2009 Peter Michael Chardonnay Ma Belle-Fille ( about $80 ) USA, California, Sonoma County, Knights Valley. In fact, the Bush White House served the Peter Michael “Les Pavots” 2003 ( about $275 ) to none other than Queen Elizabeth when she visited in 2007. For the full menu (pdf) , click here. Appetizers: crostini. Find it.

Is it 2003 all over again? Rhys Vineyards has vineyards in more of the marginal weather areas of California and therefore is rightfully weather-obsessed, so their Twitter feed is an excellent source of weather info. Weather: it’s what you discuss in elevators or with the in-laws. The vintage in Burgundy is also advanced.

Movia 2003 Goriška Brda Puro. Au Bon Climat 2008 California Isabelle Pinot Noir. Joshua Greene with Movia owner/winemaker pointing. topic: natural wine movement. Wow, talk about a wine education! Santorini Beyond Greece. W&S senior editor Tara Q. Grand Central Oyster Barprovided delectable bites for pairing with the lineup.

The moves notably included promoting Antonio Galloni to a greater role, as Galloni took over reviewing California wines from Parker himself as well as adding coverage of Burgundy (ex-Beaujolais) to his beat that already included Champagne and all of Italy. Which California wines excite you the most? His unedited replies follow below.

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.

Tags: box wine California Zinfandel

have since tasted a Monthaven Chardonnay (California) and this past week the Silver Birch Sauvignon Blanc (New Zealand). Last March I posted a press release on a new collection of artisan wines in an innovative attractive new package. The Chardonnay was not impressive. Light and fruity with little oak was not what I expected from a CA Chard.

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.

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. The past few months I have been tasting, or should I say consuming, some really fantastic California wines from many different AVA's. Tags: California Petite Sirah red wine few of the issues are for how long and where. Suggested retail is $15.

I'm leaving Chile(till later) and heading over to California to try a few more Zin's. Tags: California red wine Sonoma County Zinfandel 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. Not that I am old??

The Carlei , Heathcote Shiraz, Green Vineyards 2003 from Victoria opened our tasting. Next we were off to Mendocino County, California with the multi-vineyard Tous Ensemble 2007 from Copain (about $20). We were back to California with a wine from Morgan Twain-Peterson, Old Lakeville Vineyard Syrah 2007 ($36). alcohol.

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!!!

The 2006 (which I had previously tasted blind against Danforth's 2003 Sonoma Syrah ) is blackberry in color with musk and blood and pure ripe fruit on the nose. Tags: Cellar Selection Central California 2006 3 stars Oregon 2007 2008 4 stars In short, Maggie's pinot noirs from Willamette Valley are not of this world. spice?)

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

Vintage: 2007 Appellation: California Vineyard Sources: Clarksburg & Lodi Harvest Date: September 10 through October 24, 2007 Release Date: March 2009 Wine pH: 3.61 Tags: California red wine Petite Syrah Think my taste buds are back. No matter what was tried I was getting a very musty taste. Bogle Winery 2007. Great value!!

But that is a part of the character and charm of Monte Bello, which distinguishes it from so many other wines from California, even those -- if not especially those -- from Napa Valley. Also tasted (blind): 2003 Ridge Vineyards California Mountain Merlot and 2005 Duckhorn Merlot Napa Valley Both very similar in style to the 2005 Monte Bello.

There is some duplication with Evan Dawson’s travel post from yesterday but there is also much new, including John’s tasting notes from Mayacamas Cabernet 2003, 1991, 1985, 1974, & 1968. 2003 Mayacamas Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon (about $65; find this wine ). 2015-2050. 1991 Mayacamas Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon.

Wine type: Red Wine Varietal: Blend Appellation: California Acid: 67 g/100ml PH: 4.06 Tags: California red blend 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. Here's what I learned.

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.

Tags: California red wine Mendocino County Zinfandel organic

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.

believe this is my first from the Paso Robles' region of California. A4C has released three wines from Central Coast California: a Sauvignon Blanc, Zinfandel, and a Merlot-Cabernet Sauvignon blend. Tags: Cabernet Sauvignon California red wine Paso Robles Zinfandel Now Cabs I have no problem with.

More tasting notes from the Snooth California Cabernet Sauvignon Blind Tasting earlier this month. Lot 143 is one of the first acquisitions of Sam Spencer, (our new wine maker) after originally bringing us Lots 1 and 2 back in 2003. Made from 90% Cabernet, 6% Tempranillo, 4% Syrah.

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

Tonight I added another favorite place to eat in Syracuse, Joey's Italian Restaurant. Shirley and I have been dining here for the last 10 years and it seems that the food just keeps getting better and better. Best of all is the fabulous and always changing wine list. The only downside is the lack of New York wines on the list and no NY reds.

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.

The game goes into extra innings, and we drink a 375 ml of 2003 Suduiraut Sauternes. Tags: Beer Suduiraut Claux Delorme California Bordeaux Stony Hill Fugedaboudit Loire Valley Germany Champagne Delamotte François Pinon Maybe I am going insane, but I like to think of it as healthy superstition. We decant it, it's delicious. Estèphe.

Parker and the organizer selected a lineup of 18 grenache based wines, seven from Chateauneuf-du-Pape, five from other parts of Spain, two from California (including one aptly named Pandora), and four from Australia. So the King of Spain, 18 bottles of Grenache, and a man wanted by Interpol walk into a conference in Rioja.

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.

Premature oxidation of dry, age-worthy white wines–be they from Burgundy, Bordeaux or California–is a tremendous problem today, and at this point in time it does not look to me as if any meaningful progress has been made since the scourge first became readily apparent when the 1996 white Burgundies began to tank. think not.

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. Turned out to be a good move.

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.

Bottled by Crystal Valley Cellars in Yountville and blended from several different Syrahs from the area, this deep red gives up aromas of cassis, black currant, and dark berries. Flavors are full and complex, with exotic fruits like figs which make a great first impression on the palate. This is a winner in my book.

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.

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!

Should I take one from South Africa or a Bonterra organic from California? Tags: white wine Sauvignon Blanc California organic 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. made the right choice.

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!

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.

kinda surprised her this evening by opening a California Cabernet Sauvignon made with organic grapes. Today they are one of the standard bearers for organic wines in California. Tags: Cabernet Sauvignon California red wine organic did not know that fact when I bought the wine. The wine was a 2007 Bonterra Vinyards Cabernet.

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.

We decided on a mid-range priced California wine from Clos Du Bois. Tags: white wine California Chardonnay Calcaire I am just going to begin by saying the Clos Du Bois Calcaire 2006 is probably the best Chardonnay I have ever had. Made me feel good, I don't win that often. The wine list offered about nine different Chards.

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. It may be the best Italian varietal wine from California I have ever tried. Maybe it will turn out great, maybe not.

Likewise, prices for California Cult Wines have dropped, but with little consistency. 2003 Screaming Eagle can be had for $1000/bottle; the 2001 is still offered at over $1100, down from $1300. Auction prices for premiere cru wines have dropped significantly since the beginning of 2009, but they have not reached 2004 levels.

candy cane wrapper plastic toys mineral rubber bands dried herbs catsup vegetal green pepper blackberry chocolate Greg Dal Piaz from Snooth organized this vertical tasting of Robert Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon's ranging from 1975 to 1979 and ending with a 2003 Pietra Santa thrown in for good measure. 2008 photo by Dave Trieger

Greg Dal Piaz from Snooth organized this vertical tasting of Robert Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon's ranging from 1975 to 1979 and ending with a 2003 Pietra Santa thrown in for good measure. Eight wine lovers ( see photos ) gathered at Cafe Loup on 13th Street in NYC to sample these wonderful old Cabs from the Maestro of California wines.

As G-20 leaders met in Washington this weekend while the economic world burns, they sipped Shafer Hillside Select 2003, a $250 Napa cab ( find this wine ). NYT restaurant critic Frank Bruni goes public about his dislike of Sauvignon Blanc as he tasted one from California, “he offered a grimace and a cry of anguish.&# Reuters ].

Of particular interest was the 2003 Yarden Syrah - a big California style Syrah with dark fruit, this concentrated wine with big soft tannins will coat your palate and leave you with a nice long finish.  Made a trip back up to the Golan Heights today.  I even got to take a trip up a row of vines on a mechanical harvester. 

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. Last year the 2003 propriety wine was like plush chocolaty velvet. Pride Mountain Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2003 * Simply gorgeous.

A 2003 Artadi Pagos Viejos Rioja and the 2001 Grant Burge "Meshach" Shiraz.  It actually reminded me a bit of a California Zinfandel.  I went away (within Israel) for the sabbath to a friend of the family.  A wonderful woman and great cook it is always a nice shabbat when spent with her and her family.  Emillion Grand Cru. 

Not random stuff, like the liquids masquerading as wine that I sometimes receive as samples (remind me to tell you about the California Babera that reminded me of light sweet crude oil - drill baby drill!). Now this - the 2003 Domaine des Roches Neuves Saumur-Champigny La Marginale , this just isn't any good. Maybe I'm just cranky?

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. It's a true California fruit bomb, and it's delicious The Blue Point Grill in Princeton, New Jersey is my favorite restaurant in the world. Number 1. The Best.

Then there was that California style Bordeaux, narrowing the margin between the wines, moving a wine I sort of like (Bordeaux) too close to a wine I really didnt warm to, (Napa Cab/Merlot). 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.

In my opinion Kongsgaard sets the bar for chardonnay in California, followed closely by Peter Michael and Kistler Almost perfect today, and still a four star wine anyway. This chardonnay is an aged gold color, with huge tropical fruits, nuts, and full citrus notes throughout. Big, bright, fruity, intense - just simply a "wow" wine.

could write about the fabulous Israeli Cab or the not so fabulous French Bordeaux, the overrated California red, or awful Israel Merlot (it was BAD) but who cares?!?!! The 2003 Chateau Fourcas Doupre Bordeaux had a very interesting and unusual nose. Merlot, Cab, Syrah - been there done that. Well you want unusual, you got it!

have found 2003 -2005 in stores ranging in price from about $ 13.50 It can be found for both the 2003 & 2004 vintages. The 2003 & the latest release, the 2004 are both drinking beautifully right now. The oldest one I tried was a 1993, but I've also had the '97, '99 and have recently been drinking the 2002, & 2003.

The most horrifying wine showed to us was the 2003 Domaine de la Perruche Saumur-Champigny, which because of the plastered on toasty oak, I took to be a new world Argentinian malbec. Ive had plenty of other Loire cabs from 2003, that were ripe but still true to themselves. This was the 2003 Genoels-Elderen, a chardonnay.

Until recently Sine Quo Non, the cult California-based producer made Pinot from Shea grapes (and charged a whole heck of a lot more than anyone else did). I've been a bit neglectful of my Oregon wines lately. I've become such an old world wine nut that I seem to reach for a Burgundy every time I want Pinot. Okay, so far so good.

We have chosen 2003 Pagos De Infante 100 % tempranillo from the Ribera de Duero located on the northern plateau along the Duero River. And last but certainly not least we head west to California. The producer is Cycles Gladiator located in the downright awesome central coast of California. So the Alphabet City Wine Co. Cheers

Erika wasn't so sure about the 2003 she drank. John, the Corkdork, tasted a 2003 Comte Lafon Mâcon Milly Lamartine , and he highly recommends it, and also trying Lafon's Mâconnais wines in general. Andrew at RougeAndBlanc tasted two wines - a 2005 Domaine Thomas St Véran and a red Givry, the 2003 Chofflet-Valdenaire. Because.

From northern Italy in the Fruili region, the 2003 Vie de Romans Fruili Vieris Sauvignon (price unknown, unavailable) was just strange. The two wines pulling up the rear, so to speak, were both from California. Good friends NorthCarolinaGuy and Gal were in town for a few days and what better reason to have a wine tasting? Another time.

Yes, I didn't taste one Spanish wine, nothing from Australia, very few California wines, and I completely missed the lineup of dessert wine. 2003 Hermann J Wiemer Blanc de Noirs (7+) Made almost entirely of Pinot Noir, this was strawberry scented and pleasant. cannot enjoy myself that way. He owes a guest post, I would say.

Emilion ( Check out Eric Asimov's article on the underdog beauty of 2003 St. This past April my wife and I went to California for our anniversary and thought we would check out, among other places, the Sideways area; an area that has been around since before the movie but not on the map so much as after its release. Who knows? Emilion.

just don't enjoy the big and dense high alcohol wines that I tend to encounter from the California. California wines tend to be expensive, and quality tends to suffer at each price point in comparison with their counterparts from the old world. But California is not the only state on the west coast making wine.

Who woulda thunk it - Brooklynguy, lover of all reds light and elegant, got down and danced with a huge famous California Zinfandel the other night, and came out none worse for the wear. They are famous for Zin though, and at at least 15% alcohol, they are the epitome of the big beefy California Zin. Turley is a cult thing. What wine?"

They are Long Island wines, the producers are not using grapes grown in Long Island to make California style wine. 2003 Scarola Vineyards Chardonnay , $13. 2003 The Lenz Merlot , $15. 2003 Roanoke Vineyards De Rosa Red Table Wine , $30. I'm already a believer in Long Island wine. already like them. alcohol. Check it out.

Oregon 2003 Sineann Pinot Noir Phelps Creek , $40. California (huh? We cracked this at Mike's house at a recent holiday dinner and everyone, including seasoned California Cab fiends, was really impressed. Its been a really good wine drinking month. 2001 Domaine Rollin Pernand-Vergelesses , $30 (375ml). Buy carefully in 2001.

[link] I go into a wine shop I often pass by the California, Washington and Oregon sections just because I am always on the lookout for some old school obscure grape that I have never heard of before. This post is about a California producer that is not readily available in the city but can be accessed online. And more often than not.or

And until recently, Sine Qua Non, the California cult winery, put out a Pinot Noir sourcing Shea grapes. The final vintage of that wine was 2003 - Shea reclaimed the grapes for its own wine. Shea was a common name when I first became interested in Oregon wine, but more as a vineyard on other producer's labels. Not a tuna sandwich.

11 CLOS DES PAPES Chteauneuf-du-Pape 2004 96 $80 (Havent had it in years, but always did love this house.) * 13 DOMAINE CHARVIN Chteauneuf-du-Pape 2003 96 $65 (Sure, why not?) Joseph Les Granits 2003 93 $65 Rhne (Too expensive, and a year Id rather avoid, but if it showed up on the table?) 26 KRUG Brut Champagne 1995 98 $224 (Krug?

Here are the results of the voting: First Place - 2003 Roxy Ann Winery Claret, Rogue Valley, Oregon $25 : two 1st place votes, 1 2nd place vote = 13 points. For 7 bucks it's hard to complain, I guess, and I hear that as recently as 2003, this wine was really quite good. This wine comes from south west Oregon. Reserved palate. Simple

Recent NY Times blind tastings include, for example, 2003 St Emilions : 25 wines, all 2003, all from the St Emilion appellation, all at $100 or less. hope that participants will bring a variety of wines - Bordeaux of course, but also Long Island, California, who knows what else. didn't want to get too strict the first time.

Stag's Leap is one of the most prominent wine producers in California. tend to focus on the under twenty-dollar range but if I were to go above such limits in the California category this producer would on the short list. It is a chardonnay with minimal oak from California with a pre-harvest trim to concentrate the flavor.

While Josh Bergström of Bergström Winery makes heavily extracted, full bodied and rich pinots that might evoke comparisons to the California "fruit bomb" style of wine making, Mark Vlossak at St. 2002 was supposed to be the best vintage ever, and 2003 was so hot that the wines are often flabby and overly extracted and alcohol-laden.