The Hugues de Coulmet has a creamier quality that is more easy going, while the vintage 2005 has a still-wine character that brings depth. All the wines bear the signature of firm tannins that cry out for cellaring. It’s the time of year when distributors and/or importers have annual (or semi-annual) portfolio tastings. alcohol.

This 2005 is hand picked using only the best grapes of the vintage made from 90% Tempranillo with a 10% blending of Mazuelo & Graciano, and aged in American oak barrels for 2 years before bottling for a year before release, thereby softening the tannins a bit. And the finish goes on for a good distance. Alcohol by volume: 13.5%

The Cellar. Corrine Michot gave us an excellent tour of the cellar, both the “old cellar” and the new cellar which is gorgeous and so high tech it even has “skylights” that allow a visitor to look up at the sky through a thin film of water, as the cellar is located below the water table. Secrets of the Cellar.

Zidarich 2005 Vitovska. Zidarich 2005 Malvasia. usually serve orange wines at cellar temp (55 degrees F) and let the bottle warm up on the table from there. Orange wines are sweeping the nation! Well, something like that. These white wines emerge from their fermentation on the grape skins with a rich, sometimes orange, hue.

The remaining bottles (both cork and screwcap) were stored in the cellar of President Emeritus Jonathan Levine for the past four years. Jean-Claude Boisset Bourgogne Chardonnay 2005 Cork. Jean-Claude Boisset Bourgogne Chardonnay 2005 Screw Cap. Jean-Claude Boisset Hautes Cotes de Nuits Blanc 2005 Cork. October 5, 2011.

decided to open a bottle that isn't important to me, something that I would cull from my cellar. looked at what I have and decided on the 2005 Domaine des Croix Bourgogne , $25, Becky Wasserman Selections. Look at my notes from Cellar Tracker and you'll see what I mean: 2/9/2008 : up there with the very finest Bourgogne i've ever had.

That was a very exciting event, with dinner in the wine cellar and much drama as they brought out the old vintages. Fabulous opening dinner at Haut-Brion last night for the press. Haut-Brion was the host Chateaux, with each table hosted by the members of the Grand Cru Classes de 1855 of Medoc and Sauternes. seem to recall bagpipes.

When the work in the cellar is done, don the toque and train to become a master chef under the guidance of Signorello Estate Executive Chef Michael McMillan, featuring Snake River Farms American-style Kobe Wagyu beef, in the indoor and outdoor Kitchens at Signorello Estate. 1 - 3L 2005. Today the focus is on Signorello Estates.

But Parker has given the general comment that 2010 ranks as one of “the three greatest Bordeaux vintages I have tasted in my career&# alongside 2009 and 2005. “ Which reds would you cellar beyond Bordeaux? &#. The Liv-Ex blog provides his top scored wines. Related: “ Traditional Rioja, the anti-en primeurs wine &#.

The dinner was held in their amazing old wine cellar where a small group of wine lovers gathered at a long table to eat, drink and talk about wine ad infinitum. Le Marche region of Italy was well represented by Monte Schiavo at a rustic tasting dinner at Il Buco Restaurant on Tuesday. Now for the wines and foods that went with them.

This is a vintage of ripe fruit, one that appeals in the same way that 2005 appeals - the wines are delicious and perhaps will last a very long time. also learned about several producers whose wines I really liked, and would consider buying for my cellar. The Wine Doctor has a nice page that describes these vineyards, by the way.

One factor is that the wines are quite expensive, almost calling out for cellaring; bright, fresh acidity can be found much less money with Bourgogne blanc (or Chablis), for example. Domaine Jacques Prieur, Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru, 2005. said it seemed as if it were worked harder in the cellar than in the vineyard.

Burrowing Owl Estate Winery 2005. Cave Spring Cellars Blancs de Blancs Brut 2004. Cave Spring Cellars CSV 2007. Closson Chase Vineyards Beamsville Bench 2005. Flatrock Cellars Reserve 2007. Flatrock Cellars 2008. Lakeview Cellars Reserve 2000. Lakeview Cellars Reserve 2007. and Icewine.&#.

If you are categorizing, I think that 2009 is a vintage that can be grouped with 2005 - growers achieved high levels of ripeness and did so without having to sort out a lot of grapes. Not as perfect as 2005, but this is a vintage of big wines that should age well. This one will definitely have a place in my cellar.

I really liked the 2005 Contours and apparently the “Wigan&# was such a medal hog on the wine competition circuit Down Under that it was all but disinvited. The wine business is just that, a business, as one producer present pointed out, and cellaring the bottles would tie up capital and increase costs to the producers.

2005 Paul Pernot Beaune Clos du Dessus des Marconnets , $23, Fruit of the Vines Imports. Not too long ago I retrieved some wine from off-site storage, things that I meant to drink at about this point in their lives (and in mine), and also a few things to check in on. The results have not been terribly impressive so far. Live and learn.

had a chance to visit the property and talk with the cellar masters this past spring. The 2005 (“40th Anniversary&# ) is more accessible today and reveals the benefits of a few years aging as the tannins have softened, leaving behind a gorgeous, brambly zin with delicious aromatics of plum and spice. The lay of the land.

Neal showed me his root cellar, where he grabbed a bunch of his potatoes for our lunch. He opened a bottle of wine for us to share, the 2005 François Gaunoux Meursault 1er Cru La Goutte D'Or. More conversation with Neal Rosenthal: Finished with our tour of the grounds, we went inside the house for a look around. BG: Nice! BG: Yup.

Portugal’s entry into the EU paved the way for modernization and raised capital for winemakers, improving cellars, equipment, and vineyards. Though the winery uses a combination of local and international grapes that span many price points, my favorite is the 2005 oak-aged Chardonnay that tastes like a Chassagne Montrachet.

was looking for some basic information about the wine I was serving, the vineyards, the cellar masters, and a photo for the slide show. 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. Hermann J. Very helpful!

The Cellar. Corrine Michot gave us an excellent tour of the cellar, both the “old cellar&# and the new cellar which is gorgeous and so high tech it even has “skylights&# that allow a visitor to look up at the sky through a thin film of water, as the cellar is located below the water table.

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.

The Cellar. Corrine Michot gave us an excellent tour of the cellar, both the “old cellar&# and the new cellar which is gorgeous and so high tech it even has “skylights&# that allow a visitor to look up at the sky through a thin film of water, as the cellar is located below the water table. The Tasting.

Don't know about you, but lately I've been feeling the 2005 Beaujolais itch. Anyway, I'd been itching to check in on the 2005's. One day last weekend I put together a lunch that seemed right, and so into the "cellar" I dug. 2005 Michel Tête Juliénas Domaine du Clos du Fief "Cuvee Prestige," $23, Louis/Dressner Imports.

Yet we are not drinking the exquisite and expensive 2005 Chateau Brane-Cantenac , a well-respected second growth Bordeaux, but the delicious and very affordable “second wine&# of that esteemed house, Baron de Brane. “I love this wine!&# Introducing Optical Sorting. The Process. So will we be able to taste this in the glass?

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.

recently had the 2005 Les Genets bottling, which is aged for 18 months in vat. The wine is really packed with minerality, acidity, medium weight, has an excellent arc and shows very well today since it has yet to hunker down for the long haul in the cellar. Chenin blanc is one of the world’s most underrated grapes.

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.

By 1839, his first underground cellars were dug and Mr. Jacques fermented his first wine vintage. Those cellars, the oldest and largest in America, are still in use today at Brotherhood Winery. To continue Riesling month here in New York, I wanted to find something other than my favorites from the Finger Lakes region. 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.

For this tasting I was joined by Rosemary Gray, the Champagne, Austria, Germany, and Sake wine buyer and a manager at Chambers Street Wines , Ben Hagen, the wine buyer at Slope Cellars , one of my favorite Brooklyn retailers, and Dan Melia who runs the US operations for Mosel Wine Merchant. But the inexpensive red wines of Provence? It is 12.5%

Imported by European Cellars. 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. And there have been exceptions.

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.

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. The first two left me with mixed feelings about the wine. did enjoy this with some Muenster and Dubliner cheese. It'll be fun!!!

The younger vintages are all tightly wound and will reward with more than a decade of cellaring; the world’s best cabernet assumes a delicacy and refinement that make it very much worth the wait. The wines were all from their cellars. Paul Draper is, without question, one of the world’s great winemakers. The road to Monte Bello.

But the 2005 Domaine William Fèvre Grand Cru Le Clos, those bottles were an expensive mistake. In a very ripe vintage like 2005, the character of the vintage can easily overshadow the expression of terroir. When I think that I could have five bottles of this instead of two of the 2005 Fèvre's, I feel like a dunce.

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.

don't know how much those wines cost, but I would eagerly welcome both of them into my cellar. There was a 2005 Lauer Kern with a mature and mellow nose that initially showed some peach and floral elements, but after 15 minutes in the glass, had morphed into liquid slate. And they are very delicious. It's Lars and Dan - that's it.

Wish I had a nice Canadian wine tonight so I could toast the Canadian Olympic Hockey Team on their winning of the Gold medal. am not an avid hockey fan, but I do watch occasionally and tonight enjoyed one of the best ever games. Instead, I uncorked an Arboleda Carmenère 2006 from the Colchagua Valley of Chile. Bring on the steaks!!! Wine Acidity: 5.31

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!!

Opening this 2005 Monte Bello with the affluent aromas of only Monte Bello mountain surfacing, the only thought I had was life seemed a little back to normal, at least somewhat, and if only for a moment. Let this 2005 Monte Bello develop in the decanter for a good three hours before trying it -- secondary notes will emerge.

The winery is Cline Cellars. One of the first wineries on the road to wine country, Cline Cellars is located 45 minutes north of San Francisco in Sonoma-Carneros. The tasting room is located in an 1850s farmhouse and the wine is the Cline Cellars Cashmere 2008. This disease is not reserved for just women. 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.

While visiting Damiani Wine Cellars on Seneca Lake this past spring I tasted an excellent Syrah and I was sold. 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. From that day on I was a fan. enjoyed the Syrah with Shirley's three bean chili.

The same sensibility extends to the cellar, where she makes the wines without filtration, without cold-stabilization and without any sulfur at disgorgement. 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.

The old saw seems true in life as well as wine, at least, that was the feeling I got the other night after the wines were revealed in a tasting of 2005 California Cult Cabernet organized by none other than David Hamburger of Vintage Tastings. Lewis Cellars Reserve (Group 2d place) Cola and celery and salt on the nose. Really?” I said.

** 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. It can also be disappointing when the wine received is one that I don't normally drink or one that I have a hard time with. Now Cabs I have no problem with.

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. Can't seem to find a Finger Lakes Riesling I don't like. have to say his timing was impeccable. g/L pH: 2.93

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.

We selected our two favorite wines, in order, identified the wine that we'd pick for long term cellaring, and also identified one outlier wine - a wine that is different from the others, if there should be one. This is one for the cellar, I would say. 2005 Jacques Puffeney Arbois Poulsard "M," $26, Neal Rosenthal Selections.

This is not complicated wine, nor does it seem to be a good candidate for the cellar, but it is perfect in its simplicity. 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. And at about $17, it's money well spent.

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.

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.

no sooner sat down on Friday when he brought out a Glenora Wine Cellars Gewurztraminer. Glenora Wine Cellars has been producing award winning wines in the Finger Lakes Region of New York State for more than 32 years. Of course, the lounge is owned by my son and his fiance and has become our regular hang out since opening one year ago.

On Wednesday evening I attended a tasting of fifteen wines from Bordeaux 2005. In his opening remarks, Parker placed the 2005 vintage in the pantheon of vintages that includes 45, 47, 59, 61, and 82. When he said, “the worst thing you could do is die with a full cellar,” the room burst into laughter and a smattering of applause.

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.

The winner was; Row House Cellars White Table Wine NV, brought home from a recent visit to the White Springs Winery in Geneva NY. believe this is the first year of Row House Cellars. Alright, here's my dilemma or at least one of them. Tonight Shirley and daughter Pam are making 'halupkies' for dinner. That only added to the dilemma.

remember loving the 2005 almost immediately upon release because it was so open and expressive. thought the 2007 was delicious at first too but it was also very angular and sharp, needing time in the cellar find its inner harmony. Without hesitation he said "Muscadet." am definitely one of those people.

Tonight I dug into my modest wine vault and found a Ravines Wine Cellars , Cabernet Franc 2007. 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. have my favorite Finger Lakes wineries and my favorite Finger Lakes wines. Such is the case today! It has! Great Buy!

The closet is not exactly cellar temperature and we're not talking about vin de garde , here. 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. Why don't you OPEN this," I would ask. They were great.

And how about this - Brian went downstairs to his cellar (normal people can afford to live in houses in Seattle, apparently) and returned with not one, but two bottles by Vouette et Sorbée. 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.

Bottled by Crystal Valley Cellars in Yountville and blended from several different Syrahs from the area, this deep red gives up aromas of cassis, black currant, and dark berries. Flavors are full and complex, with exotic fruits like figs which make a great first impression on the palate. This is a winner in my book.

The sommelier told me that one patron wanted to spend $900 on the Domaine Romanee Conti, Grands Echezaux, 2005. And Bar Boulud is offering a “Pannier du jour,&# wherein a magnum, jerobaum, imperial or Methusalem is hauled up from the cellar, uncorked and sold by the glass for between $19 and $29 a glass. But for all (both?)

Not warm and easy ripening like 2005, not as bad as 2001, typical perhaps, classic. We blind-tasted the wines and individually picked our two favorites for current drinking, along with a wine that we would want for the cellar. Keith declared that he would happily buy his favorite for his own cellar. Alice loved this wine.

Having recently retasted the 2005 On The White Keys * infra , my confidence in this little producer is renewed. Cult White Wines: Drink 'Em Or Lose 'Em -- Highlights from Summer 2009 2005 Arietta "On The White Keys" * a green tinged pale golden sauvignon which, I believe, hails from Sonoma. when he said this would cellar for 10 years.

The 2005 Philippe Bornard Arbois Pupillin Pinot Noir L'Aide Mémoire , $30, Savio Soares Selections, is an entirely different Pinot Noir, if you're used to the wines of Burgundy. don't know the size of the estate, how they farm or harvest, what they do in the cellar, or anything about the specific site where the grapes are grown for this wine.

2005 Jacques Puffeney Poulsard Arbois "M" , $26, Neal Rosenthal Selections. Beautiful now, and seems like a good candidate for the cellar. I've recently emerged from a bit of a "red wine stand-still." I've wanted to branch out some more. Not merely for the sake of branching out - I wish there was more red wine that I really like.

Such is the case of the 2007 Damiani Wine Cellars Meritage. It seems every winery in the Finger Lakes has a Meritage. Most are nice bordeaux style blends that are very popular and very tasty and very distinct to each winery. Years ago I struggled to find one to like, now I am finding it difficult to taste one I don't like.

It is a rosé that typically benefits from cellaring. hope I have the self control to cellar one or both of my remaining bottles of this wine. The 2005, the current vintage on NYC shelves, is a completely reasonable 13% alcohol. I've never seen a June like the one we just had, with rain almost every day, skies overcast. Unlikely.

No idea how long to cellar this one; it's hard to resist now. Tags: Cellar Selection 2005 Argentina 4 stars On my way to pick up some Mosel Saar Ruwer wines the other night I happened upon this tasting of Argentinian wines, featuring not unsurprisingly four malbecs, one cabernet sauvignon, and one blend.

Our bottle of 2007 Domaine de la Pépière Muscadet Clos des Briords was corked, sadly, as was our 2005 Luneau-Papin L D'Or. The palate was as youthful as the 2005 I had a few months ago. This wine seems as if it could do another 15 years in the cellar without blinking. Perhaps even the seafood stereotype entirely.

Our first stop was at Damiani Wine Cellars. short ride north of Damiani is the Red Newt Cellars. It was also a 2005, which I learned on this tour was a long summer and a fantastic year for the Finger Lakes reds. I am just sitting back enjoying one of the many New York Finger Lakes wines I brought home from last weeks tour.

Just last night we opened a Robert Sinskey 2005 Los Carneros Merlot ** that was nicely textured and tart. learned my lesson with 2005 Bordeaux. Winter-Spring 2009 Cult Wine Release Schedule with pricing (where available) January Ridge Monte Bello 2007 $125 Quilceda Creek 2005 $140 Kistler 2006 avg. Flights are delayed.

At the top of my list is Dashe Cellars. Rafanelli , whose 2005 Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel ** at 14.8% Tags: 2 stars USA 2006 3 stars 2005 2003 Sonoma 2002 Dry Creek Valley has become a Mecca of sorts for those seeking world class zinfandel. Make no mistake about it, these wines will age gracefully. on the finish. Caveat emptor.

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that I haven't been overly impressed with the 2005 Bordeaux I've tasted to date. Then I got this email the other day from America's Wine Shop , advertising the 2005 Latour a Pomerol for $35. Besides, for my own sanity, I needed to try a 2005 Bordeaux that I could enjoy.

Last year, on the Cayuga Wine Trail, I finally found a few very nice reds and this past year discovered a new Finger Lakes winery that is producing some very excellent reds, the Damiani Wine Cellars. I have no idea what occurred between the early 1980's and present in the case of New York Finger Lakes red wines.

2005 Leeuwin Estate Art Series Chardonnay, Margaret River. 2005 Jacob’s Creek Steingarten Riesling, Barossa. 2005 Mount Horrocks Riesling, Clare Valley. 2005 John Duval Wines Eligo Shiraz, Barossa Valley. 2005 Vasse Felix Semillon, Margaret River. 2005 Mount Mary Quintet Cabernets, Yarra Valley.

The 2005, by contrast, was in a very nice spot, exhibiting more muted lime and floral character. The 1998 was oddly phenolic and, while quite solid, not as rewarding today as the 2005. One question that led me to Australia is whether Australian Riesling can age. At the outset, it was a single vineyard wine of tiny production.

Although ready to drink now, the vibrant acidity of this wine will reward additional cellar aging. I am just going to begin by saying the Clos Du Bois Calcaire 2006 is probably the best Chardonnay I have ever had. Last evening my wife and I had dinner at one of the finest restaurants in Central New York, The Mohegan Manor in Baldwinsville.

Every year I try to buy a couple of high end bottles to put away in the cellar, but also a few "lesser" wines by great producers, wines to enjoy when young. This wine, even though it is a humble Bourgogne, has the structure to improve in the cellar for a few more years. File this in the lesser wines from great producers department.

The thing that made this particular bottle so special is that it was disgorged in June of 2005. What happens to high quality non-vintage Champagne when you cellar it? Truly memorable and delicious wine, a wine that has me re-thinking what I want to do with Champagne in my own cellar. More than I do, anyway.

Difficult to compare to recent vintages (which have all included at least some cabernet franc or petit verdot) this is less flamboyant than the 2006 and 2007, and will benefit from extended cellaring. Nathless all, That in my thoughts I of that sacred realm Could store, shall now be matter of my song. There is no short answer. All are superb.

Montchovet Such a sweet couple who run their domaine in Bouze les Beaune, not far from where Pacalet had his cellar. and don't forget their Pinot) But the affordable (maybe $14-$20) 2005 Saveurs Printanieres is your spring/summer wine. One of these days, I'll take a good note. But here are some picks from their terrific tasting.

A few weeks ago, I reviewed a Fingerlakes red table wine from Damiani Wine Cellars of Hector, NY. was totally surprised that I found a NY red I really enjoyed. And it was a no-brainer that when I found a Pinot Noir from Damiani that I quickly brought one home and just as quick uncorked it. Here's what I mean by that.

Jean-Michel Cazes of Chateau Lynch Bages ran the operations, which included upgrading the winemaking as well as overseeing a renovation the cellars and the chateau. The 2005 was fantastic and the 06 excellent. Rivalries and conflicts simmer throughout the world. Members and their guests packed the private dining room to (over)capacity.

I'm talking about weather problems like hail or heavy rain or some other climatic stress, when a producer makes adjustments in the vineyards and sometimes in the cellar, and makes the best wines they can. This wine suffered from a case of under-ripe tannins, and no amount of cellaring can fix that. 2005 René LeClerc Bourgogne , $25.

Savio works with small growers who take care for their environment and who make wine naturally - relying mostly on indigenous yeasts, minimal sulfur, minimal cellar manipulation, and light or no filtration. The 2005 Wilfred Rousse Chinon Les Puys (about $30) was, to me, a classic. I asked Ariel, Savio Soares' wine rep. had a blast.

Beginning with the 2005 vintage, Siri d'Jermu qualifies for the newly-created Dogliani DOCG which producers can use for their high-end Dolcettos. Impressively concentrated, it will benefit from 3-4 years' cellar time. Thick and opaque with colors of ruby red, this Dolcetto has smoked bacon, cassis and red cherry licorice on the nose.

want to give her great wines, wines that will improve with 19 years of cellaring. In contrast to the 2005 or 2002, it is not an exuberant wine, even after 3 days open. 2007 Domaine Hu e t Vouvray Sec Clos du Bourg , $28, Robert Chadderdon Selections. Luckily there are affordable wines that also are the finest examples of their type.