Wednesday, August 27th, 2008

-Ternato, Some Sort of Riesling, Austria, 2006
-Kurt Angerer, Gruner Veltliner, Wachau, Austria, 2006
-Adelaida, Pinot Noir, SLO, 2005
-Adelaida, Schoolhouse Crush, Paso, 2005
-Chateau Margues du Gres, Les Galet Rouges, Nimes, 2006
-Nadeau, Zinfandel, The Bouncer, Paso, 2005

Tuesday, August 26th, 2008

Lunch at Lucques with Etienne de Montille

Obviously, this is a great tasting, and one that very few people are ever exposed to. I elected to omit tasting notes because these wines teach you how little you actually can define about them. They constantly evolve and tasting notes become irrelavent, and almost miss the point of the experiance entirely.

Instead, I've enlarged and bolded the text on the wines that I liked most, the wines that I found to be most complete and intriguing. The lesser known appellation of Pernand-Vergelesses really stood out, as did the Grand Crus and the older vintages (surprise, surprise).

Lastly, the 2004's stood out as a particularly poor vintage next to the 2005 and 2006's. The 2004 reds smelled rotten and while the whites didn't smell offensive they were fat and did lack acid and structure.

-Deux Montille, Montagney, 1er Cru, Les Coeres, 2005
-Deux Montille, Rully, 2006
-Deux Montille, Rully, 1er Cru, Les Clous, 2006
-Deux Montille, Montagny, 1er Cru, Les Coeres, 2006
-Deux Montille, Saint Romain, 2006
-Deux Montille, Pernand-Vergelesses, 2006
-Deux Montille, Auxey-Duresses, 2006
-Deux Montille, Pouilly-Fuisse, 2006
-Deux Montille, St. Aubin, 1er Cru, Sur Gamay, 2006
-Deux Montille, St. Aubin, 1er Cru, Murgers des Dents de Chien, 2006
-Deux Montille, Pernand-Vergelesses, Sous Fretille, 2006

Whites
-Chateau de Puligny-Montrachet, Monthelie, Blanc, 2006
-Chateau de Puligny-Montrachet, St. Aubin, 1er Cru, En Remilly, Blanc, 2006
-Chateau de Puligny-Montrachet, Meursault, Blanc, 2006
-Chateau de Puligny-Montrachet, Chassagne-Montrachet, Blanc, 2006
-Chateau de Puligny-Montrachet, Puligny-Montrachet, Blanc, 2006
-Chateau de Puligny-Montrachet, Meursault, 1er Cru, Les Poruzots, 2006
-Chateau de Puligny-Montrachet, Puligny-Montrachet, 1er Cru, Les Chalumeaux, 2006
-Chateau de Puligny-Montrachet, Bourgogne Rose de Pinot Noir, 2007
-Chateau de Puligny-Montrachet, Bourgogne, Clos du Chateau, Blanc, 2005
-Chateau de Puligny-Montrachet, Monthelie, Blanc, 2004
-Chateau de Puligny-Montrachet, St. Romain, Blanc, 2004
-Chateau de Puligny-Montrachet, Chassagne-Montrachet, Blanc, 2005
-Chateau de Puligny-Montrachet, Meursault, 1er Cru, Les Poruzots, 2004
-Chateau de Puligny-Montrachet, 1er Cru, Les Chalumeaux, 2005

Reds
-Chateau de Puligny-Montrachet, Monthelie, Rouge, 2006
-Chateau de Puligny-Montrachet, Monthelie, 1er Cru, Les Duresses, 2006
-Chateau de Puligny-Montrachet, St. Aubin, 1er Cru, En Remilly, 2006
-Chateau de Puligny-Montrachet, Pommard, 2006
-Chateau de Puligny-Montrachet, Nuits Saint Georges, 1er Cru, Clos des Grandes Vignes, 2006
-Chateau de Puligny-Montrachet, St. Aubin, 1er Cru, En Remilly, 2004
-Chateau de Puligny-Montrachet, Pommard, 2004
-Chateau de Puligny-Montrachet, St. Aubin, 1er Cru, En Remilly, 2005

Reds
-Domaine de Montille, Beaune, 1er Cru, Les Greves, 2006
-Domaine de Montille, Volnay, 1er Cru, Les Taillepieds, 2006
-Domaine de Montille, Pommard, 1er Cru, Les Rugiens, 2006
-Domaine de Montille, Corton, Grand Cru, Clos du Roi, 2006

Library Wines
-Domaine de Montille, Bourgogne Rouge, 2002
-Domaine de Montille, Volnay, 1er Cru, Les Champans, 2000
-Domaine de Montille, Volnay, 1er Cru, Les Mitans, 2002 (Magnum)
-Domaine de Montille, Volnay, 1er Cru, Les Taillepieds, 1998
-Domaine de Montille, Pommard, 1er Cru, Les Pezerolles, 1999
-Deux Montille, St. Aubin, 1er Cru, Sur Gamay, 2004
-Chateau Puligny-Montrachet, Meursault, 1er Cru, Les Perrieres, 2004
-Domaine de Montille, Puligny-Montrachet, 1er Cru, Le Cailleret, 2004
-Chateau Puligny Montrachet, Chevalier Montrachet, Grand Cru, 2001

Monday, August 25th, 2008

Palate Builders - A Class on Clones

-Hilltop Winery, Cersages Fuserege, Hungary, 2007
-Manciat Poncet, Macon Charnay, France, 2006
-Cobblestone, Chardonnay, Arroyo Seco, 2003
-Alban, Viognier, Central Coast, 2007
-A.P. Vin, Pinot Noir, Gary's Vineyard, 2005
-Flying Goat, Pinot Noir, Clone 667, Rio Vista, 2005
-Aston, Pinot Noir, Clone 777, Sonoma Coast, 2006
-Aston, Pinot Noir, Clone, 115/667, Sonoma Coast, 2006
-Domaine du Mourchon, Cotes du Rhone, France, 2005
-Massena, Midnight Run, GSM, Barossa, Australia, 2006

Saturday, August 23rd, 2008

Same as yesterday

Saturday, August 23rd, 2008

Same as yesterday

Friday, August 22nd, 2008

-Hilltop Winery, Cserzszegi Fuszeres, Neszmely, Hungary, 2006
-Weinrieder, Gruner Veltliner, DAC Weinvertal, Austria, 2007
-Svirce, Plavac Hvar, Croatia, 2006
-J. Heinrich, Blaufrankisch, Mittelburgenland, Austria, 2006
-Juris, St. Laurent, Neusiedlersee, Austria, 2006

-Blackjack, Harmonie, Santa Barbara, 2003

Thursday, August 21st, 2008

Mixed Bag

-Teira, Sauvignon Blanc, Sonoma, 2006
-Hirsch Vineyards, The Bohan Dillon, Pinot Noir, 2006
-Fieldstone, Convivio, Alexander Valley, 2006
-Villa Creek, Mas de Maha, Paso Robles, 2005

-Some odd Hungarian red

Tuesday, August 19th, 2008

Lee Hudson dinner at Palate Food + Wine

This was a pretty stunning meal. Lee brought a pig down from Napa in a suitcase and the resturant used it as a base to plan the meal around. The night was long, lavish, and the wines and food were excellent. I highly recommend the restaurant.

Wine
-Some nameless Bandol Rose that was excellent
-a nameless Lambrusco
-Hudson, Chardonnay, Carneros, 2006
-Hudson, Syrah, Carneros, 2006

Food
-Assorted charchutrie plate
-Potted Pork
-Potted Poulet
-Olives, citrus, thyme + e.v. olive oil
-pickled lemon cucumber
-pickled apricot
-coddled duck egg, shaved summer truffles
-szechuan pig eags on finley lettuce, melon, shallots
-Wild sea bass, tomatoes, stewed octopus
-Lee's Suitcase Pig, whole roasted, yellow + green beans, roasted garlic
-assorted cheeses
-stone fruit crumble + lemon verbena ice cream

Monday, August 18th, 2008

Palate Builders, Vineyard Practices

-Hook & Ladder, Gewurztraminer, RRV, 2006
-La Playa, Sauvignon Blanc, Colchagua, Chile, 2007
-Orin Swift, Sauvignon Blanc, Napa, 2006
-Babcock, Pinot Gris, Santa Ynez, 2007
-Bernard Morey, Maranges, La Fussieres, 2004
-Camus Bruchon, Savigny-les-Beaune, Burgundy, 2005
-Babcock, Syrah, Santa Ynez, 2006
-Stolpman, Syrah, Santa Ynez, 2001
-Tokaji, Furmint, Hungary, 2003

Friday, August 15th, 2008

Dinjac, Peljesac, Croatia, 2006
Scavino, Dolcetto d'Alba, Italy, 2006
Homefire, Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley, 2006
Ridge, Three Valleys, Zinfandel, 2006
Mantra, Zinfandel, Alexander, 2005

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Lagar de Cervera, Albarino, Rias Biaxas, Spain, 2006
Casamaro, Tempranillo, Rueda, Spain, 2006
Tilia, Sauvignon Blanc, Vipava, Slovenia, 2007
Slingshot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa, 2005
Naiades, Verdejo, Rueda, Spain, 2005

Wednesday, August 13th, 2008

-Phantom Rivers, Sauvignon Blanc, Barnwood Vineyard, Santa Barbara, 2006
-Te Awa, Chardonnay, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand, 2007
-Phantom Rivers, Pinot Noir, Wolff Vineyard, Edna Valley, 2006
-Costa del Sol, Red Wine, Napa, 2004

-Robert Oatley, Sauvignon Blanc, West Oz, 2008
-Robert Oatley, Pinot Grigio, South Oz, 2008
-Robert Oatley, Chardonnay, Mudgee, AU, 2007
-Robert Oatley, Shiraz, Mudgee, AU, 2007

-Domaine Roland Schmitt, Gewurztraminer, Alsace, 2007
-Syvain Bailly, Sancerre, Terroirs, France, 2007
-Manciat-Poncet, Macon-Charnay, France, 2007
-Bergerie l'Hortus, Rose de Saignee, Coteaux du Languedoc, 2007

Tuesday, August 12th, 2008

-Schmelz, Gruner Veltliner, Loibner Garten, Wachau, 2007
-Some Italian Grignalino that was okay

-Alexana, Pinot Gris, Dundee, Oregon, 2007
-Alexana, Pinot Noir, Dundee, Oregon, 2006
-Revana, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa, 2005

-Substance, Pinot Gris, Columbia Valley, 2007
-Substance, Chardonnay, Columbia Valley, 2007
-Vizcarra, Ribera del Duero, Roble, Spain, 2006
-Segries, Lirac Rouge, Cuvee Reserve, 2005
-Palazzo, Red, Napa, 2005

August, 11th, 2008

Palate Builders, Hyper-Tasting

-Guigal, Crozes-Hermitage Blanc, France, 2005
-Magnus, Riesling, Clare Valley, Australia, 2004
-Weinrieder, Riesling, Kuglar, Austria, 2006
-Blind Trail, Pinot Noir, Central Otago, 2003
-Sonoma Cuvee, Pinot Noir, Russian River, 2006
-Chateau Margene, Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles, 2004
-Fieldstone, Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander, 2004
-Catalina Sounds, Pinot Noir, Nelson, 2006
-Hollis, Pinot Noir, Russian River, 2005
-Sylvain Bailly, Sancerre Rouge, France, 2005

Saturday, August 9th, 2008

Same as yesterday.

Friday, August 8th, 2008

-Cantine del Taburno, Falanghina, Campania, 2007
-Werner & Sohn, Riesling Kabinett, Mosel, Germany, 2006
-Terrunos, Siete 7, Navarra, Spain, 2007
-Vina Cobos, Merlot, La Garto, Mendoza, 2006
-Rockledge, Primitivo, St. Helena, 2003

-Harris, Cabernet Sauvignon, Jake's Creek, Napa, 2005
-Caravan, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa, 2005

Thursday, August 7th, 2008

-Manciat-Poncet, Macon-Rouge, 2006
-Chidaine, Vouvray, Les Agiles, 2006
-Chidaine, Montlouis, Les Choisilles, 2006
-Chidaine, Montlouis Clos Boudoin, 2006

-Gruet, Blanc de Noir, Sparkling Wine, New Mexico
-Hook & Ladder, Gewurztraminer, Russian River, 2007
-Paro, Sketches, Pinot Noir, Anderson Valley, 2006
-Owen Roe, Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla, 2005

-Prevail, Back Forty, Sonoma, 2004

Wednesday, August 6th, 2008

-Markowitsch, Gruner Veltliner, Carnuntum, 2007
-Ostatu, Rioja Blanco, Spain, 2007
-Pey-Marin, Riesling, Marin County, 2007
-Domaine Grands Bois, Cotes du Rhone, France, 2006
-Fieldstone, Convivio, Alexander Valley, 2005
-Grinning Man, Grenache, Barossa, 2004

Tuesday, August 5th, 2008

Just 2 again,

-Robert Craig, Cabernet Sauvignon, Mt. Veeder, 2005
-Robert Craig, Cabernet Sauvignon, Howell Mtn, 2005

Both wines were very good. The Veeder had considerable more tight, tannin structure, with a fine graininess to it. While the Howell was more opulent and fleshy. Both were excellent and represent great potential for aging.

Monday, August 4th, 2008

Palate Builders, A History of Wine

-Hollis, Pinot Noir, Russian River, 2005

-Chateau Jihau, Brewed Malt, Hawthorne, Honey, and grape concentrate
-Szoke, Irsai Oliver, Matsai, Hungary, 2006
-Agrapart, Les 7 Crus, Blanc de Blanc, Champagne, NV
-Yarden, Chardonnay, Katzrin, Galilee, Israel, 2003
-d'Arenberg, Shiraz, The Footbolt, McLaren Vale, 2004
-La Cigarrera, Manzanilla, Sherry, Jerez, NV
-La Playa, Carmenere, Colchagua Valley, Chile, 2005
-Kalin, Chardonnay, Sonoma, 1994
-Dinjac, Peljesac, Dalmatia Coast, Croatia, 2006

Saturday, August 2nd, 2008

-Chesebro, Pinot Noir, Arroyo Seco, 2006
-Lemelson, Pinot Noir, Jerome's Reserve, Willamette, 2005
-Windward, Pinot Noir, Monopole, Paso Robles, 2005
-Chasseur, Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast, 2006
-Truckee River Winey, Pinot Noir, Best Man, Gary's Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highland, 2003

Friday, August 1st, 2008

-Elvenglade, Pinot Noir, Yamhill County, 2006
-Grochau Cellars, Pinot Noir, Willamette, 2006
-Quercus Cellars, Harmonia, Pinot Noir, Willamette, 2006
-Martin Alfaro, "A", Pinot Noir, Santa Cruz, 2006
-Stephen Vincent, Pinot Noir, Four Sisters Vineyard, Sonoma Coast, 2006

-Linne Calodo, Sticks and Stones, GSM, Paso Robles, 2006
-Orin Swift, Mercury Head, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa, 2005

Thursday, July 31st, 2008

-Hedges, CMS White, Columbia Valley, 2006
-Las Vals, Rousanne, Corbieres, France, 2004
-Batic, Cabernet Franc, Slovenia, 2006
-Larkmead, Firebelle, Meritage, Napa, 2005

-Chateau St. Jean, Cinq Cepage, Sonoma, 2001

Wednesday, July 30th, 2008

Just 2

-Conviviale, Pinot Grigio, Pavia, Italy, 2007
-Paro, Pinot Noir, Sketches, Anderson Valley, 2006