It is a new release called La Bout du Clos, a wine made entirely from that same vineyard in Ambonnay, from the 2004 vintage. This bottle comes entirely from 2008 and is a blend of equal parts Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. loved this wine too, although it is definitely different from the other Lahaye wines I've had. And more Sherry.

don't aspire to drink geeky wine, and I'm not saying that geeky wine is by definition good wine - that would be absurd. Then we drank the 2008 Domaine Gauby Vin de Pays des Côtes Catalanes Les Calcinaires , $27, imported by Weygandt Metzler. With skirt steak we drank the 2004 Els Jelipins Penedès , $72, Jenny & François Selections.

My favorite so far is the exquisite 2004 Quinte Essence Brut, made of 60% Pinot, 25% Meunier, and 15% Chardonnay from vineyards in Belval-sous-Châtillon (if I understood correctly). At about $85 we're into vintage Champagne expensive territory, but here you're definitely getting your money's worth, in my opinion. That's right.3 cases.

Following my interview with Jean-Marie Fourrier, I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to attend a Domaine Fourrier tasting that featured several wines from the 2008 and 2009 vintages. Equally instructive is tasting the same wines from 2008 and 2009. 2008 Domaine Fourrier Gevrey-Chambertin Aux Echézeaux. Yes, 100 year old.

Definitely a good party wine. 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.

Tonight I uncorked another Carmenere from Concha y Toro , the Casillero del Diablo 2008 Reserve. The Marques de Concha Casa, at $20, was definitely the best of the three, although the Casillero del Diablo was a great buy. This is the third of the Carmenere wines I tasted this month. I'm still not sold on Carmenere. It'll be fun!!!

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. Definitly not Beaujolais, but fruit forward with much higher alcohol. This disease is not reserved for just women.

loved the "entry-level" 2008 Muscadets by Luneau Papin, particularly the 2008 Luneau-Papin Clos des Allées , about $15. liked François Pinon 's 2008's even more than I did the 2007's at this early stage. The 2008 Clos du Tue-Boeuf Cheverny Gravotte , about $24, is 100% Pinot Noir from 30 year old wines on chalky soil.

Now I have a few and tonight I chose a 2008 Reserve Reisling from Fox Run Vineyards. Thankfu lly for me, a no sugar guy, the 2008 vintage is a dry Riesling, 1.0% Only in years when ripening conditions are outstanding will this wine be produced and the 2008 is well worth it. The downside of this Riesling is the price.

am definitely one of those people. 2008 Domaine de la Pépière Muscadet de Sèvre-et-Maine Sur Lie Clos des Briords , $16, Louis/Dressner Selections. I'm pretty sure that 2008 was a difficult vintage in Muscadet and yields were way down. Perhaps that's why the 2008 even now shows such beautiful concentration, such great depth.

found the wine at Total Wine & More in Virginia Beach for $23, so I can't call it a great buy, but it is definitely a good buy and will look for more Michael Shaps wine on my next trip to Virginia. While in Virginia on vacation, I picked up four bottles of Virginia wines, figuring I would try all four and choose one to review.

Definitely going to be a white wine, but I had at least five to chose from. 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.

Unfortunately, I found only one, besides another Anthony Road Vinyards 2008 semi-dry Riesling which I already have in the cooler. Oh most definitely! OK, today I sinned again, at least according to some. took my list of New York medal winners to another local wine shop. Winner of the New York Wine and Food Classics's 'Governor's Cup.'

Don't think I would have with any fish, but definitely a nice wine for lamb or a nice pork roast or even a good angus beef hamburger. 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. Pricey, but good.

They have been fully organic since 2005 and as of 2008 farm their entire estate biodynamically. If you're interested in Loire whites, all of these are definitely worth trying. Here are notes from bottles I drank in the past few months: 2004 Domaine de Bellivière Coteaux du Loir L'Effraie , $22. It is good, but not memorable.

was operating on about 3 hours of airplane sleep and a magnum of 2008 Adrenalin by Brooklynguy. Lunch was definitely in order, and so we went to La Toute Petite Auberge in Vosne-Romanée where I ate a wonderful entrecôte of Charolais beef. demurred, and he chose a bottle of 2004 Mugneret-Gibourg Vosne-Romanée. Uh-uh, no way.

wonder how they'll stack up against their unheralded brethren from the "classic" 2004 vintage, for example. Here's the thing, though: this wine is good, but nowhere near as amazing as the 2004, in my opinion. And there is better balance and definition on day two. Isn't it tempting to check in on your 2005's? Drank in mid August.

Here are some of the big shots that just didn't do it for me: 2004 Chapoutier Hermitage Blanc Chante-Alouette ($90) 2005 Chapoutier Hermitage Monier de la Sizeranne ($115) 2005 Delas Fr è res Hermitage Les Bessards and Marquise de la Tourette ($?) I recently participated in the Wine & Spirits Northern Rhône tasting panel. Small world

They also poured the 2004 Hudelot Noellat Richebourg (about $259; find this wine ), and several current release Bordeaux. A couple of weekends ago, I attended the grand re-opening of Wine Connection in Pound Ridge, NY. Max Marinucci moved his store to a handsome, custom-built facility and it was an amazing tasting by any measure. Pira, G.

These are piercing wines of great definition, and they can seem like turtles, just their head visible underneath all of that shell. The 2004 Vieille Vignes de Cramant was focused and lovely with floral notes, although quite closed. think the 2007 Baudry Les Granges is the best Les Granges since 2004. How thoughtful is that?

remember when the 2004 version of this wine sat in the impulse-buy bins near the registers at Chambers Street Wines for $14.BEFORE the mixed case discount. This is a definite buy 4-bottles and drink over the next 18 months wine. Listen - I don't always have time to write something grand for this blog. Way too many bottles, he says.

732 is based on the 2004 vintage (79% of the blend), and is meant to showcase its identity as a wine made from 2004's grapes. liked this wine very much, but it is definitely not the same wine I tasted at Wine & Spirits. NV Jacquesson Brut Cuvée 732 , $42, Winebow. wish I had such problems. The dosage is the same - 3.5

get it when I can sense how clean the fruit is, when I can feel the clarity and definition of its aromas. 2004 Domaine Pierre Amiot et Fils Morey St. This is a wine that doesn't suffer at all from the under-ripe green flavors that plague many of the 2004 reds. This is not a post about wines that are chaste. You decide.

We have the 2004 Coeur d' Alene Washington syrah. It has a definite grip to it but the tannins are not going to take over any dish you might it up to. It is full-bodied but not so much and has a definite personality on the nose and on the palate. Often wines forms The United States seem unapproachable in price. Idaho? Cheers

2004 Produttori del Barbaresco. 2005 Puzelat Touraine La Tesni è re , a lovely smoky and funky white made of Menu Pineau, and the 2004 Puzelat Touraine La Tesni è re , a red made of Pineau D'Aunis. love these wines, but let me tell you - they definitely got a mixed reception from this crowd. had never met any of these folks.

Of distinction among the reds was the "Marques de Tosos Reserva 2004 (Cainena) made with 40% each grenache & tempranillo & 20% cabernet. But definitely check out an Aragon wine if you are presented with the opportunity. OK, maybe it is just geographically challenged Wine Tasting Guy who doesn't know where Aragon is. The "8.0.1

Definitely a great food wine. had a 2004 " The Sisters " Cab made with 8% Cab Franc. tried a 2004 red blend called "Blend 24" by B Cellars that was 75% cab, 15% merlot & 10 % syrah that had nice forest pine & forest berries to it. My day began in LA with an early flight from LAX to SFO. Havens had some really nice wine.

wine I will definitely keep an eye out for in the future. His 2004 Neiman Cellars Napa Valley Red is a blend of 1/3 Cab Sauvignon, 1/3 Merlot, & 1/3 Cab Franc. Sadly Pam was not there, but her 2005 Cab Franc & 2004 Cab Sauv were. But now, my long overdue summary of the wines I was able to try at the Polaner tasting.

definitely have not spent enough time at home with dinner and M. The Vouvray Brut was tasty as usual, but my goodness, the 2004 Vouvray Brut (only in magnum for some reason) was just fantastic. I went to the Polaner Spring Portfolio Tasting today at Gotham Hall in Manhattan. But of course I missed some great stuff. Pinon's wines.

Not that I don't enjoy the wines, because I definitely do. 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. know what I've been drinking lately, but what about over the past two years? Montevertine - who knew?

While I am not VERY familiar with all the Gamla wines I hear good things and definitely recommend trying them. 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.

And their 2004 "Right Bank" Red, a blend of Cab Franc (53%), Merlot (30%), Petit Verdot (9%) & Cab Sauv (8%) was beautiful. Definitely one I'll be on the lookout for! The 2004 Cab was a little jammy with full fruit, a nice round body and a very nice finish. Sadly, the prices for Peay wines are quite high. Great stuff.

Alright, maybe the 2004 Puffeney Arbois Pinot Noir , $27, was okay, but I just don't see what all the fuss is about. liked them enough to bring two of them home to meet my family, and I will definitely explore them further. 2004 Tissot Arbois Poulsard , $18. 2004 Puffeney Arbois Pinot Noir, $27. Not even a little bit.

And yes, I am definitely capable of being that cheesy. We drank a 2004, a vintage that might not need as much time to unwind as say, 2000, 2003, or 2005. 2004 Calon-S é gur , St-Est è phe , $40 when I bought futures almost three years ago, and only a few bucks more now. I'm not trying to stoke the fires of the debate. Anyway.We

definitely recommend seeking this one out. The Laimburg Winery "Selyet" Pinot Nero Riserva 2004 was a standout at a table of reserve Pinots. I was fortunate to be able to attend the Alto Adige Grand Tasting this afternoon. While there were winemakers in attendence, many of them seemed disinterested in speaking with the guests. Not me.

decided about 6 months ago that I wanted to out-do these people, the folks who taste blind and confidently declare "this is definitely an Opus One, and the slightly lower concentration makes me think it's an 02. guessed the 2004 Louvetrie Muscadet Fief du Breil. went with the 2004 Mouton, after almost going with the 2002 Lafite.

We then enjoyed the 2004 Le Raisin et L'Ange Fable with BrooklynLady's hangar steak and my cassoulet. Quite a lovely thing that they're doing, definitely worth poking around their site. I went back to Black Mountain Wine House , this time with an old buddy, and we grabbed prime seats at the bar for the evening. They're all like that.

We enjoyed this wine, the 2004 Belle Pente Pinot Noir Estate Reserve with pan roasted lamb shoulder chops, purple top turnip pur é e, and green salad with this yummy tarragon white wine vinegar dressing I've been working on. Here are my notes on the wine: 2004 Belle Pente Pinot Noir Estate Reserve ($38 at Great Wine Buys in Portland).

This wine was definitely grown in a valley. 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.

Best after 2008. JS Score: 94, July, 2004 - Release Price: $52 Paitin Barbaresco Sorì Paitin Vecchie Vigne 2001 x 3 WS: Rich and decadent, with mushroom, berry and cherry aromas and flavors. Best after 2008. Best after 2008. More to my palate, but could definitely mellow for a few more years. Please help me.