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

Family Deicas Preludio 2006. Familia Deicas 1 st Cru Exception 2005 100% Tannat. Fabulous visit today to Familia Deicas winery today, home of some of the best Bordeaux style wines in the world. President Fernando Deicas (his prized car above) and his son Santiago Deicas showed me around along with different enologists. 2010 Tannat.

Maison Bouchard Carton "Le Corton" 2005, Mazis Chambertin 2002 from Maison Jean-Claude Boisset, and 1982 Batard-Montrachet from Maison Louis Jadot. On its 150th anniversary in 2006 it changed its name to the Union des Maisons de Vins de Bourgogne. "This is absolutely fantastic!" The clever thing is that ALL the wines are tasted blind.

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.

Last week I came home from work at the usual time (10:15pm) just wanting a nice red wine to sip on, with maybe a few bites of cheese or chocolate. When I got home I found that UPS had delivered just what I was looking for, a Terrazas de los Andes Malbec Reserva 2009. Suggested retail of $14 , but easily found on line for as low as $10.

To give you an idea of what was poured, here is a partial listing of wines from that dinner: Casa Coste Piane 2006 “Tranquillo” Prosecco. Zidarich 2005 Vitovska. Zidarich 2005 Malvasia. Scholium Project 2006 “Rocky Hill Vineyards – San Floriano Del Collio” That’s a lot of orange.

Beaune 1er Cru, Cuvée Nicolas Rolin 2005. Volnay-Santenots 1er Cru, Cuvée Jéhan de Massol 2005. Pommard 1er Cru, Cuvée Dames de la Charité 2005. Corton Grand Cru, Cuvée Charlotte Dumay 2005. Mazis-Chambertin Grand Cru, Cuvée Madeleine Collignon 2006. All were absolutely fantastic! you can read more about below.

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.

looked at what I have and decided on the 2005 Domaine des Croix Bourgogne , $25, Becky Wasserman Selections. perhaps he got excited about the 2005 fruit and threw everything he had at it. I drank a bottle of 2006 Michel Gahier Savagnin the other night. "I've learned enough to know how much there is that I don't know." Burgundy.I

More than La Tache 2006! Here’s Robert Parker on the 2006 Blue Slide Ridge: Extraordinary blueberry, raspberry, floral, and forest floor aromas jump from the glass of the 2006 Pinot Noir Blue Slide Ridge. The 2006, atypically evolved and complex at age three, is showing well already. Consider some of the tidbits.

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.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, I also liked the Grand Dama de Toro 2006 -- it is Tina de Toro (remember, we can't say tempranillo in this region!) also liked the Dama de Toro Crianza 2005, again a bit of Garnacha, and 8 months in American oak. Ah, Tempranillo. would this same varietal by any other name taste as sweet?

Indeed, the Live-ex aanalysis describes the 2008 and 2006 as 'remarkable value for money under 300 pounds per case.'. The 2005 and 2009 are trading at around 450 pounds each. This compares to a Liv-ex price for a second growth (2000 - 2009) of 740 pounds. News Spain brane-cantenac drinks business

1 - 3L 2005. 1 - 3L 2006. 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.

2006 Massena Howling Dog Durif – Barossa Valley. 2006 Cullen Mangan Malbec Petit Verdot Merlot – Margaret River. 2006 Giant Steps Harry’s Monster Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc – Yarra Valley. 2005 Penley Estate the Chertsey Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc – Coonawarra. Shiraz Blend.

I exclaim, sipping 2006 Esquisse, a new brand from the 2nd growth Chateau Nairac. Nicolas was determined that Esquisse should also reflect the character of the vintage, so in 2006 the residual sugar was 130 grams per litre, where as in 2005 it was a more opulent 160 grams per litre. Adele. Now let me set the seen. adele eloise.

This bottle is based on 2007, although 40% is reserve wine from 2006. Good Wines 2006 Camille Giroud Aloxe-Corton 1er Cru Les Gu é rets , $36, Becky Wasserman Selections. These, I had Problems With 2005 Jacques Puffeney Trousseau Arbois Les Berangères , $32, Imported by Neal Rosenthal Wine Merchant. The nose is really beautiful.

We first tasted a flight of un-oaked whites, all Assyrtiko, and all from the 2010 vintage except for the Sigalas Santorini 2006, which we tasted against the Sigalos 2006. The 2006 was incredible - bone dry and mineral, with the years intensifying the flavors. Wines from Santorini. The next flight of five wines were oaked.

Burrowing Owl Estate Winery 2005. Closson Chase Vineyards Beamsville Bench 2005. Huff Blancs de Blancs 2006. Mission Hill Family Estate Winery Select Lot Collection 2005. Pelee Island Winery Barrique 2005. Pillitteri Estates Winery Exclamation Cellar Series 2006. Burrowing Owl Estate Winery 2005.

Below are some of the wines experienced: Wines: Arnaldo Caprai “25 anni&# , Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG 2005. Petra Petra IGT TOSCANA 2006. The event was so much fun! Bellavista Franciacorta Cuvée Brut. Castello Romitorio Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2004. Dal Forno Romano Valpolicella superiore DOC 2004.

2005 De Lorimier Mosaic (USA, California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley). 2006 De Lorimier Malbe c (USA, California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley). 2006 De Lorimier Cabernet Sauvignon Crazy Creek Vineyard (USA, California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley). color: Opaque, purple, scintillating. finish med +. tasted blind.

Afterwards, we had an icewine tasting with Bruce Nicholson, who was responsible for the vintages during 2006 and afterwards. 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. Inniskillin Winemaker Bruce Nicholson.

Anyway, here are the wines, along with a few notes: 2006 Marcel Lapierre Morgon , $22, Imported by Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant. 2005 Paul Pernot Beaune Clos du Dessus des Marconnets , $23, Fruit of the Vines Imports. The results have not been terribly impressive so far. Kind of like reading an old journal entry. Live and learn.

2006 Domaine de la Tournelle Ploussard de Monteiller, $24, Jenny & François Selections. 2006 Gatti Piero Brachetto d'Acqui, $12 (375 ml), 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.

Lucien Crochet , “La Croix du Roy&# Sancerre rouge, 2006: quite a lovely wine that, for $26, gives a lot of comparably priced pinots a run for the money. Also, only the 2005 gets any discussion. More Americans are drinking wine today than ever before. Forget social media and “web 2.0″–too But it’s not.

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.

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.

2005 François Chidaine Montlouis-sur-Loire Les Tuffeaux, $20, Louis/Dressner Imports. 2006 Domaine Oudin Chablis Les Serres, $22, Jenny & François Selections. 2005 Belle Pente Pinot Noir Murto Vineyard, Oregon, $32. 2005 Domaine des Croix Bourgogne, $25, Becky Wasserman Selections. Yes, I do. Organized enough for you?

Here are a few of my tasting notes: Masi Costasera Amarone Classico 2006 70% Corvina, 25% Rondinella, 5% Molinara, 2 years in oak, 4 months in bottle, deep violet colors, delicious cherry pie aromas, dark waves of chocolate and coffee. On October 25th at The New York Public Library The Instituto Grandi Marchi presented their “Premium Brands”.

“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.

love the Vieille Vignes, but the last vintage that I've seen here is 2005 -that was two years ago. drank a lot of 2005 Grand Vignolle, didn't love the 2006, never saw the 2007, and liked the 2008 a year ago at a Dressner tasting. My favorite producer in Saumur-Champgny, outside of Clos Rougeard, is Domaine Filliatreau.

Torrette Les Cretes Valle d'Aoste DOC 2006 Aromas of vanilla and caramel, blending with earth tones and a palate of blue fruits and berries. paired Paolo Bea Sanvalentino IGT 2006 From Umbria and made from a blend of 70% Sangiovese, 15% Sagrantino and 15% Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, Paolo Bea is one of Italy's top producers. But first.

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. 2005 Chateau Mazeris Canon Fronsac Raspberries, blue fruits, cooked fruits, wax cherry candy, $30. 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.

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.

Domaine du Closel , La Jalousie, Savennieres, 2006. recently had the 2005 Les Genets bottling, which is aged for 18 months in vat. Domaine Belliviere , Jasnières, 2006. The 2006 “Les Rosiers&# (about $29) bottling is a serious wine and that possesses quite a layered structure mainly of the honey on rocks variety.

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.

We then enjoyed two wines from the 2005 vintage with my fish soup. 2005 is thought to be a great vintage because, as in most of France, conditions were essentially perfect. I'm not sure yet where I stand on 2005, as I've had some wines that are more about ripeness and grape character than they are about terroir. But close.

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.

Here are the wines we tasted, with a few notes: Three of us picked the same wine as our favorite, the 2006 Delille Vin de Pays du Mont Caume Terre d' Omb re , $17, Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant. 2006 Château Jean-Pierre Gaussen Vin de Pays du Mont Caume , $11, Moonlight Wines Imports. But the inexpensive red wines of Provence? It is 12.5%

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.

2005 Damien Laureau Savennières Le Bel Ouvrage , $32, Jon-David Headrick Selections, Imported by European Cellars. That's to be expected from 2005, but it was also very floral and mineral with an almost powdery sense to it, and with great poise and balance. 2006 Paolo Bea Arboreus Umbri Bianco , $66, Neal Rosenthal Imports.

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.

Ruffino Riserva Ducale Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2006 With grapes coming from the Santedame, Montemasso and Gretole Estates in the Chianti Classico area, and a blend of 80% Sangiovese with a 20% combination of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Superiore rules require yields 10% lower than Chianti Classico.

Jamesport Vineyards 2005 Melange de Trois Bordeaux blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot and 26% Cabernet Franc. Wölffer Estates 2006 Fatalis Fatum 42% Merlot, 29% Cabernet Franc, 27.5% Castello di Borghese 2005 Merlot Aged in French oak barrels for 13 months. million per year. Cabernet Sauvignon, 1.5%

The Arboleda 2006 was more full bodied with lots of earth, green pepper and tobacco. 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. I'm still not sold on Carmenere.

The 2006 red has pretty aromas and is approachable now despite a sold core of fine tannins; the 2007 was more tightly wound at this stance and a more serious wine. Of the younger releases, the 2005 stood out as particularly gorgeous with fresh acidity, minerality and youthful tannin under a seductive wrap of dark fruit. had chosen.

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.

Instead, I uncorked an Arboleda Carmenère 2006 from the Colchagua Valley of Chile. The Arboleda Carmenère 2006 was purchased locally for $19 Vintage: 2006 Appellation: Chile Wine pH: 3.61 Wish I had a nice Canadian wine tonight so I could toast the Canadian Olympic Hockey Team on their winning of the Gold medal. Wine Acidity: 5.31

Grattamacco Bolgheri Rosso Superiore 2006 DOC 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc, 10% Merlot and 10% Sangiovese. Lungarotti Torgiano Rosso Vigna Monticchio Riserva 2006 licorice, tobacco, smoke, black cherries and violets. All of them were exceptional and I took very brief tasting notes of each. 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!!

The statement continued: “We believe that the only French Pinot Noir that was potentially misrepresented to us would have been the 2006 vintage and prior.&# A French court found 12 executives guilty of selling the equivalent of 18 million bottles of cheaper wine as pinot noir. The accused made seven million euros ($9.5

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.

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.

By the way, somebody brought a bottle of the (2006) Jérôme Prévost La Closerie Les Beguines Extra Brut to the same gathering, and somehow I neglected to taste it. 2005) Cédric BouchardLes Ursules Brut Blanc de Noirs , $80, Polaner Selections. party of 15 people? Sure, crack open the magnum of 1995 Giacosa Barbaresco Santo Stefano.

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.

So, thanks to my friend Raelinn who turned me on to Beatrice et Pascal Lambert Chinon Tradition Graves 2006 $16 Clos du Tue-Boeuf Cheverny Rouge 2008 $18 Domaine De La Bergerie Anjou "Sous La Tonnelle" 2008 $13 (chenin) Govone Barbera D'Alba Superiore 2005: $ 13.99 # 4- Affordable wine in N. Virginia! Leitz Dragonstone Riesling $22

Bosquet des Papes 2007 Chateauneuf-du-Pape Tradition $40.99 **Bosquet des Papes 2005 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Tradition $33.99 Coulaine 2006 Chinon Bonaventure I love it. #5- So my husband and I are vegans and we eat a lot of vegetable stews - with potatoes or butternut squash - can you recommend a red to go with that?

Arretxea, Irouleguy 2005 about $20. Tissot, Arbois, Poulsard, vielles vignes, Jura 2006 about $17. The weather is rapidly changing: one day, fall; the next day, snow! Here are two natural wines from France that have you covered. This hearty red pairs well with rich foods and cold weather. Although not big and boozy (only 12.5%

The first one I opened was the Martellotto 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon. The second bottle was an Agent for Change 2006 Zinfandel. ** 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. Now Cabs I have no problem with.

Tags: Imbibe Wine Club Wine Reviews 2005 Chateau Pineraie Auxerrois Cahors Cot Imbibe New York Wine Club La Pepie Cot Malbac Nosotros 2006

Produttori del Barbaresco, Barberesco, 2005 (about $33): I poured this wine the first day to illustrate tannins. Domaine Guion, Cuvee Prestige, Bourgeuil, 2006 (about $12): After our discussion online about cabernet franc, the polarizing grape , I had to add this wine to the following lineup. How could it not be?

We started with a bottle from Tuscany, the San Felice Il Grigio Chianti Classico 2005, made from 100% Sangiovese, aged 12 months in Slavonian oak casks, showing deep ruby colors, aromas of violets and red berries, flavors of ripe cherries, raspberries and plum, smooth tannins and crisp acidity. beautiful! also VERY reasonable.

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.

2005 Jacques Puffeney Arbois Poulsard "M," $26, Neal Rosenthal Selections. 2006 Domaine Stéphane et Mireille Tissot Arbois Poulsard Vieilles Vignes , $18, Imported by Frederick Wildman & Sons. Puffeney's Poulsard is great too, regardless of how the 2005 showed on this night. BrooklynLady liked it best during the tasting too.

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).

loved the 2005, not as much the 2006, never saw the 2007, and now we have the 2008. In other Saumur-Champigny news, the 2005 Clos Rougeard wines were very impressive. The 2005 Le Clos was wide open and ready to go, crystal clear and with beautiful fruit. People came from all over the world to participate.

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. This bottle is about 90% from 2006, with 80% of that vinified in tank and 20% vinified in used Burgundy barrels. So 070409 means bottled in 2007 (hence the 2006 base year) and disgorged in April of 2009. 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!

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. It was based on 2006 grapes, as it turned out. It is 80% 2006 grapes.

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. While in Virginia on vacation, I picked up four bottles of Virginia wines, figuring I would try all four and choose one to review. The wines are produced with a traditional old-world style.

2005 1er Cru Chambolle for --well, let's just say it's well priced for restaurants. and the 2006 Vosne Les Damodes, and pretty femmy Bonnes Mares. I lost my notes from the Pas Mal, Becky Wasserman tasting! Something I consider a disaster. But I suppose the most memorable linger. Amongst these? The gorgeous wines of Sylvain Pataille.

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!

I'm talking about the 2005 Bisol Prosecco Crede , (current vintage is 2007) the 2006 Bisson Prosecco Colli Trevigiani (current vintage is 2008), and a NV Zucchi Lambrusco Rosato. For a few years I was in the habit of giving my parents a case of wine for Hanukkah. Why don't you OPEN this," I would ask. They were great. Not good, great!

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). 5 2005 Sierra Carche (lot 8114) WA 96. 6 2005 Pasanau (El Vell Coster) Priorat WA 97.

We drank the Saignée de Sorbée (photo courtesy of Peter Liem) and the Blanc d'Argile , both 2006's, although they are not labeled as vintage wines. 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. These things come in waves, I guess.

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.

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." 2004 Dynamite Hill Petite Sirah this wine a behemoth pimp in a blue fedora.

The sommelier told me that one patron wanted to spend $900 on the Domaine Romanee Conti, Grands Echezaux, 2005. But the sommelier asked him if he would like a better wine that’s drinking better now, the DRC, La Tache, 2006 for $750. When is a wine cheaper in a restaurant than at a store? But for all (both?) is that even a word?).

Not warm and easy ripening like 2005, not as bad as 2001, typical perhaps, classic. The only other wine to get any votes (two 2nd place votes) was the 2006 Domaine Philippe Tessier La Porte Dorée. 2006 Domaine Philippe Tessier La Porte Dorée , $19, Savio Soares Selections. Is there room for another blind tasting panel?

Having recently retasted the 2005 On The White Keys * infra , my confidence in this little producer is renewed. So I opened the 2006 Tablas Creek Grenache (mmmmm, grenache.) 2006 Lail "Georgia" Sauvignon Blanc Not going to make that mistake again. 2006 Peter Michael Sauvignon Blanc l'Apres-Midi Gold color. as well.