2006 Paul Jaboulet Aine Chateauneuf du Pape "Les Cedres" *       Now, in the grey light on the snow covered streets in Chelsea you wonder where she is, what she is thinking, what she is doing right now, and it occurs to you, you know exactly where to find her. This is the wine you won't write home to mommy about. MORE >>

numbered them and we did a blind tasting, pitting Girard's 2002 Cabernet Franc against a 2000 Ch. The backbone in Girard's 2002 Cabernet Franc had emerged finally and it showed complex notes of spice, fresh red bell pepper, celery and a strong coconut note on the finish. This was a near ringer for aged Chateauneuf du Pape. 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. don't know. MORE >>

Rhone Valley 2003 Domaine Pierre Usseglio Chateauneuf-du-Pape , $40 (Chambers Street Wines). 2005 Domaine Monpertuis Cote du Rhone Vignoble de la Ramiere , $14 (Chambers Street Wines). New York 2002 Castello di Borghese Cabernet Franc Reserve , $32 (winery). An incredible value, I would assert. Good acidity. MORE >>

In my effort to better understand the reds from the 2005 vintage in France and the wines from the Rhône Valley in general, I recently tasted Guigal's 2005 Cotes du Rhône * and Tardieu -Laurent's 2005 Vacqueyras */** and Chateauneuf du Pape **. The acidity was a little strong. the red fruits dominated by spice. MORE >>