Greg Bellow's
Degustation du Caves Privates
1985-1990
Burgundy
The 1985 vintage in Burgundy got off to a late start,
thanks to a prolonged winter. The summer, though, was rather warm and
sunny all the way through (aside from a pesky hail storm that hit just north of
Beaune one day in mid-August). The lack of rain meant growers had healthy
fruit to work with, a much needed bit of relief over the previous few
vintages. The wines from 1985 were showing well right from the start and
many peaked at 5-10 years of age.
The 1990 vintage experienced a bit of difficulty during the vines' flowering,
taking a longer-than-usual amount of time to complete. The summer was
rather warm and sunny, save for a touch of rain in September. Many growers
regarded the rain as beneficial; not enough to do damage, but sufficient
to revive the thirsty vines. The harvest began around the third week of
September in the Cte de Nuits, while it commenced a week earlier in the Cte
de Beaune. The vintage is regarded as exceptional and many wines are still
viewed as being in a stage of development at 11 years of age.
Here's what we found in sampling a broad spectrum of wines, the bottles coming
from the cellars of the tasting's participants.
The Wines |
Gerald's
Rank |
Ellen's Rank |
Bob's Rank |
GROUP RANK |
TOTAL POINTS |
1sts/2nds/
Lasts |
JOSEPH
DROUHIN
1985
Vosne-Romane |
8 |
8 |
8 |
8 |
83 |
1/0/6 |
FAIVELEY
1985
Mazis-Chambertin |
7 |
6 |
5 |
6 |
68 |
0/1/3 |
GEORGES
LIGNIER
& Fils
1985
Morey-Saint-Denis
Clos des Ormes 1er Cru |
5 |
7 |
5 |
7 |
73 |
0/1/1 |
Domaine
LCHENAUT
Fernand & Fils
1990
Chambolle-Musigny |
3 |
2 |
4 |
2 |
45 |
3/3/0 |
MANIRE-NOIROT
1990
Echezeaux |
6 |
3 |
1 |
4 |
52 |
2/2/2 |
POTHIER-RIEUSSET
1985
Pommard |
4 |
4 |
2 |
3 |
51 |
1/3/1 |
SRAFIN-PRE
& FILS
1990
Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru
Le Fonteny |
2 |
5 |
7 |
5 |
52 |
2/1/0 |
JEAN
TARDY
1990 Nuits-St.-Georges
Au Bas de Combe |
1 |
1 |
6 |
1 |
44 |
4/2/0 |

Notes Compiled By Gerald Weisl.
8th Place: JOSEPH DROUHIN 1985 VOSNE-ROMANE
"There's nobody home." opined the first critic, whose
sentiments were echoed by a number of other tasters. "It's drying out,
losing its fruit and it thin and simply no longer a very good wine." said a
second taster. Another found more interesting elements, detecting
"berry fruit, vanilla cream and some brown sugar and licorice notes that
make it interesting, but it's not great." One defender of this wine
found "ripe, waxy notes with herbs and tar and some sweetness...beautiful,
warm lingering finish." Not many people agreed, a final commentator
saying this is "tart, shrill and has a bitter olive" character.
Ellen's notes included the word "blechh!" if that is a word. She
also found orange peel and tomato notes.
I found it lightly earthy with old, tired notes reminiscent of cooked cherries
and caramel. It's old, tired Burgundy, but Burgundy it is. No
stars. (Three star scale, zero being average.)

7th Place: GEORGES LIGNIER 1985 MOREY-SAINT-DENIS 1er Cru
Clos des Ormes
"Unripened berry, game, wet earth and a tart minerality" were
found by one astute taster. Another found the wine to be "rich, but
too much acidity and too subdued in terms of fruit." Someone else
found "barnyard" notes, while another described this character as
"weedy." Someone else found a note reminiscent of ammonia.
More positive commentary came from a taster who found "a minty nose, ripe
red fruits, fennel and cigar-box tones." Another taster felt it
lacked Burgundian character and was not an especially good example of wine made
of Pinot Noir, having a "curious smoky scent."
Ellen found a meaty note with an onion-like character.
Add in my "animal" notes and vegetal character and you've got a main
course at dinner! I also found a resinous and root-like quality and felt
this was, indeed, Burgundian. There's a fair bit of tannin left in
this wine, but its vegetal, rather than fruity tones make it a difficult choice
for further aging.
6th Place: FAIVELEY 1985 MAZIS-CHAMBERTIN
"Cherry candy, vanillin, ripe fruit, the herbal aromas and flavors
work well together...drink this now." said one critic. Another found
this to be "medium-bodied, with sweet black fruits...juicy and a persistent
finish." Someone found "black cherry notes, subdued, flat with a
wonderful perfume: musk and floral notes...the texture is velvety and
feminine." While that sounded good, another taster described it in
less glowing terms, noting "it's tired and over the hill."
Someone else agreed, finding "maderized, old notes."
Ellen imagined "this must have been nice in its day...it's not terrible,
but is tired."
I wrote that it's an "old, getting-tired Burgundy with sweet fruit and some
earthy and herbal elements. The tannin and alcohol dominate on the palate,
as the fruit has given up the ghost."

5th Place: SRAFIN PRE et FILS 1990 GEVREY-CHAMBERTIN
1er Cru "Le Fonteny"
"Unripe plums, violets and a floral note with some toasted wood,
but a chalky finish." were the adjectives employed by the first
critic. Another taster found the "chalky notes," and only a
"little fruit to this out-of-balance wine." Someone else was
more positive, finding it "...too young, not mature with bright fruit, nice
cherry, floral, spicy notes with a classic Burgundian bit of a barnyard
character." "Silky and cherry notes" were found by another
person, while another got "silage...black fruits...earthy...tar...herbal, medicine-like
notes."
Ellen found more onions here.
I found a bit of vanillin with some toasty oak and a woodsy character which
reminded me of a Charlopin wine of recent vintage. The smoky, hickory,
bacony notes come through on the palate. I was quite pleased with this,
ranking it highly and finding it to be a one-and-a-half star wine. A few
more years of cellaring are not, in my view, out of bounds.
4th Place: MANIRE-NOIROT 1990 ECHEZEAUX
One
opinionated soul found lots of "fat, strawberry jam notes" and asked
that it be "taken away and given to Robert Parker, the famous wine
critic." Another taster found "vanillin and smoke, muted berry
notes with currants and a diluted, somewhat stalky finish." Someone
found "smoky, toasty notes with lemon, citrusy and mint, along with some
cigar box notes and firm, silky tannins." Another asserted "This
has too much tannin and not enough flavor. The balance is off."
Others found "Fresh, bright cherry fruit," adding "this is a
lovely wine." Another found it to have "clove, cherry and black
plum notes and it's still young."
Ellen found some tangy, gritty notes to this lightly oaked Burgundy.
I found it difficult to detect much as it was situated behind the very aromatic
and woodsy first place wine. I finally decided it's got some mildly sweet
cherry notes and a bit of tannin and vitality, though the astringency seems to
be winning this battle over the fruit. One-half star.
3rd Place: POTHIER RIEUSSET 1985 POMMARD
The highest-ranking of the 1985 entries, one taster felt it displayed
"delicious, lively fruit, with intense berry notes and a smooth, long
finish. Nutmeg and vanilla notes are present, too." Another
person found "Black fruits with a mildly barn-yardy quality, with great
balance, structure and bright cherry fruit hinting at even greater things to
come." Taking issue with that description, one person said it's
"a bit faded and tired." Another disagreed, finding "good
structure, a lot of life being left here, with plum, cassis and a mocha spice
with herbal nuances." Other adjectives included "cedar...red
fruit...celery seed...faint cherry...cigar-box."
Ellen liked the cherry, vanillin and mocha/coffee notes.
I found a dusty fragrance with an unusually deep bouquet hinting at earth and
root-like notes, along with a touch of kirsch. The rooty flavors and
moderate tannins warrant a half star rating for the moment. It might have
rated higher several years ago...
2nd Place: FERNAND LECHENAUT & FILS
1990 CHAMBOLLE-MUSIGNY
"Subdued
with wet underbrush and mushrooms" were the descriptors employed by one
critic. Another found "forest floor notes with hints of dried
porcini...a little bit skunky, rich and full on the palate, with nice
texture."
Ellen's notes use the "cherry" adjective repeatedly.
I found some Asian or Oriental spices with lively berry fruit and a hint of a
leathery note. There's still plenty of vitality left, with nice fruit and
some tannin. Quite complex. This can go, probably, for another 5-10
years.
1st Place: JEAN TARDY NUITS-ST.-GEORGES "Au
Bas de Combe"
A
couple of critics derided this wine saying it "was aged in redwood!",
while the other said it was more "like American oak....quite
resinous!" Another taster pegged this as being a "Parker wine;
it's got oak all over it!" Others said it shows "Bright
cranberry notes with a dusty quality and a lot of oak, roses and some earthy
tones...it's drinkable now and head & shoulders above the rest of the
field." One gentleman described it as having "nice
texture...very feminine." Another person found "ripe, red fruits
with some black pepper and violets."
Ellen described it as "minty and sweet" with lots of "cherry
notes. And it's still alive!"
I found plenty of fruit to stand up to the lavish oak treatment. The wine
is quite deep and very showy, being quite Burgundian. The palate offers
lots of fruit and nice oak, vanillin notes and some creamy, cedar and sandalwood
elements. It has enough tannin to go for five to ten years and,
importantly, sufficient fruit. Two stars. Cream of this crop!

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!)
CALIFORNIA
PINOT NOIRS April 2023
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CHARDONNAYS March 2023
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SYRAHS of MODEST PRICING February 2023
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ZINFANDELS January 2023
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HOLIDAY WINE & FOOD MARATHON
GIGONDAS
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ITALIAN
& CALIFORNIA BARBERA October 2022
2021
FRENCH ROSÉS September 2022
2019
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MORE
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HEMISPHERE CHARDONNAYS in Pandemic Mode February 2021
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CABERNETS
FROM WINERIES OPERATING IN THE EARLY DAYS OF THE VINO FINO GROUP December
2020
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NORTHERN
CALIFORNIA ZINFANDELS October 2020
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of 2016 & 2017 JULY 2020
NEBBIOLO FROM
THE LANGHE February 2020
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RIESLINGS January 2020
THE ANNUAL HOLIDAY WINE
& FOOD MARATHON December 2019
CURRENT
VINTAGES OF GIGONDAS November 2019
2016
RIGHT BANK BORDEAUX October 2019
CHILEAN
CABERNETS September 2019
2015
+ 2016 CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPES August 2019
CHARDONNAYS
(Mostly Californian) JULY 2019
2016 BORDEAUX
(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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ALBARIÑO November 2018
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COAST SYRAHS October 2018
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AMERICAN MALBECS August 2018
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COAST RHÔNE WANNABEES June 2018
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CABERNETS MAY 2018
GERALD IN EUROPE IN MARCH/APRIL
NAPA
CABERNET$ February 2018
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& KIWI RIESLINGS January 2018
2017
HOLIDAY WINE & FOOD MARATHON December 2017
FRENCH
WHITE BURGUNDY November 2017
SAUVIGNON
BLANC/SEMILLON BLENDS October 2017
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RHÔNE REDS September 2017
SONOMA
COAST & RUSSIAN RIVER PINOT NOIRS August 2017
ETNA
BIANCO--WINES FROM THE VOLCANO July 2017
CALIFORNIA
ZINFANDELS June 2017
TANNAT
WINES FROM HITHER & YON May 2017
NEW
ZEALAND PINOT NOIRS April 2017
RIOJA
REDS February 2017
AMERICAN
"RHONE WANNABEES" January 2017
2016
HOLIDAY WINE MARATHON December 2016
GERMAN
AUSLESEN RIESLINGS November 2016
GRÜNER
VELTLINERS Austrian vs The US October 2016
GRENACHE --
MOSTLY WEST COAST September 2016
WASHINGTON
STATE CABERNETS August 2016
CANNONAU
DI SARDEGNA July 2016
NORTHERN
HEMISPHERE RIESLINGS June 2016
2013
CALIFORNIA CABERNETS May 2016
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PINOT NOIRS April 2016
MOSTLY
CHIANTI RISERVAS February 2016
2012
BORDEAUX--LEFT BANK JANUARY 2016
HOLIDAY
WINE MARATHON December 2015
CATALONIA:
PRIORAT WINES November 2015
CALIFORNIA
ZINFANDELS October 2015
WEST COAST
SYRAHS September 2015
SOUTH
AFRICAN CABERNETS & CABERNET BLENDS August 2015
PINOT
BLANC July 2015
CROZES-HERMITAGE
June 2015
ECLECTIC
SAUVIGNON BLANCS May 2015
NEWLY-RELEASED
CALIFORNIA PINOT NOIRS April 2015
ALTO ADIGE
LAGREINS February
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STATE CABERNETS January 2015
2014
VINO FINO HOLIDAY WINE DINNER & TASTING December 2014
MOSTLY
GIGONDAS October 2014
MOSTLY
2010 & 2011 CHATEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE WINES September 2014
2012
CALIFORNIA CABERNETS of MODEST PRICE August 2014
SANCERRES
July 2014
2012
VINTAGE CALIFORNIA PINOT NOIRS June 2014
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CALIFORNIA
PINOT NOIRS April 2014
VINO
FINO 40th ANNIVERSARY DINNER February 2014
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WHITE BORDEAUX January 2014
The
2013 HOLIDAY WINE & FOOD MARATHON December 2013
AUSTRALIAN
SHIRAZ November 2013
MALBECS OF
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
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(Mostly Southern Oregon) FEBRUARY 2013
PORTUGUESE
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2012
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FRENCH
& CALIFORNIA CHARDONNAYS November 2012
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STATE CABERNETS October 2012
AUSSIE
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2009
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COAST SYRAHS February 2012
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FROM PUGLIA AND SONOMA January 2012
VINO FINO
HOLIDAY TASTING & DINNER December 2011
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CHAMPAGNE WITH TWO MYSTERY CONTESTANTS November 2011
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NOBILE DI MONTEPULCIANO MEETS WASHINGTON STATE October 2011
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SONOMA ZINFANDELS September 2011
LOIRE VALLEY CHENIN
BLANCS August 2011
2008
CALIFORNIA CABERNETS July 2011
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2006 NAPA CABERNETS June 2011
2008-2009
PIEMONTESE BARBERAS May 2011
2008-2009
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SPÄTLESE RIESLINGS (Mostly) February 2011
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CRU BEAUJOLAIS January 2011
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FINO HOLIDAY DINNER & WINE MARATHON December 2010
MODESTLY-PRICED
OREGON PINOT NOIRS November 2010
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STATE CABS & BORDEAUX BLENDS
July 2010
2007
BARBERA June 2010
2007
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2007
CALIFORNIA CABERNETS March 2010
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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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