Very interesting tasting of Australian wines Susan Barros organized today for the first Wine Australia Tasting of 2011 -- Unusual Varietals and Classic Blends. have to say that after tasting these wines, I rushed to the office to break out my James Halliday "Wine Atlas of Australia!" How do the wines taste? Shiraz Blend. MORE >>

In October I went to the Domaine Select Wine Estates Grand Portfolio Tasting. Although I wasn't thrilled with the bulk of what was on display, I enjoyed tasting some great wines that were new to me. But last week I participated in a Wine and Spirits tasting of wines from the South of France. Remy de Provence. loved this wine! MORE >>

I'll just say it: I'm not a fan of late harvest zinfandel. So this 2007 Late Harvest Dusi Ranch is the only wine from Ridge I couldn't really get into this year. On the bright side, Ridge has instituted a new membership log-in to streamline purchases online. Thank baby Jesus, too. MORE >>

But even in the Languedoc, in the south of France where the grape proliferates, where reasonable people like Jancis Robinson dump on the grape for tasting like battery acid (or something ). purchased the resulting 2007 wine at New York Vintners for about $14 and found this true taste of Carignan to be worthy of respect. Carignan. MORE >>

The noon family grows mostly Grenache. 1999 Grenache Solaire, Winery East Vineyard is a late harvested grenache -- color is a brighter garnet, lighter from age, with nose of deep concentrated perfumed fruit. Now we taste barrel samples from 2010 wines. McLaren Vale is an area with very complex soil. 1 is rose from 2010. MORE >>