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2001 CALIFORNIA MERLOTS
A Blind-Tasting
April 21, 2004 |
Notes by
Gerald Weisl,
wine merchant
The 2001 growing season began a bit early and thanks to a frost at
bud-break, Mother Nature saw to it there wouldn't be a huge crop level.
She further impacted the Merlot yields with a fair bit of heat at flowering,
further reducing the size of the harvest.
A mild summer allowed the fruit to progress towards maturity, with some
vineyards being picked very early (in August for some varieties!).
However, the weather really cooled at this time and allowed vintners a more
relaxed pace with various varieties reaching maturity over the course of
September and October, instead of all at once.
We wanted to taste a set of Merlots, including the Wine Spectator's 2003
"Wine of the Year," Paloma Napa Valley Merlot. The tasting
results show an interesting distribution of scores, with three wines leading the
pack well ahead of the Paloma wine! Two wines were outclassed and then you
have the middle of the pack.
Here's what we found:
| The Wines |
Gerald's Rank |
Bob's Rank |
GROUP RANK |
Total Points |
1sts/2nds/
Lasts |
DUCKHORN
2001
Napa
$44.99 |
3 |
3 |
5 |
53 |
0/3/1 |
FISHER
VINEYARD
2001 Napa
RCF Vineyard
$50 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
44 |
2/4/1 |
FROGS
LEAP
2001
Napa
$28.99 |
7 |
5 |
7 |
80 |
0/0/3 |
MOUNT TAMALPAIS VNYD
2001
Marin
County
$24 |
6 |
8 |
8 |
83 |
0/1/4 |
PAHLMEYER
2001
Napa
$84.99 |
4 |
4 |
3 |
46 |
1/4/0 |
PALOMA
2001
Napa
$45 |
8 |
6 |
6 |
63 |
2/1/2 |
PRIDE
MOUNTAIN
VNYDS
55%
Napa
45%
Sonoma
$47.99 |
5 |
7 |
2 |
46 |
5/0/1 |
VERAISON
2001
Napa-Atlas
Peak
Krupp Vineyard
$47.99 |
1 |
1 |
4 |
53 |
3/0/1 |
8th Place: MOUNT TAMALPAIS VINEYARD 2001 Marin County MERLOT
One critic assessed this as being "an average wine and it quickly
seemed to fall apart in the glass." Another taster found "baked
fig-like fruit with some mint and it's very tea-like." Weimax staffer
Bob Gorman pegged it as "a low-tech wine, having pomegranate fruit with
shrill acidity and not especially attractive." Someone else found it
to be "tannic, with prominent herbal notes, pencil shavings and
cedar." A final critic found this to be "quite ripe but not with
sweet fruit notes."
I found this to show aromas of forest floor notes, along with a leafy, woodsy
character. There's a mildly stemmy fragrance and the wine struck me as
being a bit jammy. I found it soft and low in acidity, pegging this as
something to drink right away. Not very complex or profound, it's a
standard quality wine.
7th Place: FROG'S LEAP 2001 Napa MERLOT
The comments on this wine were varied. One person found it to be
"amped up with blackberry fruit, some chocolate overtones and tart wild
berries with mineral and bacon notes." But another taster disliked
the fragrance which reminded her of "H2S
or hydrogen sulfide, but it didn't blow off. There's stewed fruit and it's
soft, yet tannic." Another person faulted it for being "short on
the palate." Faintly positive, one panel member found "light,
bright fruit and a little bit of charm." Bob Gorman felt it showed
"leathery notes and it's a rather rustic red wine." One woman
described it as having a "lemon-like character."
I detected a slightly burnt quality to the nose at first, with dusty, talcum
powder tones on top of a mildly jammy, berry nose. I felt it got slightly
better with aeration, but only slightly. Showing some firm tannins, the
wine seemed out of kilter given its relative lack of fruit.
6th Place: PALOMA 2001 Napa MERLOT
The Wine Spectator made this wine its 2003 "Most Exciting Wine of
the Year," so we were anxious to taste it alongside good competition.
Two of the 13 tasters ranked this as their top wine, so it didn't get a standing
ovation on this occasion.
One critic pegged it as being similar to a "Turley Zinfandel...it's
over-ripe, candied, with plum jam notes and canned acidity." Another
critic felt it had "ripe, jammy fruit." A third person
characterized it as "dessert wine because it has a bit of residual
sugar." A fourth mused "I wonder what this is doing in a tasting
of Merlots!" A fan said it displays "dark blackcurrant fruit and
is strong up front with enough tannin to balance the ripe and jammy fruit.
It's very complex." A final participant said "It's full. Too
full."
I found boysenberry fruit at first but was bothered by the obvious late-picked
character of the nose. It's powerful, certainly, but was a bit like
late-harvested Zinfandel with a slight dried fruit element. I thought it
showed a bit of sweetness and, after the tasting, tested it. It's not
particularly sweet, probably measuring about 7 or 8 grams per liter of
sugar. On the palate, though, the wine is deep, powerful huge. I am
bothered by the heat (the label claims 14.8% alcohol). This strikes me as
purely a "wine-tasting wine," as it's too much to pair with most
foods.
Here's the Wine Spectator review from writer James Laube:
| This
magnificent Merlot is our 2003 Wine of the Year. It's about as good as it
gets from California, with gorgeous fruit that's ripe, rich and
distinctive, with a bounty of complex flavors, ranging from enticing black
cherry, currant, blackberry and spice, with a smooth chocolaty aftertaste.
Run, don't walk for this one. Drink now through 2012. Tasted twice, with
consistent notes. 2,510 cases made. Highly Recommended.
--James Laube |
5th Place: DUCKHORN 2001 Napa MERLOT
Duckhorn's "entry level" bottling was pegged a "big and
complex" by one critic who faulted it for showing "a bit of
alcohol." A second panel member found this to be "warm, with
ollallieberry fruit and notes of coffee, toffee and cola. It's a bit
tannic with some black licorice tones. Very nice!" A third
critic said "It's long and smooth." Someone else found it
"taut and crisp with currant and olive notes and some bitter plum skins and
a wet paper-like finish." Another taster said "it's tannic and
hot," while a final person felt "It has enough fruit to stand up to
the tannins. The fruit reminds me of cranberries and raspberries.
Very drinkable!"
I liked the mildly cedary notes on the nose with a touch of sandalwood.
There's a cocoa tone along with some berry-like fruit. It's moderately
tannic, but has lots of dark fruit flavors along with its cedary and woodsy
notes. Very stylish. Almost more Cabernet-like. I gave it a
one-and-a-half star rating on my three star scale. No stars is standard or
ordinary. Seems to be poised for another 5-8 years of aging.
4th Place: VERAISON 2001 Napa-Atlas Peak MERLOT
One taster described this as displaying a decidedly "sour cherry
fruit" quality. Another critic said "It's over
oaked." A third person admitted "It does have a lot of wood, but
there's good fruit there." A fourth person said "It's so
sour...the sour cherry fruit dominates." Someone else said it's
"got bright, red cherry fruit. It's not a bad wine." One
person wondered if this is "American oak?" Another panel member
found this to be "intense, tannic and showing blackcurrant fruit, vanilla,
mocha and plenty of oak, but it faded as it sat."
My favorite wine of the tasting, I found this to being wonderfully cedary with
plenty of dark fruit and berry notes. It features vanilla and cocoa on the
nose, too. All of these elements shine brightly on the palate, framed by a
nice astringent structure. I pegged this as having five to ten years of
aging ahead of it, but I find it quite attractive now. Two stars+.
3rd Place: PAHLMEYER 2001 Napa MERLOT
"Cola and mineral notes with black licorice, this wine is a bit
closed at this stage. It's dusty and tart with a slightly under-ripe
quality. It's astringent but not hugely bitter." said one
critic. A second taster found it to be "smooth as silk." A
third pronounced it as "well-balanced" wine. Another person
found it to be "rich, compact and showing lots of dark cherry fruit.
This has a long life ahead of it!" Taking issue with this was a
taster who described this as "one dimensional and showing chalky and
tar-like notes with an earthy character." But a fan pegged it as
"complex and well-defined with blackcurrant fruit and some chocolaty,
espresso notes."
I felt this wine was borderline jammy and shorted it some credit for that
feature. It's ripe and mildly oaked on the nose, with dark fruit showing
nicely on the palate. There's a more pronounced woodsy, cedar tone to the
flavors. The tannin and fruit balance seems good, the wine probably having
three to six years of life ahead of it. I gave it a one-and-a-half star
rating.
2nd Place: PRIDE MOUNTAIN 2001 Napa/Sonoma MERLOT
One taster declared this to be a "chewy wine with a long
finish." Another said it's "big, long and complex."
One woman found notes reminding her of a "Nioise olive tapenade with some
black licorice and sweet-tart candy elements. I really liked
it!" Another panel member found it to be "dark and
rich...polished with a blackberry smoky note and a floral nuance with lots of
dark chocolate and cassis on the palate." One taster questioned
whether or not this might have a touch of sweetness. A final critic found
it "Sweetly oaked with some sweet spice notes but it's cloying and one
dimensional."
I'm usually a big fan of Pride wines, but a touch of a resiny note caused me to
drop this a notch or two. I liked the blackberry fruit aromas and mild
wood on the nose. It's got a nice plummy flavor on the palate, with mild
tannins and a bit of wood. One star.
1st Place: FISHER 2001 Napa "RCF Vineyard" MERLOT
"Big, long and complex." said one taster. Another found
"cigar box fragrances and exotic fruit. There's a note of green herbs
and a bit of framboise." Someone else found it to be
"big, ripe and tannic with earthy currant fruit and a sweaty, horse-leather
quality." Another person commented that this "opened nicely and
it came up during the tasting, showing complex, Bordeaux-styled
elements." A final person pegged it as "elegant."
I enjoyed the dusty, woodsy character on the nose and the berryish and violet
fruit. Very complex on the nose. It's a bit aggressive on the
palate, but the tannins are offset by ample fruit. Big, solid wine.
One-and-a-half to two stars.
|
Please note: The wines tasted are not always wines
we have (or have had) in the shop.
Many bottles are merely for our enological exploration.
Price quoted are current at the time of the tasting, but may be different
when you're reading this. |
WE HAVE NOT ORGANIZED A TASTING IN A WHILE...
BUT WE DO POST THE RESULTS OF A PRIVATE TASTING GROUP THAT'S BEEN MEETING FOR
MORE THAN 47 YEARS!
We are working on
organizing some blind-tastings at the shop.
Send us a note to indicate your interest in participating.
These would be on Wednesday evenings and you'd need to bring 8 wine glasses.
THE
VINO-FINO TASTERS
(A private tasting group that's
been meeting for more than 44 years!)
WEST
COAST 2019 CABERNETS My 2023
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FROM WINERIES OPERATING IN THE EARLY DAYS OF THE VINO FINO GROUP December
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CALIFORNIA ZINFANDELS October 2020
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of 2016 & 2017 JULY 2020
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THE LANGHE February 2020
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& FOOD MARATHON December 2019
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RIGHT BANK BORDEAUX October 2019
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CABERNETS September 2019
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+ 2016 CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPES August 2019
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(Mostly Californian) JULY 2019
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(Left Bank) TASTING JUNE 2019
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TASTING May 2019
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ZEALAND PINOT NOIRS April 2019
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BLANC-SAUVIGNON GRIS-SAUVIGNON MUSQUÉ January 2019
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HOLIDAY WINE & FOOD MARATHON December 2018
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ALBARIÑO November 2018
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AMERICAN MALBECS August 2018
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ZINFANDELS July 2018
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COAST RHÔNE WANNABEES June 2018
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CABERNETS MAY 2018
GERALD IN EUROPE IN MARCH/APRIL
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CABERNET$ February 2018
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& KIWI RIESLINGS January 2018
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RHÔNE REDS September 2017
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COAST & RUSSIAN RIVER PINOT NOIRS August 2017
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BIANCO--WINES FROM THE VOLCANO July 2017
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ZINFANDELS June 2017
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WINES FROM HITHER & YON May 2017
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ZEALAND PINOT NOIRS April 2017
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REDS February 2017
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"RHONE WANNABEES" January 2017
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HOLIDAY WINE MARATHON December 2016
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AUSLESEN RIESLINGS November 2016
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VELTLINERS Austrian vs The US October 2016
GRENACHE --
MOSTLY WEST COAST September 2016
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2013
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CATALONIA:
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SYRAHS September 2015
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BLANC July 2015
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VINO
FINO 40th ANNIVERSARY DINNER February 2014
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The
2013 HOLIDAY WINE & FOOD MARATHON December 2013
AUSTRALIAN
SHIRAZ November 2013
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ARGENTINA October 2013
AFFORDABLE
FRENCH RED BURGUNDIES September 2013
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AND MOURVEDRE BLENDS August 2013
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VERMENTINO July 2013
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SPANISH TEMPRANILLO JUNE 2013
CALIFORNIA
GRENACHE & GRENACHE BLENDS MAY 2013
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(Mostly Southern Oregon) FEBRUARY 2013
PORTUGUESE
REDS Featuring TOURIGA NACIONAL January 2013
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HOLIDAY WINE MARATHON at the OLYMPIC CLUB December 2012
FRENCH
& CALIFORNIA CHARDONNAYS November 2012
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STATE CABERNETS October 2012
AUSSIE
SHIRAZ September 2012
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ZINFANDELS August 2012
RIESLINGS
FROM ALSACE July 2012
2009
PIEMONTESE BARBERAS June 2012
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COAST PINOT NOIRS April 2012
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COAST SYRAHS February 2012
PRIMITIVO
FROM PUGLIA AND SONOMA January 2012
VINO FINO
HOLIDAY TASTING & DINNER December 2011
MOSTLY
CHAMPAGNE WITH TWO MYSTERY CONTESTANTS November 2011
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NOBILE DI MONTEPULCIANO MEETS WASHINGTON STATE October 2011
MOSTLY
SONOMA ZINFANDELS September 2011
LOIRE VALLEY CHENIN
BLANCS August 2011
2008
CALIFORNIA CABERNETS July 2011
MOSTLY
2006 NAPA CABERNETS June 2011
2008-2009
PIEMONTESE BARBERAS May 2011
2008-2009
CALIFORNIA PINOT NOIRS April 2011
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GERMAN
SPÄTLESE RIESLINGS (Mostly) February 2011
2009
CRU BEAUJOLAIS January 2011
VINO
FINO HOLIDAY DINNER & WINE MARATHON December 2010
MODESTLY-PRICED
OREGON PINOT NOIRS November 2010
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LEFT BANK BORDEAUX August 2010
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July 2010
2007
BARBERA June 2010
2007
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2007
CALIFORNIA CABERNETS March 2010
2007 RUSSIAN RIVER PINOT NOIRS February 2010
A
RANGE OF FRENCH CHABLIS WINES January 2010
HOLIDAY DINNER
& WINE MARATHON December 2009
ROSÉ
SPARKLING WINES November 2009
ARGENTINEAN
MALBECS October 2009
WEST
COAST CHARDONNAYS September 2009
GREEK
RED WINES August 2009
2005
BUDGET BORDEAUX July 2009
CAMPANIAN
WHITE WINES June 2009
MIXED
BAG OF CALIFORNIA PINOT NOIRS April 2009
RIOJA
WINES, MOSTLY FROM THE 2004 VINTAGE March 2009
NORTH
COAST PETITE SIRAHS February 2009
SYRAH
& PETITE SIRAH COMPARISON January 2009
A
VINO FINO CHRISTMAS December 2008
MOSTLY
2005s: NAPA CABERNETS November 2008
SONOMA
COUNTY PINOT NOIRS October 2008
SANTA
RITA HILLS -2006 VINTAGE- PINOT NOIRS SEPTEMBER 2008
NEWLY
RELEASED ZINFANDELS August 2008
WHITE
RHÔNE VALLEY WINES JULY 2008
LOIRE VALLEY SAUVIGNONS JUNE 2008
FRENCH
CHABLIS 2005-2006 MAY 2008
NORTHERN
RHÔNE SYRAHS APRIL 2008
SANTA
CRUZ MOUNTAINS PINOT NOIRS January 2008
ANNUAL HOLIDAY CHRISTMAS
DINNER December 2007
WEST
COAST CHARDONNAYS November 2007
AUSTRALIAN
SHIRAZ October 2007
SPANISH
TEMPRANILLO WINES September 2007
SONOMA'S
2005 VINTAGE ZINFANDELS August 2007
CURRENT
RELEASE (2004-2005) ZINFANDELS July 2007
ROS
WINES FROM ALL OVER June 2007
ITALIAN
LAGREIN WINES May 2007
ARGENTINEAN
MALBECS April 2007
SOUTHERN
HEMISPHERE PINOT NOIRS March 2007
MOSTLY
2004 CABERNETS February 2007
CRU
BEAUJOLAIS January 2007
A VINO
FINO CHRISTMAS December 2006
CALIFORNIA
ZINFANDELS November 2006
PINOT
NOIRS of VALUE-PRICING October 2006
WORLD
OF SYRAHS TASTING September 2006
AUSSIE
CABERNET-SHIRAZ BLENDS August 2006
ALEXANDER
VALLEY (California) and MARGARET RIVER (Australia) CABERNETS July
2006
CALIFORNIA
PETITE SIRAHS June 2006
2004
NORTH COAST PINOTS and a FRENCH INTRUDER May 2006
AGLIANICO
: BASILICATA & CAMPANIA'S MAJOR RED WINE April 2006
NERO
D'AVOLA - A TASTE OF SICILIA March 2006
UNDER THE
VINO FINO RADAR ZINFANDELS January 2006
HOLIDAY WINE
TASTING & DINNER December 2005
BUBBLIES FROM AROUND
THE WORLD November 2005
NORTH
COAST PINOT NOIRS October 2005
STATE
OF CONFUSION CABERNETS September 2005
TIM
ZAINER'S SIDEWAYS LOOK AT MERLOTS August 2005
LOIRE VALLEY CABERNET
FRANCS June 2005
CALIFORNIA
SYRAHS March 2005
2002
CALIFORNIA CABERNETS February 2005
VINO
FINO HOLIDAY WINE MARATHON December 2004
CHARDONNAYS
OF MODEST PRICE November 2004
SPANISH
TEMPRANILLO October 2004
2002
CENTRAL COAST PINOT NOIRS September 2004
AUSSIE
SHIRAZ-CABERNET BLENDS August 2004
GEWÜRZTRAMINERS
FROM ALSACE July 2004
2001
SOUTHERN RHNES (7 Chteauneufs & a Vacqueyras) June 2004
AGLIANICO
WINES FROM CAMPANIA & BASILICATA May 2004
MONTEPULCIANO
WINES FROM THE ABRUZZO & MARCHE REGIONS April 2004
SONOMA
ZINFANDELS February 2004
1997
BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO January 2004
VINO
FINO HOLIDAY BACCHANALIA 2003
2001
CÔTES du RHÔNES September 17, 2003
2000
OREGON PINOT NOIRS August 20, 2003
WEST
COAST SYRAHS July 16, 2003
2000
Bordeaux June 18, 2003
2000
CALIFORNIA CABERNETS May 21, 2003
OFF
THE BEATEN PATH SYRAHS APRIL 16, 2003
2002 NEW ZEALAND
SAUVIGNON BLANCS March 19, 2003
1999
California CABERNETS February 19, 2003
VINO
FINO HOLIDAY BACCHANALIA December 4, 2002
CALIFORNIA
PINOT NOIRS 1999-2000 November 20, 2002
AUSTRIAN
WHITE WINES October 16, 2002
AUSTRALIAN
SHIRAZ August 21, 2002
CHAMPAGNES
& SPARKLERS July 17, 2002
Interesting
Paired CHARDONNAYS
May 15, 2002
2001
Southern Hemisphere SAUVIGNON BLANCS Feb. 20, 2002
1999 ZINFANDELS January 16, 2002
HOLIDAY
SEASON BACCHANALIA
December 5, 2001
1999-2000
New PINOT NOIRS November 14, 2001
1999
CALIFORNIA ZINFANDELS October 17, 2001
1998
CALIFORNIA CABERNETS September 19, 2001
1999
LANGUEDOC REDS August 15, 2001
1997
SAUTERNES July 18, 2001
Mostly
1998 NEBBIOLO June 20, 2001
1999 PINOT NOIRS May
16, 2001
1996
SAINT-MILION Tasting April 18, 2001
CARNEROS
CHARDONNAYS March 21, 2001
1984-1985
NAPA CABERNETS/John Vignau Memorial Tasting October 20, 2000
1997
CALIFORNIA CABERNETS September 20, 2000
1998 CALIFORNIA
CHARDONNAYS August 16, 2000
WINES
FROM THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE: CLARETS June 21, 2000
WINES
FROM UNDER THE TUSCAN (and Umbrian) SUN Aprile 19, 2000
1997 BORDEAUX: MEDOC May 17,
2000
WEIMAX TASTING ARCHIVE
NAPA
CABERNETS 2004 Vintage March 19, 2008
CALIFORNIA
PINOT NOIRS-2005s March 13, 2008
OREGON
PINOT NOIRS February 6, 2008
MOSTLY
2004 CALIFORNIA PINOT NOIRS April 25, 2007
WASHINGTON
STATE CLARETS April, 11, 2007
2004
NORTHERN RHONE SYRAHS April 4, 2007
2001
BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO March 28, 2007
2001
CALIFORNIA CABERNETS November 8, 2006
2003
CALIFORNIA CABERNETS October 18, 2006
2003
CHATEAUNEUF-DU-PAPES-Flight #2 October 4, 2006
OLDER
TUSCAN REDS--MOSTLY SANGIOVESES September 20, 2006
2003
NAPA CABERNETS July 19, 2006
2003
SAINT EMILIONS July 12, 2006
CALIFORNIA
SYRAHS 2003-2004 July 5, 2006
2004
CALIFORNIA PINOT NOIRS June 21, 2006
GRAND
CRU BURGUNDIES 2003 VINTAGE May 31, 2006
CELLAR
DWELLERS: 1990 CABERNETS & 1990 BORDEAUX May 17, 2006
SOUTH
AMERICAN CLARETS May 10, 2006
2003
CHATEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE May 3, 2006
2004
GOLDEN STATE PINOT NOIRS April 19, 2006
2002
NAPA CABERNETS March 15, 2006
2003
WEST COAST PINOT NOIRS March 8, 2006
2003
NORTH COAST ZINFANDELS March 1, 2006
1996
BURGUNDIES vs. 1997 SONOMA PINOT NOIRS November 9, 2005
2002
CABERNETS, ETC. November 2, 2005
2002 NAPA
CABERNETS October 19, 2005
2002
GRAND CRU BURGUNDIES September 14, 2005
2002
RED BURGUNDIES September 7, 2005
2002
MEURSAULTS August 31, 2005
NORTHERN
RHNE SYRAHS August 17, 2005
HIGHLY-REGARDED AUSSIE
SHIRAZ August 10, 2005
AUSSIE SHIRAZ UNDER
$60 August 3, 2005
STUPIDLY-PRICED
SPANISH TEMPRANILLO WINES June 8, 2005
RANDOM
CALIFORNIA SYRAHS June 1, 2005
2002
CALIFORNIA CABERNETS May 18, 2005
2001
NAPA CABERNETS May 11, 2005
OREGON
PINOT NOIRS-2002 & 2003 VINTAGE WINES April 27, 2005
CELLAR
DWELLERS: 1990 BURGUNDIES and a COUPLE OF CALIFORNIA PINOTS April 6, 2005
CALIFORNIA
ZINFANDELS (Mostly 2002s) MARCH 16, 2002
1999
BRUNELLO di MONTALCINO March 9, 2005
SOUTHERN
HEMISPHERE CLARETS March 2, 2005
PETITE
SIRAHS February 16, 2005
ROS CHAMPAGNES AND
CALIFORNIA PINK BUBBLIES February 9, 2005
CELLAR
DWELLERS: 1991 CABERNET SAUVIGNONS January 19, 2005
2001
FAMOUS AND INFAMOUS CABERNETS November 10, 2004
2001
Napa CABERNETS November 3, 2004
WEST
COAST SYRAHS October 20, 2004
1990
RED BORDEAUX & CALIFORNIA CLARETS October 13, 2004
SPANISH
TEMPRANILLOS of 1999 & 2000 September 29, 2004
2002
PULIGNY-MONTRACHET September 8, 2004
2002
CHASSAGNE-MONTRACHET September 1, 2004
UNDER
THE RADAR PINOT NOIRS August 18, 2004
2001
SAINT-JULIEN & PAUILLACS July 21, 2004
2001
MARGAUX July 14, 2004
CELLAR
DWELLERS: 1982 BORDEAUX July 7, 2004
2001 POMEROLS
June 30, 2004
2001
SAINT MILIONS June 16, 2004
2000
CLOS de VOUGEOT (and a ringer) MAY 12, 2004
2001
OREGON PINOT NOIRS May 5, 2004
2001
CALIFORNIA MERLOTS April 21, 2004
1994
WEST COAST CABERNETS APRIL 14, 2004
1999-2000 BORDEAUX COMPARISON
March 10, 2004
1999
BAROLO March 3, 2004
2000
Deluxe Napa CABERNETS February 18, 2004
2000
CALIFORNIA CABERNETS $50 & Under February 11, 2004
1998 BRUNELLO
DI MONTALCINO February 4, 2004
TURLEY
ZINFANDELS 1995 & 1999 Vintages January 7, 2004
2000
PRESTIGIOUS WEST COAST CABERNETS November 12, 2003
1999
CALIFORNIA CABERNETS November 5, 2003
SANTA
LUCIA HIGHLANDS PINOT NOIRS October 29, 2003
MOSTLY
2001 VINTAGE GIGONDAS October 22, 2003
SPANISH
TEMPRANILLO WINES October 9, 2003
SPARKLING
WINES-METHODE CHAMPENOISE October 1, 2003
1996
(Mostly) AUSTRALIAN (Mostly) SHIRAZ September 24, 2003
2000
NUITS-ST.-GEORGES September 10, 2003
PRIORATO
WINES FROM SPAIN September 3, 2003
WEST
COAST SANGIOVESES August 27, 2003
2000
PULIGNY-MONTRACHET (Mostly Premier Cru Wines) August 13, 2003
2000
CHAMBOLLE-MUSIGNY August 6, 2003
2000
NAPA CABERNETS July 30, 2003
1999
TUSCAN SANGIOVESE-BASED WINES July 23, 2003
2000
VINTAGE MERLOTS July 9, 2003
SYRAHS
FROM HITHER & YON July 2, 2003
2001 CALIFORNIA
ZINFANDELS June 25, 2003
NEW
PINOT NOIRS June 4, 2003
1999
NAPA CABERNETS May 28, 2003
1994
PINOT NOIRS May 14, 2003
CHILEAN
CLARETS May 7, 2003
PETITE
SIRAHS of Current Release.
April 30, 2003
1999
CHASSAGNE-MONTRACHETS Premier Cru Selections April 9, 2003
1999
GRAND CRU'S of GEVREY-CHAMBERTIN April 2, 2003
1999-2000 SOUTHERN FRENCH REDS (RHONE
WANNABE'S) MARCH 26, 2003
1995-1996
VINTAGE CHAMPAGNE TASTING MARCH 12, 2003
2000
CHATEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE TASTING MARCH 5, 2003
2000
NAPA VALLEY CABERNET TASTING FEBRUARY 26th, 2003
1990
FRENCH RED BURGUNDY TASTING February 12, 2003
1999
& 2000 CALIFORNIA PINOT NOIRS November 13, 2002
1999
NAPA CABERNETS November 6, 2002
1997
BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO OCTOBER 30, 2002
AUSSIE
SHIRAZ TASTING OCTOBER 23, 2002
1999
CHATEAUNEUF-du-PAPE TASTING October 9, 2002
1999
NAPA CABERNETS September 25, 2002
1999
WASHINGTON STATE CABERNETS September 11, 2002
1991
CALIFORNIA CABERNETS September 4, 2002
1999
PULIGNY-MONTRACHET 1er Cru Tasting August 28, 2002
AUSTRALIAN
CABERNETS (Mostly 1999s) August 14, 2002
1999
FRENCH BURGUNDY July 24, 2002
1999
GRAVES BLANC July 10, 2002
2000
CALIFORNIA CHARDONNAY July 3, 2002
1999/2000
CONDRIEU TASTING June 26, 2002
1999
PAUILLAC & SAINT JULIEN TASTING June 12, 2002
1999
MARGAUX TASTING June 5, 2002
1985
CABERNETS & MEDOC TASTING May 29, 2002
1998
California CABERNETS May 22, 2002
South
American MALBEC May 8, 2002
1999
West Coast MERLOTS May 1, 2002
Central
Coast (California) PINOT NOIRS April 24, 2002
2001
Southern Hemisphere SAUVIGNON BLANCS April 10, 2002
1999
CALIFORNIA ZINFANDELS April 3, 2002
1999
FRENCH RHÔNE SYRAHS February 13, 2002
(Mostly) 1999 CALIFORNIA SYRAHS January 30,
2002
MORE
1997 BAROLO January 23, 2002
1997
Late-Released CABERNETS January 9, 2002
1997
BAROLO October 24, 2001
1985-1990
RED BURGUNDIES October 10, 2001
1998
Grand Crus of Gevrey Chambertin October 3, 2001
PRIORAT
WINES September 26, 2001
1998
CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE September 12, 2001
1999
"High Roller" CHARDONNAYS September 5, 2001
1998
BORDEAUX August 22, 2001
1999
WEST COAST PINOT NOIRS August 8, 2001
1997
VOSNE-ROMANÉE
Tasting August 1, 2001
1999
CALIFORNIA ZINS July 25, 2001
1998 CABERNET SAUVIGNONS
July 11, 2001
OLD
CALIFORNIA CHARDONNAYS June 6, 2001
1997 ECHEZEAUX May 30, 2001
1999 NORTH
COAST ZINFANDELS May 23, 2001
1999
West Coast Merlots May 9, 2001
1999
WEST COAST PINOT NOIRS May 2, 2001
1997
BARBARESCO April 25, 2001
Mostly RUSSIAN RIVER PINOT NOIRS
April 11, 2001
1997
NAPA CABERNETS April 4, 2001
1995
BRUNELLO di MONTALCINO March 28, 2001
1997 CHAMBOLLE-MUSIGNY &
MOREY SAINT DENIS
with one 1996...March 14, 2001
1997
GEVREY-CHAMBERTIN March 7, 2001
1996
BAROLO February 28, 2001
1978-1979
California Cabernets January 10, 2001
1997
California Cabernets November 8, 2000
1997
TUSCAN SANGIOVESES November 1, 2000
1997-1998 Châteauneuf-du-Pape
& CALIFORNIA WANNABEEs October 25, 2000
Mostly 1998 PINOT NOIRS
October 11, 2000
1996
CALIFORNIA CABERNETS October 4, 2000
MATURE
CLARETS September 27, 2000
1997
RED BORDEAUX September 13, 2000
1997 NAPA CABERNETS
September 6, 2000
1998
CALIFORNIA CHARDONNAYS August 30, 2000
1997 CLOS DE VOUGEOTS August 23,
2000
PETITE
SIRAH & SYRAH (West Coast) August 9, 2000
FANCY
CALIFORNIA MERLOTS August 2, 2000
1996
FAMOUS CALIFORNIA CABERNETS June 14, 2000
WEST
COAST SYRAHS June 7, 2000
1997 CABERNETS May 31,
2000
VIOGNIERS
of RECENT VINTAGE May 24, 2000
1997-1998
ZINFANDELS May 10, 2000
SOUTHERN
HEMISPHERE CLARETS May 3, 2000
1996
California CABERNETS April 12, 2000
1996
FRENCH RED BURGUNDIES March 29, 2000
CALIFORNIA
vs ITALIAN (Tuscan) SANGIOVESE March 22, 2000
WEST COAST
PINOT NOIRS March 8, 2000
AUSSIE
SHIRAZ TASTING March 1, 2000
FRENCH
CHAMPAGNES (NV BRUTS) January 5, 2000
1996
BORDEAUX (MEDOC) TASTING November 10, 1999
CABERNET-INFLUENCED VINI FROM
ITALY November 3, 1999
CABERNETS OF THE WORLD
TASTING October 27, 1999
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