The swift popularity of Amarone made its producers a great deal of money and set the tone for competition in terms of quality. Our next visit was the wines of Groupo Italiano Vini (GIV) which completed the acquisition of Bolla in 2008. so very excited to go on my first trip with the Association of Wine Educators (ASE). And New York?

And Ben said that he studiously avoids wines like these, that he can't deal with the alcohol and the big fruit. 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. alcohol.

Another male co-worker is now dealing with breast cancer. The tasting room is located in an 1850s farmhouse and the wine is the Cline Cellars Cashmere 2008. Cline Cellars is a national sponsor of the event and contributes $25,000 from the proceeds of 2008 Cashmere sales. This disease is not reserved for just women.

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.

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. One of the most difficult time's I have on a short vacation is waiting for the train to take me home. Drink now or through the next 5 years."

In the spring of 2008 I learned that the winemaking prodigy behind Pax Wine Cellars, monsieur Pax Mahle, was leaving the eponymously named venture and striking out on his own, once again. With the help of a dedicated team of growers (and countless hours of spent in the vineyards) we produced some remarkable wines and learned a great deal.

The bottle that Brooklynguy and I drank together this week was from 2004, disgorged in April of 2007, meaning that it spent about two years on the lees. Back in February of 2007, I wrote in my notebook that the 2004 "will vie with the 2002 as the greatest Terre de Vertus that Larmandier has made so far."

It's a great deal even at the $10 range. I found this Bonello red wine blend from Sicily (An Italian branch of the Beringer Blass Wine Estates) for a mere $5.99 at a local wines/ liquor store. checked on line and it usually goes for $10-11. They are targeting younger consumers and offering old world wines blended in a new world way.

Fabulous new packaging to go along with a wine that is a great deal at its price. As for the reds, the single vineyard 2005 Kayoumi Cab showed black fruit, was round, approachable and very elegant, while the 2004 Kayoumi Shiraz was very upscale shiraz in style with a touch of black pepper, very fruit forward and a long finish. 

So for today, a few tidbits: Deetrane Beats the Market For all of the fun I like to poke at my good buddy Deetrane for his wine buying habits (Wine Commune, Bin-Ends, all sorts of "deals" on "strange" wine), maybe he was onto something. Listen - I don't always have time to write something grand for this blog. Way too many bottles, he says.

Emilion and a Chateau Le Puy September 28, 2008 The last visit of the day was Chateau Le Puy where I saw the Druid stones on its peaceful property. So I eyed the 2004 Jean Paul Brun Vielle Vignes for 45 euro. So testy he was ready to do anything to shut me up, cut a deal, make a bargain. Report from Sonoma. Emilion and Pomerol.

Just like in Burgundy - they say you should drink your 2001's and 2004's while waiting for your 2002s to mature. This honestly is a very good deal, in that a bottle of perfectly mature wine from a top producer from other wine regions usually costs much more. BrooklynLady and I loved this wine when we visited Adelsheim Winery.

understand that the stats can be misleading - if I went through a case of one particular wine because I got a great deal, well that will skew things. And the Voillot was mostly the 2004 Vielle Vignes, a delicious wine. When I was thinking about splurging on wine, I also started wondering about my overall drinking habits.

Italy • ©2008 photo Dave Trieger This clean deep ruby red Sangiovese Chianti has aromas of ripe fresh fruits and flavors of cherry, tangy strawberry and plums. very good deal for $11. went back and had a glass the following day and have to say this wine opened beautifully, so I'll change that to a "great" deal for the price

Rogov gives the 2004 the best score of the bunch, but any will do the trick at $14 or so. Definitely fruit forward, the PS/Zin can be found in the 2004 vintage and sells for between $16-$24 - yes, a wide range. It can be found for both the 2003 & 2004 vintages. The winery has since released the 2004 as well. category.

It has been a while since I've posted/found a wine deal, but this one seems to fit the bill. The Bleasdale Cabernet Sauvignon Mulberry Tree 2004 was given a 91 by the Wine Advocate. have not tried it but is being sold at the retailer linked above for $12.84.  Other online retailers advertise it for between $15-$18. 

©photo 2008 Dave Trieger Italy • The grapes are 90% Sangiovese with the remainder a mix of Malvasia nera, Colorino , Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon from one of the original Chianti regions, Rufina. This red wine is #57 on the Wine Spectator's Top 100 list for 2007 and received a 91 rating for the 2004 vintage.

 Quick wine deal. I've never had this wine before but the 2004 Chateau La Nerthe Chateauneuf du Pape apparently given a 91 by Wine Spectator & priced here at $30 seems to be a good deal for CDP lovers.  It is sold elsewhere online for between $36.50-$45.  Happy wine bargain hunting!

photo ©2008 by Kristen Trieger Monte Antico Toscano 2004 IGT • This red wine by Italian wine specialist Neil Empson and winemaker Franco Bernabei is made from 85% Sangiovese , 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Merlot. This wine is a great deal at about $10 It's well balanced and on the palate are spice and cherries.

Rolland guided tasting » The Winners in Global Warming February 16, 2008 Bruo Prats was up after the coffee break. I doubt that, possible they ROed in 2004). The significant change is a great deal of hot days, it has made the yields more reliable and natural alcohol is up to 9%. In the 80s, eight out of ten was chapped.

And for $50 I got to sample 6 excellent wines, so in my book it's a great deal. • Castel Sallegg 2004 Traminer Aromatico (Alto Adige-Traminer Aromatico) This is a Gewurztraminer, Alto Adige's signature grape, which Augosto says, may have originated that region. Next, we dove right in. the Supertucan movement that is. Amazing

Now we finally have a deal.  It is a Montes "Folly" Syrah 2004, selling for $37.95.  It is not cheap, but it is a bottle which elsewhere is being sold in the $60-$80 range, being sold here for UNDER $40.  I might even have to splurge outside of my normal price range to pick up a bottle or two. Enjoy & happy weekend wine drinking!

So I'm going to be one of those unfashionable people who will order a Santa Maddalena (the name of the DOC), and you're going to have to just deal with it. We then enjoyed the 2004 Le Raisin et L'Ange Fable with BrooklynLady's hangar steak and my cassoulet. Among the various goodies we sampled that evening was a confit of duck leg.

So with that being said our fourth wine is a 2004 Domaine Gayda Three Winds Vin de Pay d'Oc syrah from the Languedoc. These characteristics were found in the Castello Di Meleto 2004 Chianti Classsico. So the Alphabet City Wine Co. has been open for about a month now and all is well. Everything we had hoped for is, so far, happening.

So here's the deal. But the trend held and the year 2004 came. The United States as of 2010 (some say 2008) will be the number one wine consuming country in the world. am going to just put it out there and see what comes of it. Pinot noir is huge right now. Sideways helped that happen. So I see the U.S. It just worked. Hell no.