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 >>

Definitely going to be a white wine, but I had at least five to chose from. One of the problems with bringing home lots of wine from a Finger Lakes wine tour is deciding which ones to try first. Shirley helps make that decision easier by planning some meals ahead of time or by just giving me a warning of what's on the menu for the night. MORE >>

Peter generously brought a bottle of Selosse Champagne from France for my birthday in the fall. Why, on Christmas even my friend Dan Melia opened an absolutely gorgeous bottle of 2006 Marie-Noëlle Ledru Saignée Rosé , and we drank it with excellent grilled cheese sandwiches and various pickles. Well, of the last few months anyway. MORE >>

Definitly not Beaujolais, but fruit forward with much higher alcohol. One of the great things about social networking is that you often get in contact with friends and classmates from a time when all was great, life was fun and we were all going to live forever. am fortunate to know a few survivors, including one male, now retired, co-worker. MORE >>

Very tight aromatically, but there are hints of chalky rock and citrus fruit, and there is a definite oxidative character to the fruit. 2005 is thought to be a great vintage because, as in most of France, conditions were essentially perfect. We had a bunch of people over for dinner this weekend for Chablis night. But close. MORE >>