2008 Mas des Dams La Dame AOC Languedoc (18.00). This is 50/30/20 Grenach, Syrach, Carignan from an area near Bezier, with black pepper and cinammon bark. This is a Syrah/Grenach blend  with lots of garrigue, black and white pepper, and an intense minerality. very successful first day. I will try. Loup (21.50). MORE >>

Michel also brought a "GSM" - grenache, syrah, mouvedre (Chateau de Nages 2009 Costieres de Nimes, Chaeau de Nage Vielles Vignes, Rouge) with minimum oak yet a spicey nose of concentrated red grapes. He brought two red wines, with the first being Domaine Alain Voge 2008 Cotes du Rhone Les Peyrouses. 100% Syrah. MORE >>

This is a tiny town in the Northern Rhone, famous for its red wine made from Syrah and white from Viognier. liked the Cote du Ventoux Rouge 2009 (60% syrah, 30% grenache, 20% others) with its blueberry flavors, yet went wild for the white Muscat d Beaumes de Venise 2008. Imagine yourself in Ampuis in 1781. MORE >>

Only a floor sommelier can tell you which is easier, yet one of the things I like best about Aldo Sohm, head sommelier at Le Bernardin who was named Best Sommelier in the World 2008 , is that he is very good at both. It was a young wine with elegant flavors and a good pairing for braised meats. hope to visit them in the Languedoc this summer! MORE >>

But his biggest experiment is with his 2008 wine called Le Cigare Volant, a blend of Grenache, Mourvedre and Syrah. Randall Grahm is one of America’s most fascinating winemakers and winery owners. Puns and cute labels helped make the wines fun and approachable. But Grahm has had a change of heart. Absolutely. MORE >>