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|
Greg Bellow's
Cellar Dwellers' Tasting of
1982 BORDEAUX
July 7, 2004 |
Notes by
Gerald Weisl,
wine merchant
An East Coast lawyer who yearned to be a wine critic made his mark in touting
the Bordeaux wines from the 1982 vintage. Today Robert Parker is regarded
as "the" major wine guru and prices rise dramatically if he gives a
wine the "thumbs up."
The vintage was somewhat controversial, as the harvest started a bit earlier
than normal, owing to some heat waves over the course of the summer, along with
a blast in September.
There is always a mania for comparing a particular new vintage to earlier years,
as Bordeaux wines are often sold as commodity "futures." The
market's activity, then, dictates prices, as the top estates release only a
percentage of the production in an effort to test the waters, as it were.
Mr. Parker had proclaimed the 1982s, early on, as the best year since the
legendary 1961 vintage. Prices sky-rocketed as all sorts of people simply
had to have 1982 Bordeaux wines in their cellars, garages, cupboards, attics and
wine racks. In the framework of previous years such as 1978, 1979 and
1981, 1982 was clearly a promising harvest. The 1983s didn't match '82,
while 1985 is certainly a good vintage for many estates.
Some people rained on the parade, saying the wines were not "classic"
and that they would not age well. Bordeaux had, by the way, seen a change
in viticulture and numerous changes in winemaking, most we believe, for the
better.
Every vintage these days seems to be measured by others, 1982 often being cited
as a benchmark.
Our little tasting group reached into their cellars and Greg Bellow coordinated
the assembly of a set of 1982 Bordeaux. The wines were delivered to the
shop about ten days ahead of the tasting and kept upright to allow the sediment
to settle.
I began decanting the wines two hours prior to the tasting, pouring the clear
wine back into the cleaned and rinsed original bottle. Each was sparged
with argon gas to prevent it from "breathing". I was able to
decant these relatively easily and without the loss of more than about an ounce
of liquid and "sludge."
The wines were then brown-bagged and randomly alphabetized for pouring.
One wine was statistically ahead of the pack and it was the odds on favorite by
handicappers such as me to win.
We found a number of nice old wines in this tasting. Many still have a
fair bit of tannin. It remains a personal and subjective issue as to
whether or not the wines are at their peaks. Further, these nice, old
bottles may have been more glorious in the context of a fine meal, while when
tasting them in a relatively sterile environment as a tasting room, one tends to
critique more than enjoy.
Here's what we found:
| The Wines |
Gerald's Rank |
GROUP RANK |
Total Points |
1sts/2nds/
Lasts |
CHTEAU
BRANAIRE
DUCRU
Saint Julien |
7 |
7 |
79 |
1/1/2 |
CHTEAU
GISCOURS
Margaux |
8 |
8 |
94 |
0/0/7 |
CHTEAU
GRAND-PUY-LACOSTE
Pauillac |
2 |
2 |
49 |
1/3/0 |
CHTEAU
GRUAUD-LAROSE
Saint
Julien |
3 |
3 |
56 |
2/3/1 |
CHTEAU
LOVILLE
BARTON
Saint
Julien |
4 |
6 |
74 |
1/1/3 |
CHTEAU
LEVANGILE
Pomerol |
5 |
5 |
59 |
2/2/1 |
CHTEAU
LYNCH
BAGES
Pauillac |
6 |
4 |
57 |
1/3/0 |
CHTEAU
PICHON
LALANDE
Pauillac |
1 |
1 |
36 |
6/1/0 |
8th Place: CHTEAU
GISCOURS
Margaux
Here
was a wine which probably never really was a great bottle, but benefited from
riding more on the coat-tails of the reputation of 1982 than anything
else. Giscours had made a fabulous wine in 1970, but not many vintages
since have been special. One taster felt this was the "lightest wine
with some good fruit, but it fell apart in the glass." Another critic
described it as "Good but not exciting. It has some earthy and cedary
notes, a touch of berry fruit and a prune-like finish." Someone else
characterized the wine as displaying an "odd spinach note on the
nose." Another participant said it was "low in acidity and yet
had green, bitter tannins."
I found some stalky and vegetal notes, suggesting the fruit was simply not as
mature at harvest as it should have been. There's an undertone of mint on
the nose, as well. It's a good, simple bottle of "old" Bordeaux,
showing notes of menthol or mint on the palate. The mild tannins add a bit
of texture. Not a bad or poor wine, but simply not up to the
competition. Still, I'd give it a one star rating on my three star
scale. No stars is a wine of standard quality.
7th Place: CHTEAU
BRANAIRE DUCRU Saint Julien
Tasters generally found this to be a sour or, at least, unfriendly wine.
One person said "It's sour," while a second described it as "thin
and aggressively sour." A third critic detected "Sour
cherry fruit and a bit of leather. It's quite bitter." Someone
else encountered "Unripened plum fruit with a bit of berry and
cassis. There's a leather note and some bitter plum skins on the
finish." Another person found "Vegetal notes with a bit of beet
essence. I liked the plum and berry fruit and the tannins didn't bother
me." A final critic opined that it "has more oak than most of
the others."
I found some sweet and oaky notes on the nose. It struck me as a simple
wine, those fragrances not seeming to have much breadth to them. Still,
there's a bit of charm here. On the palate I found the wine to be rather
woodsy. The fruit is certainly "drying out" but the wine is
still nice now. The tannins will probably prolong the life of this through
2015, or so. One to one-and-a-half stars.
6th Place: CHTEAU
LOVILLE
BARTON Saint Julien
One
wag led off the discussion of the Loville saying "This was my favorite
wine...ten years ago!" Someone else described it as showing notes of
"dark cherries and cassis, but it fell apart in the glass."
Another taster echoed this sentiment, saying "It was good, at first, but
past its prime." One panel member found it to be "drying out,
with tart, wild berry notes and green tobacco and some cedar. It's tannic
and sharp." Someone else said "This had the best nose...maybe
because it was Wine 'A' and the first one I tasted. It's got good attack
and is still tannic and with some backbone." Another person detected
notes reminding him of "ginseng."
I enjoyed the cedary elements on the nose. I found the wine to still be
quite alive and kicking. There was what I felt an ample amount of fruity
notes to the wine on the nose. But I did find it to be pretty tannic on
the palate and veering more towards the power end of the spectrum. It may
not have sufficient fruit to match those tannins down the road, but we'll know
that in ten years, I suppose. I felt this was a solid one-and-a-half star
wine, maybe two.
5th Place: CHTEAU
L'EVANGILE Pomerol
"I liked this at first," said one critic, "but it
suffered the most with aeration." Someone else found it to be
"dusty, earthy and having notes of raspberry fruit and cherry cola, along
with some sweet oak." Another tasting participant encountered some
"earthy undertones and nice fruit to start, but I felt it fell
apart." A fourth critic echoed the sentiment about its being
"earthy," adding "it has an almost musty quality and a caramel
and cooked plum sort of character." Another taster found "grapey
notes and a sugary sort of character on the nose," while a final critic
mentioned "This wine is showing its age."
I characterized this as "old Bordeaux" on the nose, finding a classic
aroma and bouquet to this wine. There's a note of candle-like smoky
fragrances, a touch of an herbal note and some cassis. It's woodsy and
cedary on the palate, with moderate tannins. One-and-a-half stars.
4th Place: CHTEAU LYNCH-BAGES Pauillac
One person proclaimed "This has lots of potential as it's still
rather tight and it never really opened." Someone else found it to
have "Good red and black berry notes and it's full-bodied and complex, with
subtle oak and tobacco. There's an element of black pepper and it still
can go some years." Another taster differed, finding this to be
"as good as it's going to get. There are notes of milk chocolate and
forest floor tones along with berry-like fruit and a mushroomy note."
One critic described this as having a "long, chewy finish."
Someone else found it to be "soft on entry, with nicely integrated tannins
and it's seamless. Drink it now."
I enjoyed the sweet cram fragrances and found the nose to show some mildly
woodsy notes. I didn't find it "classically" Bordeaux, being
more Cabernet-like and reminding me of some old bottles of wines such as Louis
Martini Cabs from the 1960s, for example. It's a nice older wine, though
and can go, in my view, for another 5-10 years, maybe more. One-and-a-half
stars.
3rd Place: CHTEAU GRUAUD LAROSE Saint Julien
The first person to opine guessed this to be, perhaps, the Pichon
Lalande. "It got better and better as it sat in the
glass." Another taster found "lively fruit, red cherry notes and
black cherry fruit, too. There's a cedary quality here, as well.
This is a great wine. I had it in first place for a while, before dropping
it down." One person knocked it for having a "short
finish." Another taster found notes of "coffee, tar, cigar box,
anise and bay leaf, with a dry, crisp aftertaste." Someone else
praised this for being "intense and complex."
I find a decidedly minerally quality at first sniff, the wine blossoming a bit
to show some woodsy elements. I concluded it was a lovely old Bordeaux
with some leathery and meaty flavors which I recalled later as being hallmarks
of Gruaud Larose wines. The wine still has a fair bit of tannin, probably
living onwards from 2010 to, perhaps, 2020. Two stars.
2nd Place: CHTEAU GRAND-PUY-LACOSTE Pauillac
One person found notes of "cigar box, eucalyptus and cedar.
This can go for a while longer." Another person found it to be
"young and long." Someone else labeled it a
"powerhouse." Another taster found "elegant, plummy notes,
leafy tones and mildly spicy, with some tobacco and berry fruit." One
person characterized this as "hedonistic." Another taster
appreciated the "nice mouthfeel as this offers the silkiest texture and
it's creamy." One person who didn't care for the wine found
"medicinal" elements here.
I was surprised by how bright and fresh the fruit fragrances are in this
wine. It's a bit exotic, showing plums, berries, notes of violets, herbs
and some sweet wood. There's a nice balance of fruit and tannin
here. I gave it a two star+ rating.
1st Place: CHTEAU PICHON LALANDE Pauillac
This wine winning the tasting wasn't much of a surprise. One
person found it "very ripe and plummy, with dusty cherry notes and some
black licorice and smoked meat notes." Another participant found it
"voluptuous and ripe, with smoky notes. Complex, it offers a hint of
licorice and confectionary elements with a toasted oak finish."
Someone else found the overall theme of this wine to be "sweet,"
likening it to "dessert." A fourth person found "notes of
coffee and I can't say it really smelled like a Bordeaux." A final
taster commented "The wine strikes me as having a strong influence of
Cabernet Franc as there's a green pepper quality here. It's a huge
wine."
I enjoyed the cigar box fragrances and tobacco notes. For my sniffer, this
was classic, old Bordeaux. Mature. Mildly herbal tones on the
note. The cigar box and tobacco elements are present on the palate.
It's just come "together" so nicely with time, but it seems to be on a
plateau. I don't think it will blossom further, but it's nice now.
Probably can go through 2020. 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.
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WINES FROM ALL OVER June 2007
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2006
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2004
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: BASILICATA & CAMPANIA'S MAJOR RED WINE April 2006
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HOLIDAY WINE
TASTING & DINNER December 2005
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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
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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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