comments on that issue. It took me over 30 years to appreciate any white wine, and now that I do, I am trying them all. The first was OK and will be nice at a evening get-together, but not one I would bring to the party. Great Buy!

With ample experience in making and aging great wines dating back to 1964, Santiago Ijalba García left his position as general and technical manager in a historic Haro bodega to launch his own personal project. In 1998 under his newly-incorporated company Santiago Ijalba S.A. he created the VIÑA HERMOSA brand. The first night I opened the Crianza.

Looking for great buys in wine? Just look to Australia. Don't know what's going on Down Under but right now some of the best buys for wine are Australian. The Lindeman's Merlot 2007 was recommended by a friend this past week-end. Our wine taste profiles are about 180 deg. apart, so I was a little hesitant, but he hit this one right on the nail.

Sometimes you just get lucky when searching out a wine. dropped into a local shop this week and during a conversation with the shop owner I had asked if he had any wines from Oregon. He did. He actually had one. It was a Pinot Noir. have had some really nice Pinot's from Oregon before, but they were a bit pricey. Pricey, but good. Great Buy!

Today was a shopping day with Shirley. We did the Home Depot, BJ's, Best Buy, Panera for lunch, two grocery stores and one Mom and Pop wine shop. The 'honey do' list at home was longer. Back to my day job tomorrow. Unfortunately, there were no choices for a good New Zealand Savvie so down the aisles I walked searching for one that interested me.

It seems every winery in the Finger Lakes has a Meritage. Most are nice bordeaux style blends that are very popular and very tasty and very distinct to each winery. Years ago I struggled to find one to like, now I am finding it difficult to taste one I don't like. And then, there comes along one that is over and above any I have tasted before.

I know those close to me won't believe this, but I am actually going to review a Rose' wine. In doing so, I am showing them that I can accept the fact that for almost all of my adult life I have been very stupid or as Lenn Thompson said 'Are you nuts.' Yes Lenn, I was nuts. The resulting juice once pressed was the perfect hue of pink. Great Buy!

Further, Grant Phelps, the Viu Manent winemaker, said that the Viu 1 was “identical in almost every respect&# to the 2003, 2004 and 2005, three vintages that he also made. What does a 62 point wine taste like? Not that I follow scores for wine very much, but a 62 pointer? Man, that had to suck. accepted. Was it inferior?

One of the most difficult time's I have on a short vacation is waiting for the train to take me home. To kill time I visit or window shop the shops at the station and sometimes get awful lucky by finding a great deal. This past week-end was one of those days and that great deal was in a wine shop. Drink now or through the next 5 years." Great Buy!

I really enjoy shopping for wine and finding one that I never tried and end up putting it on my list of must have wines. Today, I stopped in to buy a Sauvignon Blanc for the evening. knew what I wanted, one that is already on that list, but also found a new one sitting next to mine and decided to take one home to try. Today, I chose a good one.

Rafanelli , whose 2005 Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel ** at 14.8% Perhaps a case in point is the 2003 Albini Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel I purchased for $31 at a wine store in Brooklyn Heights. Tags: 2 stars USA 2006 3 stars 2005 2003 Sonoma 2002 Make no mistake about it, these wines will age gracefully. on the finish.

I have a daughter that is living at home right now while she fixes up a house she bought a few months ago. She is very much into eating healthy and buys only organic veggies and fruits and free range meats, eggs and cheeses. kinda surprised her this evening by opening a California Cabernet Sauvignon made with organic grapes. Great Buy!

I have no idea what occurred between the early 1980's and present in the case of New York Finger Lakes red wines. honestly tried many of them between 1973 when I moved into the region until, I gave up on them around 1980. After that, I basically stayed with my favorite European red wines. Her favorite was a red table wine from Heron Hill Wines.

2005 Leeuwin Estate Art Series Chardonnay, Margaret River. 2005 Jacob’s Creek Steingarten Riesling, Barossa. 2003 McWilliam’s Mount Pleasant Lovedale Semillon, Hunter. 2005 Mount Horrocks Riesling, Clare Valley. 2003 Craigow Riesling, Tasmania. 2005 John Duval Wines Eligo Shiraz, Barossa Valley.

I am just going to begin by saying the Clos Du Bois Calcaire 2006 is probably the best Chardonnay I have ever had. Now I'll qualify that statement by saying I do not do white wine that often and that over the years have had probably less or near 100 different Chardonnays and that is really not that many. Made me feel good, I don't win that often.

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.

Also do look out for their 2003 Hautes Cotes de Beaune.The year was hot, mostly made flabby wines. Don't forget their Pinot) 2005 Saveurs Printanieres, one of those Alsatian blends, is your spring/summer wine. Briefly noted picks. Domaine Derain (St. Didier Monchovet Bourgogne Grand Ordinaire (tart, berry gamay) and a kick-ass cremant.

Anyway, they do a completely charming Bourgone Grand Ordinaire (gamay) and a kick ass cremant and a 2003 hautes cotes de beaune very worth drinking. and don't forget their Pinot) But the affordable (maybe $14-$20) 2005 Saveurs Printanieres is your spring/summer wine. One of these days, I'll take a good note. Derain: in St.

Other Reviews: Travaglini Gattinara 2001 (Italy) Carpineto Dogajolo 2006 (Italy) Penfolds Bin 2 Shiraz/Mourvedre 2006 (Australia) Muga Rioja Reserva 2003 (Spain) Buttonwood Grove Dry Riesling 2006 (NY) La Corte Salice Salentino 2006 (Italy) Damiani vino rosso NV (NY) Vina Real Rioja 2005 (Spain) Damiani Pinot Noir 2006 (NY).

Quotage from Simon Staples, aka BigSiTheWineGuy and a buyer at Berry Bros and Rudd in London: “He [Parker] went crazy about 2003 (all on his own) He missed 2005 (everyone else loved it) He’s now potty about 08(a few very nice wines)Plot?Lost?&#. SPIT and SIPPED: Bordeaux 2008. Lost?&#. SIPPED: wine growing. Wine in London, yes.

Other Reviews: Travaglini Gattinara 2001 (Italy) Carpineto Dogajolo 2006 (Italy) Penfolds Bin 2 Shiraz/Mourvedre 2006 (Australia) Muga Rioja Reserva 2003 (Spain) Buttonwood Grove Dry Riesling 2006 (NY) La Corte Salice Salentino 2006 (Italy) Damiani vino rosso NV (NY) Vina Real Rioja 2005 (Spain). Here's what I mean by that.

The 2008 Vin Gris de Cigare * was aromatic but a little flabby, while the 2003 Cigare Volant **/ and 2004 Cigare Volant ** each showed a little reduction. The 2003 showed tar, smoke, and prune. And the 2005 Nebbiolo is off the charts. Maybe it will turn out great, maybe not. There is, apparently, a lot to learn about Bonny Doon.

One of the few less expensive wines I had left was a Vina Real Rioja Crianza 2005. I promised in my last post (Why?) that I would do a Joeshico wine review this week, but I am finding it a bit difficult to do since I have been emptying my rack of all my expensive wines. Don't worry, I will keep the promise. don't store wine. Hold on a sec.

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?

Well, in the case of Taylor’s, it’s the Quinta de Vargellas: this single vineyard wine’s most recent edition, the 2005, is about $45 compared with the current vintage port, the 2003, which is still north of $100. 2005 ( find this wine ): a solid Vargellas that it very young; big, rich and chocolatey.

17 2nd: 2005 Il Grigio Chianti Classico Reserva DOCG (Tenuta San Felice) 24 months in oak, 12 months in bottle, this is one I remember best, on the label was a medeival knight painted by Titian. One of the most memorable parts of my cycling trip through Tuscany was a visit to Tenuta San Felice at Relais Borgo San Felice.

Tenuta Il Borro Pian di Nova Toscana 2005 IGT ?Another Tenuta Il Borro Toscana 2005 IGT?? Castiglion del Bosco Brunello di Montalcino 2003 ??Castiglion This Chardonnay has a pale yellow color, fruity rich aromas of apple and peach with notes of floral & lemon. Flavors of pear and vanilla balanced with nice acidity.??

Since 2003 Domaine de L'Arlot has been practicing biodynamic throughout the entire estate. We tasted the 2007's in barrel, many of the 2005's and 2006's in bottle. 2005 Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Suchots - gorgeous nose, elegant floral perfume with deep red fruit and earth tones. They're lovely wines and anyone would enjoy them.

Tenuta Il Borro Pian di Nova Toscana 2005 IGT Another blend from Ferragamo's Il Borro, this blend of 75% Syrah and 25% Sangiovese reflects a subtle nose of red cherries, currants and leather, with hints of vanilla and a finish of spices, namely cinnamon and cloves. Flavors of pear and vanilla balanced with nice acidity. alcohol content.

In extremely ripe vintages (recently 2003 and 2005), the nuances of terroir can take a back seat to the aromas and flavors of ripe fruit. This is the first Burgundy Trip 2008 post. You can expect a steady stream of these for the next few weeks. There is no other way, I hope you'll understand. What an incredible trip!

A wow wine at age five, you would never know this was petite sirah, and it has only been in bottle since November 2005. Composed of 77% Petite Sirah with 23% Zinfandel from the Lytton Springs estate vineyards, this is inky and opaque with blackberry jam, sweet tannins reminiscent of fine Right Bank Bordeaux, and velvety Shiraz-esque texture.

Here are my reviews: Barbi Brunello di Montalcino 2003 DOCG (Fattoria dei Barbi) Made from 100% Sangiovese grapes, this Brunello has a really interesting mix of aroma vs. palate. Not long ago Gary Grunner--a wine aficionado with a special interest in Italian wines-invited me over to his house for a tasting. alcohol content.

While at the other end of the wine sophistication spectrum, the 2005 Yarden Katzrin Chardonnay is a BIG golden chardonnay with toffee, caramel, nutty aromas and a creamy palate that finishes long with all sorts of complexities. Made a trip back up to the Golan Heights today.  looks a little freaky huh.

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's a little too cold for Sancerre so I opted for this bottle of 2003 Peter Michael chardonnay from the "Ma Belle Fille" section of the Knight's Valley estate vineyard. The Blue Point Grill in Princeton, New Jersey is my favorite restaurant in the world. know I sound like a kid saying that, "my favorite in the world," but it's true.

The 2003 is drinking great, the 2004 is delicious and the just released 2005 is gorgeous.  I'm sorry for the delay in writing this post.  I have gotten MANY requests for my Rosh Hashana suggestions.  I'm pressed for time (aren't we all) so here goes. decided not to write about wines that typically retail for more than $30. 

They are organic as of the 2005 vintage, yet, they never really farmed chemically as their dad couldn’t see the point of paying for chemicals. the 2001 was before they had any toasty new oak barrels, which they bought in 2003 thanks to the insistence of their California importer, North Berkeley. They became the norm. Cheval Blanc?

We then cracked open a 2003 Domaine de Paul Blanck Furstentum Alsace Pinot Gris that surprised us all with a touch of sweetness, but was once again, quite refreshing. In previous posts I've mentioned a wine club I have joined. joined upon returning to NYC from Napa in search of other wine-curious individuals. THANKS!

Michaud also had a 2003 Chalone Syrah that I also really thought was great.  Wine Enthusiast magazine put on their "Toast of the Town" wine & food event yesterday in NYC at Lincoln Center.  A very large event that took place on two levels & a large balcony & included some of NYC's finest dining establishments.  Very well done!

Zinfandel is a very common varietal in Sonoma county and I tried 2 Zins at Sausal; the 2004 Family Zinfandel & the 2005 Private reserve Zin. Their 2005 "Home" Zinfandel, blended with 3% Petit Sirah, had a very pleasant minty menthol thing going on that went very nicely with the ripe fruit. Maybe he simply lacked personality. Ahhhh.