» The Book Kick-Off Season January 24, 2008 Forget the Super Bowl, book season was kicked off with a wine gathering at my house to intro the aforementioned mistake-riddled galley. The line up was: Welcome White: 2005 Cascina degli Ulivi Filagnotti (Gavi, Piemonte)--comments? Flight Two: All Syrah all the Time 2005 Edmunds St. MORE >>

The 2008 Monte Bello will (probably) be made from just cabernet sauvignon and merlot for the first time in twenty-five years. By contrast the 2005 Monte Bello which we tasted from bottle is darker, more profound; a surprisingly succulent wine at this stage, with good viscosity in the mouth and old school verve. All are superb. MORE >>

But I'll have made a sincere effort to create something new and strange and different, which may be the best you can hope for in the New World." --Randall Grahm, April 2009 It's also why I ponied up $95 last night to go to a Bonny Doon wine tasting at City Winery and meet "the original Rhone deranger" himself. Neither was a "wow" wine. MORE >>

This California red is influenced by the style of the Southern Rhone valley with a blend of 46% Syrah, 23% Mourvedre, 17% Grenache and 14% Cinsault. On the nose, an intense flashback to cherry flavored Jolly Ranchers, morphing into roasted marshmallows on a campfire, and hints of smoked meats, leather and petrol. MORE >>

Moving to the Rhone valley in France I tried some wines from Eric Texier. wine I really loved and found quite unique was the 2005 Domaine de Roally Vire'-Clesse' from the Macconnais, France. tasted 4 of them; a 2005 from grapes with botrytis (a desirable mold that when properly managed leads to long lived sweet wines), and 3 Vouvray. MORE >>