Today the French insurance company AXA owns several wineries which produce the world’s most exquisite wine, such as Chateau Pichon Longueville, Chateau Suduiraut, Chateau Petit-Village, Chateau Belles Eaux, and two other properties outside France, Disznoko in Tokai and Quinta do Noval in Portugal. Sunday: Dinner in a Chateau. The Lunch. MORE >>

The line up was: Welcome White: 2005 Cascina degli Ulivi Filagnotti (Gavi, Piemonte)--comments? 2- 2005 Fontedicto Pirouette #5 $15 Grapes: Carignan Languedoc, France (for some reason, this one, which was rich and sunny and fruit forward wasnt a smash hit. Flight Two: All Syrah all the Time 2005 Edmunds St. Many thanks! MORE >>

It was November of 2005, BrooklynLady and I went to France together for the first time. Mathieu showed us cement vats full of fermenting juice - we saw and smelled the glorious 2005's as they bubbled away, turning sugar into alcohol. His blog is always interesting to read and his writing style is off-beat and truly hilarious. MORE >>

A few weeks ago I was lucky enough to attend the Washington Wine Commission's tasting called Expressive Terroir of Washington Country. Here are the wines that I really liked: 2005 Chinook Cabernet Franc - Nice young cab franc nose of raspberries and rose petals, a bit of spicy pepper too. That is one busy bull. MORE >>

When tasting Cabernet Franc (and Merlot, but I don't have enough context on that grape so I'm limiting this thought to Cab Franc), I found wines that smacked of vanilla and some sort of blackberry jam. Shinn's 2005 Estate Merlot is balanced and spicy, and just delicious. These are just my personal thoughts, that's it. MORE >>