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 >>

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. These Rhone wines need time to evolve. Wooden crosses line the road, where, I presume, luckless travelers have fallen. All are superb. MORE >>

First was a Barbera D’Asti “Le Orme” 2005 Michele Chiarlo , Piedmont Italy. Second was from France and called Cote du Rhone Belleruche, Chapoutier, Rhone, 2006. Tags: Cotes Du Rhone Piedmont Barbera Danny Brown Wine Bar Zinfandel Nutty on the nose with earthy aromas, roasted meats and a bit of vegetal edge. MORE >>

Moving to the Rhone valley in France I tried some wines from Eric Texier. Next to Texier was Domaine Franck Peillot from the Bugey region of France (a place I had never previously heard of). wine I really loved and found quite unique was the 2005 Domaine de Roally Vire'-Clesse' from the Macconnais, France. MORE >>

Rather it was a 2004 (I think) Recanati Reserve Cabernet Franc. Cab Franc is one of the 5 Bordeaux varietals (grapes which can be used to make French Bordeaux wine - others being Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec & Petit Verdot), and it is usually used as a complementary grape as opposed to a primary grape in Bordeaux. MORE >>