Recently I was invited to a fabulous artisanal Neopolitan pizza dinner at La Pizza Fresca in Manhattan featuring a treasure chest of top Barolo from the very best producers, all from the 2004, 2005, and 2006 vintage. The wines were of very different styles and all were enjoyable. I learned a lot about production! News Piedmont barolo

Damijan 2003 “Kaplja” Damijan 2004 “Kaplja” Radikon 2003 “Jakot” Radikon 1997 Ribolla Gialla Riserva. Zidarich 2005 Vitovska. Zidarich 2005 Malvasia. Vodopivec 2004 Vitovska. Vodopivec 2004 Vitovska “Solo/MM4. Orange wines are sweeping the nation! Well, something like that.

Some of the wines tasted: Chateau Clerc-Milon: 1994, 2004, 2005, 2006. 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. Chateau Mouton Rothschild: 1995 and Petit-Mouton 2005.

The lanky, California maker of pinot noir, chardonnay, and syrah told me at his Sonoma winery that he had his conversion in 2005, after returning from a trip to Burgundy and the Rhone. “A light went on,&# he says about that January day in 2005 when he returned to Sonoma and tasted his own wines. Search for Copain wines at retail.

1 - 3L 2004. 1 - 3L 2005. So you know all about the e-auction that opens May 29, 2011 in alignment with the Auction Napa Valley 2011, yes? am spotlighting certain producers and interesting lots that every wine lover (and supporter of the Napa Valley's charities) should know about. Today the focus is on Signorello Estates. Dinner for 6.

Top wines included the 2005 Matarromera Riserva made from 100% Tempranillo from the finest plotsi n Ribera del Duero, aged for 18 months in French and American oak barrels (80% American, 20% French). Luis E. Garcia Sales Executive, and Sandra & Sandra. So is this a modern style. or traditional?" It is crisp and refreshing.

2004 Château Rayas Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc Reserve , price unknown. These, I had Problems With 2005 Jacques Puffeney Trousseau Arbois Les Berangères , $32, Imported by Neal Rosenthal Wine Merchant. Here are some wines that I drank in March that did not appear on this blog. The best bottle of Poulsard that I've had. in NYC.

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.

Arnaud Ente, Puligny-Montrachet, “Les Referts,” 2004 : the oak hadn’t fully integrated yet, but the wine had good freshness and still seemed to have the potential for more rewards in the future. Colin-Déléger Chassagne-Montrachet, “En Remilly” 2004 : really funky nose that was offputting; the palate was. follows after the jump.

Burrowing Owl Estate Winery 2005. Cave Spring Cellars Blancs de Blancs Brut 2004. Closson Chase Vineyards Beamsville Bench 2005. Mission Hill Family Estate Winery Select Lot Collection 2005. Pelee Island Winery Barrique 2005. Burrowing Owl Estate Winery 2005. Cave Spring Cellars Blancs de Blancs Brut 2004.

If you are categorizing, I think that 2009 is a vintage that can be grouped with 2005 - growers achieved high levels of ripeness and did so without having to sort out a lot of grapes. Not as perfect as 2005, but this is a vintage of big wines that should age well. Fourrier's importer Neal Rosenthal organized the event. loved this wine.

Below are some of the wines experienced: Wines: Arnaldo Caprai “25 anni&# , Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG 2005. Castello Romitorio Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2004. Dal Forno Romano Valpolicella superiore DOC 2004. The event was so much fun! Bellavista Franciacorta Cuvée Brut. Isole e Olena Chianti Classico DOCG 08.

Named Winemaker of the Year at the 2004 San Francisco International Wine Competition and Winery of the Year at the 2005 event, Bruce is a native of Niagara Falls. so I am in Canada to celebrate the Icewine festival. It is a picture perfect snowy day and my host is Inniskillin winery, who has one of the most quality wines in the region.

2004 Éric Texier Côtes du Rhône-Brézème Domaine de Pergault , $29, Louis/Dressner Selections. 2005 Paul Pernot Beaune Clos du Dessus des Marconnets , $23, Fruit of the Vines Imports. 2004 Domaine du Closel Savennières Clos du Papillon , $26, Louis/Dressner Selections. The results have not been terribly impressive so far.

2004) David Léclapart Champagne Cuvée l'Apôtre, price and importer unknown. These, I Had Problems With 2005 Huët Vouvray Pétillant Brut, $26, Robert Chadderdon Selections. 2005 Mark Angeli Anjou Blanc "La Lune," $27, Louis/Dressner Selections. Within each group, I will list the wines in the approximate order of enjoyment.

Thanks to my then girlfriend, now wife BrooklynLady, sometime in 2004 I rediscovered wine. And one day you spend $75 on a great producer's villages Burgundy from 2004, and you realize that it might be true that good producers make good wine in all vintages, but there are better ways to spend $75. still have it, actually. not Turbido!

have a bottle of that wine, the 2004 Pradeaux. He opened a bottle of wine for us to share, the 2005 François Gaunoux Meursault 1er Cru La Goutte D'Or. More conversation with Neal Rosenthal: Finished with our tour of the grounds, we went inside the house for a look around. haven't figured out how to sell them yet ( he shrugs ). BG: Yup.

Extraordinary Vintages in Piedmont 1996 2000 2001 2004 Exceptional Vintages in Piedmont 1990 1997 1998 1999 2005 2006In an exceptional vintage set a Barbaresco aside for a minimum of four years before drinking. In an exceptional vintage set a Barolo aside for a minimum of six years before drinking.

2004 Alzinger Riesling Smaragd Loibner Steinertal, $30, Imported by Michael Skurnik Wines.--NV 2004 Domaine de Bellivière Jasnières Les Rosiers, $28, Louis/Dressner Imports. 2005 François Chidaine Montlouis-sur-Loire Les Tuffeaux, $20, Louis/Dressner Imports. 2005 Belle Pente Pinot Noir Murto Vineyard, Oregon, $32.

Greg Dal Piaz from Snooth organized a tasting last week to sample nine Bordeaux wines from the 2004, 2005 and 2006 vintages, and below are some of my tasting notes. 2004 Chateau Sociando Mallet Haut-Medo c Full bodied, animal, barnyard, chocolate covered cherries, cherry liquore, dry leaves, $50. Chateau Dassault St.

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.

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.

On this evening he brought a magnificent bottle of Lambrusco by Vittorio Graziano, the 2005 Vittorio Graziano Lambrusco Fontana dei Boschi , about $20, (again, don't remember the importer). Levi also brought along a wine that is more familiar to me, although I'd never had it in the 2004 vintage. It was fantastic!

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.

A 2004 & 2005. I met with my Burgundy club this past week. With the warmer weather we moved on to whites and we tried 7 wines from the Corton & Pernand-Vergelesses regions. The first two wines were village wines from Pernand-Vergelesses; Domaine Rollin Pere et Fils (which I learned means “father & son&# ).

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. 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.

The next four wines were all quite good, and were preferred by some of us, enjoyed by all, and in no particular order: 2004 Domaine du Deffends Côteaux Varois Clos de la Truffière , $19, Robert Chadderdon Selections. 2005 Domaine de Triennes Vin de Pays du Var St Auguste , $18, Imported by The Sorting Table. Aren't they? Some are, yes.

And the note from Alfred Tesseron of Pontet-Canet: We started biodynamie for 14 hectares in 2004, in 2005 we did 100% on 81 hectares (200 acres), which is the total vineyard of Pontet-Canet so also for the vintage 2006. Over on Twitter, there was some confusion about the status of their Biodynamic certification. Here are their.

The first of the Zin's I recently stocked up on is the Rancho Zabaco Dry Creek Valley 2004 Reserve. The 2004 vintage is 96% Zinfandel and 4% Petite Sirah. I'm leaving Chile(till later) and heading over to California to try a few more Zin's. Deep dark fruit aromas with some cherry. Hey, you're never too old to learn. Not that I am old??

Ruffino Greppone Mazzi Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2004 Only the best hand picked grapes are selected during several passes to pick bunches at the perfect state of maturation. Ruffino Romitorio di Santedame Toscana IGT 2004 60% Colorino, 40% Merlot, this one being my favorite of the day. Violets, plums, spices with herbal notes.

Since 2004 Steve has been Long Island Wine Council’s Executive Director, playing a large part in bringing the number of visitors to 1.3 Jamesport Vineyards 2005 Melange de Trois Bordeaux blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot and 26% Cabernet Franc. Castello di Borghese 2005 Merlot Aged in French oak barrels for 13 months.

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.

Casanova di Neri Brunello di Montalcino Cerratalto 2005 nose: violets, plums, cherries, flavors: cola, ripe cherries, licorice, yum. Masi Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Campolongo di Torbe 2004 nose: chocolate, mushrooms, roasted meat, saddle, flavors: ripe sour cherries, powder, slate. Herbal, tar, cherries, smoky.

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!!

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. 2004 Barolo Serralunga DOCG, Massolino. 2005 Barolo Gallinotto DOCG, Mauro Molino. 2004 Barolo DOCG, Prunotto. 2004 Barolo Cannubbio DOCG, Francesco Rinaldi. 2005 Barolo La Villa DOCG, Seghesio. “Why is Barolo so expensive!&# Even the new vintages were over forty dollars.

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.

I'll just say it: I'm not a fan of late harvest zinfandel. So this 2007 Late Harvest Dusi Ranch is the only wine from Ridge I couldn't really get into this year. On the bright side, Ridge has instituted a new membership log-in to streamline purchases online. Thank baby Jesus, too.

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.

2004 Marie-Noëlle Ledru Cuvée du Goulté Blanc de Noirs Grand Cru , $60, Bonhomie Wine Imports. 2005) Cédric BouchardLes Ursules Brut Blanc de Noirs , $80, Polaner Selections. Many of the wine people I know share seem to share this generous spirit regarding even the finest and rarest of wines. party of 15 people? Pop open the Selosse.

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.

Here are the details: 2004 Domaine de la Tournelle Arbois Ploussard de Monteiller , $28, Jenny & François Selections, donated by Jenny & François for this tasting. 2005 Jacques Puffeney Arbois Poulsard "M," $26, Neal Rosenthal Selections. Puffeney's Poulsard is great too, regardless of how the 2005 showed on this night.

It will be more expensive than the 2005 was, about $23, and I will happily buy it. The 2004 Vieille Vigne de Cramant Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs , about $100 was well balanced and delicious, but my favorite on this day was the Terre de Vertus Brut Nature Blanc de Blancs Premier Cru , about $80 (based on 2006, but not a vintage wine).

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.

Emilion 2005 (FR) Raphael Merlot 2005 (LI) Craggy Range Gimblett Gravel 2004 (NZ) * *My blind favorite Flight 5 Cabernet Franc Shinn Estates Cabernet Franc 2007 (LI) Catherine Et Pierre Breton Bourgueil Franc DE Pied 2007 (FR) Dare By Viader Cabernet Franc 2005 (CA) ** Bedell Cabernet Franc 2005 (LI) **My blind favorite

blend of grapes from 8 parcels, this version is 72% 2006, the rest 2005. About 10% of the final blend is 2004 and 2002, but from bottles that are disgorged for this blend. 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.

2004 Brick House Pinot Noir Cuvée du Tonnelier , $45. 2004 Belle Pen te Pinot Noir Murto Vineyard , $35. 2005 Adelsheim Pinot Noir Ribbon Springs Vineyard , $44. 2005 Adelsheim Pinot Noir Elizabeth's Reserve , $44. 2005 St Innocent Pinot Noir Justice Vineyard , $35. 2005 St Innocent Pinot Noir Shea Vineyard , $39.

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.

remember loving the 2005 almost immediately upon release because it was so open and expressive. My favorite Briords since 2004, although they certainly are all very good. Without hesitation he said "Muscadet." It tickles me that this guy whose wines sell for hundreds of dollars a bottle, drinks $15 Muscadet.

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!

Many of the non-vintage Champagnes are based on 2005 grapes, a very ripe year, as it was in most of the wine making world. Peter Liem of ChampagneGuide.net said that at one time he thought 2005 juice will make for very good non-vintage wines, in general. arrived quite late and had nowhere near enough time to taste everything.

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.

Guess again and behold the saga of Sierra Carche 2005.&#. Here is the complete lineup: #1 2005 Sierra Carche (lot 8114) WA 96. 2 2005 Espectacle (Monsant) – about $150 (unrated, but 2004 was WA 99, 2006 WA 96). 3 2004 Pico Madama WA 93. 5 2005 Sierra Carche (lot 8114) WA 96. Think it couldn’t happen?

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

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.

2004 Dynamite Hill Petite Sirah this wine a behemoth pimp in a blue fedora. 2005 Buchignani Ranch Zinfandel ** from 44 barrels of 96% zinfandel with 4% carignane from the same "small planting of old-vine zinfandel on the Buchignani Ranch on Dutcher Creek Road in the hills on the far western edge of the Alexander Valley appellation."

But we limited ourselves to dry wines in this tasting, so no Cuvée Renaissance (until after the tasting, anyway, when we enjoyed the excellent 2004 with a group of raw caow' milk cheeses). Not warm and easy ripening like 2005, not as bad as 2001, typical perhaps, classic. Is there room for another blind tasting panel? Just mute.

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. as well. It's hard to get right. Mostly, not.

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!

Based on what I found on the net, it is probably a 2004. 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. Great Buy!

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!

It was also a 2005, which I learned on this tour was a long summer and a fantastic year for the Finger Lakes reds. had already done a review on the 2004 Eclipse, so we skipped that one. I am just sitting back enjoying one of the many New York Finger Lakes wines I brought home from last weeks tour. The first was a must do.

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?

The shop had a small selection of Portuguese wines and I only had about $15 in my wallet, so I chose a inexpensive Quinta Da Cortezia 2004 Reserva. One of the most difficult time's I have on a short vacation is waiting for the train to take me home. This past week-end was one of those days and that great deal was in a wine shop. 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.

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!

Today, I found a bottle of Eclipse 2004 on the shelf of a local Mom and Pop shop and decided I should give it a try. 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.

2005 Leeuwin Estate Art Series Chardonnay, Margaret River. 2004 Wynns Coonawarra Estate John Riddoch, Cabernet Sauvignon, Coonawarra. 2004 Mt Langi Ghiran Langi Shiraz, Grampians. 2004 Penfolds RWT Shiraz, Barossa Valley. 2005 Jacob’s Creek Steingarten Riesling, Barossa. 2005 Boireann Tannat, Granite Belt.

Previously reviewed: 2005 Far Niente Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville ** 2004 Far Niente Napa Valley Chardonnay **/ 2005 Nickel & Nickel Manzana Vineyard RRV Pinot Noir * 2005 Nickel & Nickel “Bonfire Vineyard” Zinfandel * 2004 Nickel & Nickel Copper Streak Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon. Unctuous and opaque.

And their Mercurey La Plante Chassey 2004 showed both tar and marshmallow.Lovely. 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. But here are some picks from their terrific tasting. Derain: in St.

My favorite sous-voile wines of the tasting, in no particular order, were the 2005 Domaine Andre and Mirielle Tissot Arbois Savagnin , 2005 Domaine Labet Savagnin Vin de Voile from Côtes du Jura , and the 2004 Domaine de la Pinte Arbois Savagnin. In the hands of a good producer, sous-voile wines are completely delicious.

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 2004 was fresher, earthier and riper and more complex. And the 2005 Nebbiolo is off the charts. Maybe it will turn out great, maybe not. Neither was a "wow" wine.

2004 Hudelot-Noëllat Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Beaux Monts , $43. 2005 Lafouge Auxey-Duresses 1er Cru Les Duresses , $27. 2005 Domaine des Croix Bourgogne , $25. 2005 Catherine et Claude Maréchal Bourgogne Cuvée Gravel , $25. 2005 René LeClerc Bourgogne , $25. 2004 Dureuil-Janthial Rully Maizières , $18.

2005 Berryessa Gap Yolo County 15.8% $16 Smoked meats again, dishwater, black and white pepper, ripe cherries jolly rancher, chemical aftertaste, harsh wood. 2004 Carol Shelton Maple Zin 14.9% $33 Wild mushrooms over mild aromas of red fruits and a palate of watermelon, perfume, chalk, candy and powder.

For about $22 you can buy the 2004 Binner Reisling Katzenthal , which is a big step up for your 5 bucks. 2005 Domaine Rimbert Mas au Schiste , $20, Jenny & François Selections. Call me crazy, but I don't see us climbing out of this recession any time soon. think we have another two years of hard times ahead, maybe more.

I didn't expect to like this 2004 Chardonnay from Hanzell Vineyards as much as I did. The 2004 is now five years old and tastes like a young Kongsgaard The Judge. Hanzell previously reviewed: 2005 Chardonnay 1995 Pinot Noir. Tags: 2004 USA 3 stars Sonoma Pale hay color, but big Wow!