The 2003 Chateauneuf-du-Pape(s) I have tasted are all super pruney and not my cup of tea. I profess gross ignorance to most CDPs; I haven’t really drank a great one or a really good one actually. The 2004s, however, are a great example of a more typical, classic vintage. I am enjoying a ridiculously low-priced [More]

Um, didn’t get the results I was expecting. See, I just drank a mind-blowing 1997 Manzone Barolo La Gramolere. Wow! All the hype about the 1997 vintage in Piedmont (and Tuscany) is true; every Italian wine I have had from this vintage has been exceptional. This Barolo had power to spare and exploded in my [More]

I have been hard on Washington wines; many can be oaky and expensive. But I drank a very tastyCab/Merlot: 2000 Claar Cellars Cabernet/Merlot White Bluffs It is drinking beautifully now, and it’s like 10 bucks on the shelf. Get outta town! YEAH! Maybe it has something to do with the French winemaker from Burgundy. It [More]

Got to taste a 2002 Staglin Estate Cabernet Sauvignon. WOW! I was blown away by the power of this wine, and the bold, Bordeaux-style aromas and flavors. Like a first-growth on steroids. This is definitely a show-off wine, but it delivers the goods. Right after that we tasted a 2002 Insignia, which is a much [More]

I haven’t really drank any great Red Burgundy in a while. I’ve only been exposed to a lot of boozy, fruit-bomb California and Oregon Pinot Noir. Tonight I opened up a 1997 Grivot Nuits-Saint-Georges Les Boudots. Wow. What a beautiful wine. So elegant and persistent. It had a great smoky nose and pure, lovely fruit. [More]

It’s been a while since I had a nice German riesling and I was rummaging through my wine storage and found this: (get ready…it’s a mouthful) 2001 Dr. Hermann Erdener Treppchen Riesling Auslese ** (yes, the *s are part of the name…I could also have put “Gold Cap” after the *s, but I wanted to [More]

Montsant in Spain. This area surrounds the Priorat and the wines are a bit more affordable and very, very tasty. I will report on a Priorat soon. 2003 Joan D’Anguera La Planella Click on the title of this link for more info.

Once again, I am realizing how great these wines are. I drank a 1999 Calon-Segur and it was stunning. So elegant and silky; I think the 1999 vintage is drinking great right now and a bargain compared to the 2000s. (Though having drank some mind-blowing 2000s, I wouldn’t hesitate to pay extra). The Calon-Segur went [More]