For example, there wasn't enough juice in 2006 for Bernard Baudry to make both Les Grézeaux, his top cuvée from gravelly hillside soils, and the cuvée Domaine, his delicious and younger-drinking wine from similar soils. So he combined them - in 2006 there was no Les Grézeaux, the juice went into cuvée Domaine. MORE >>

Definitely a good party wine. 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. MORE >>

like her definition of wine of the year - much more compelling than top 100 lists and things like that. The 2006 Nana Vins et Cie Coteaux du Loir You Are So Beautiful (about $15 wherever Dressner wines are sold) is really an excellent wine, no matter how much you might want to reject it based on its annoying name. MORE >>

Well made Bandol rosé definitely improves with age. 2006 Benoît Lahaye Champagne Mill ésime , $68, imported by Jeffery Alpert Selections. Whoa, the 2006 is drinking so well right now, such a silky texture, so well balanced, so graceful, and with such wonderful finesse, and such a skilled bit of blending. More, please. Briny. MORE >>

The Arboleda 2006 was more full bodied with lots of earth, green pepper and tobacco. The Marques de Concha Casa, at $20, was definitely the best of the three, although the Casillero del Diablo was a great buy. This is the third of the Carmenere wines I tasted this month. The first two left me with mixed feelings about the wine. MORE >>