Last year I reviewed the Damiani Wine Cellars '07 Meritage and later picked that wine in a poll to win top honors at the New York Wine and Food Classics's annual competition. The Governors Cup was won by an outstanding Riesling, but the Damiani Meritage won double gold medals for the best vinifera red blend. MORE >>

it would likely benefit from a couple more years in the cellar–but it’s hard to resist! wine picksAh, Christmas. Despite big meals on Christmas eve and Christmas day, Christmas food pairings get little attention from all those people who were so forthcoming with pairing advice on Thanksgiving. MORE >>

In his article, Mike encouraged Chilean producers to pick up a bottle of it in his article, and, even though I’m not a producer, I did so, buying a bottle at Grapes the Wine Company in White Plains, NY ( about $26). wine picksIn a recent column on Slate.com , Mike Steinberger threw most Chilean carmenere under the oak bus. MORE >>

Domaine Huet , Le Mont, sec, 2007 $22.50: This legendary estate recently changed distributors and I picked up some bottles of this wine for an amazing price. 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. MORE >>

Turning to the master first, (whose son Mathieu does a lot in the cellar these days), the Raisins Gaulois from the Lapierres is labeled as a mere “Vin de France,&# rather than a Beaujolais (since they already make a Beaujolais). Tags: French wine wine picks And Thierry Puzelat in the Loire is a leading, young naturalista. MORE >>