Over 100 of us packed a room in a midtown hotel for the event, organized by Executive Wine Seminars. The organizers of the Executive Wine Seminars like to have the participants vote on the top wines of the tasting. But before the unveiling, one of the organizers asked Parker if he cared to pick two wines out of the tasting. MORE >>

Very interesting tasting of Australian wines Susan Barros organized today for the first Wine Australia Tasting of 2011 -- Unusual Varietals and Classic Blends. 2008 Moss Wood Ribbonvale Cabernet Merlot – Margaret River. 2006 Cullen Mangan Malbec Petit Verdot Merlot – Margaret River. So now you are asking: did it work? MORE >>

While Merlot’s fall from grace can be traced to one line in the movie Sideways , the fall of Syrah has been more difficult to track. was happy to have the chance to check in with Syrah by organizing a small tasting at a private residence last week. The Carlei , Heathcote Shiraz, Green Vineyards 2003 from Victoria opened our tasting. MORE >>

The second, I enjoyed with my daughter's roasted organic free range chicken and some fabulous roasted potato fingerlings. This has been one fantastic year of enlightenment for me when it comes to all things wine. Believe I may do a year end article on the subject. Dornfelder is a cross between Helfensteiner and Heroldrebe grapes. MORE >>

We'll be picking the Oak Knoll District Merlot next. acre vineyard of clone 338 organic Cabernet Sauvignon is coming along slow and nice, with notes of mostly blueberry and very soft tannins. Harvest is progressing nicely, if slowly, here in Napa Valley. Our 2011 St. Helena Sauvignon Blanc is all barreled down and aging nicely. MORE >>