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VINO FINO 50th Anniversary Celebration
Notes by
GERALD WEISL,
Wine Merchant & Original Member
In early February of 1974 a fellow ambled in to Weimax, my
family's little wine shop on Broadway in Burlingame.
He was visiting from San Francisco as he was going to see a movie or performance
at the Hyatt Theater across the freeway.
Poking around the shop, which was half the size it is today, the gentleman
noticed a number of off-the-beaten-path wines on our shelves.
We had a few "start ups" in the shop.
Trentadue, Husch, Edmeades, Souverain, Robert Mondavi, Mirassou and a few others
were available, along with the usual brands of that era, such as Beaulieu
Vineyards, Inglenook, Charles Krug, Louis Martini and Wente.
We struck up a conversation about wine and then Tim Zainer asked if I might be
interested in participating in a blind-tasting group they were forming with a
bunch of people from their accounting firm.
I had been in a small group of maybe 5 fellows and this would help further my
education in wine.
So I drove to Menlo Park to the home of another accountant who was opening his
door to about ten or twelve people, some of whom he knew from work and a few
strangers.
I believe we tasted a flight of California Cabernets, with wines from the late
1960s and early 1970s in the mix.
And with that the "Vino Fino Tasters Cooperative" was launched.
The membership has certainly changed over the past 50 years, but there are still
and handful of original participants along with others who came on board in the
first decade.
We've been organizing, if you want to describe it thusly, blind-tastings of
varied wines on a monthly basis and we've rarely missed a month.
In 2014 we gathered at South San Francisco's Basque
Cultural Center to celebrate 40 years and so we were delighted to
be able to return there for the 50th!
In preparation for the event, John McGlothlin and I planned to
bring some bottles of wines from the era when the group got its start.
I stood up a number of bottles weeks earlier to allow the sediment to settle
out, allowing for an easier time decanting the wines.
Mindful that these wines may be fragile, after double decanting them (once into
a proper decanter off the sediment and then back into the original bottle which
had been rinsed), I sparged each with argon (an inert gas) to prevent oxidation.
The Ah-So, two-pronged cork-puller is essential when removing old, fragile corks
from a venerable bottle.
It's quite useful most of the time, but the cork in the Yverdon 1970 was a
slight problem as it dropped into the bottle as I attempted to open it.
Happily I have a little tool to remove a cork that falls in the bottle...
I poured the wine into the decanter and then used this device to extract the
cork.
These bottles had been stored in boxes, upside-down to keep the corks moist.
And all of the corks were quite thoroughly stained with wine that had seeped
about 70%-90% through the cork.
We had a 1975 Mount Eden Pinot Noir from the Santa Cruz Mountains and this was
quite brown in color and thoroughly oxidized, so we opened a back-up bottle:
1980 Chalone Vineyard Pinot Noir.
This carried simply the "California" appellation as the
"Chalone" appellation had yet to be created.
In 1982 the appellation of Chalone came into existence.
And so we sat down to begin our little wine & food
marathon to celebrate our 50th Anniversary.
On the left side:
Doug, John, Larry and Dick.
On the right side, front to back:
John, Jack, Andy, Joe and the inimitable Tim Zainer.
I had hoped to start the festivities with a magnum of Domaine Chandon's Napa
Valley Brut, a bottle from the 1970s I kept (horizontally) in its original
wooden box.
But two weeks before the event I discovered the bottle was but half full as the
cork must have shriveled, so it was not serviceable.
We selected a magnum of the exceptional Extra Brut Champagne from Bruno Paillard
and we adorned it with a special label.
We started with a few servings of Prosciutto and Pâté.
Why not some Escargot, too?
The Bruno Paillard Extra Brut is, as advertised, quite dry.
There's a chalky tone to the wine and it's impressive on the nose and palate,
being mildly yeasty.
Dinners at the Basque Cultural Center begin with their
homemade soup.
This evening it was a terrific Zucchini Soup.
We accompanied this and the ensuing salad with a magnum of Cloudy Bay 2021
Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand.
The Sauvignon Blanc was mildly citrusy and I detected the "gooseberry"
notes which were routinely the hallmark of New Zealand Sauvignons from many
years ago.
It was quite a contrast to the Champagne as you might expect, but the herbal
notes matched the Zucchini Soup beautifully.
Early in our history, searching for a tasting theme, Mr. Zainer came up with
"Wines of the World." We tasted maybe 10 or 12 wines with the
only common thread of each being that they were a red wine.
I recall seeing all sorts of curious wines being available in the late 1960s and
early 1970s.
One well-known bottle was a Cabernet from Argentina.
It was claimed to be from the 1964 vintage and it cost perhaps $4 or $5 a
bottle.
So in honor of Tim's memorable tasting, I brought this bottle of red wine to
launch our red wine marathon.
YES!
The Trumpeter brand is still available but its price has increased to about
$12/bottle.
Our bottle is from the 2020 vintage and was actually a perfectly decent, simple
red wine.
After the soup we enjoyed a nicely chilled Salad.
It's adorned with a classic French Vinaigrette.
We then needed to move into the Marathon red wines.
My bottle of a Mount Eden 1975 Pinot Noir from vines in Saratoga, California,
did not survive all those years of aging.
It was brown in color and rather oxidized, sadly.
So we had another old California Pinot Noir, this one from the famed Chalone
Vineyard.
1980 vintage.
The color was mildly brickish and the wine was quite clear in appearance.
The Pinot Noir fragrances were impressive, as the wine still had good fruit.
Chalone employed a high percentage of new barrels in those days, one of the
secrets of their stylish wines.
The vineyards have a fair bit of granite and limestone which provides
potentially good Pinot Noir fruit.
This was an exceptional bottle.
Smooth and polished, it was showing beautifully.
I wish they still made such exceptional wines.
John brought a 1979 Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon from Santa Cruz Mountains fruit.
The harvest was earlier than normal and yet the grapes were riper than they
liked, so there was very little "Monte Bello" made in 1979.
Typically they strive to make an elegant red along the lines of what the British
call "Claret."
This was higher octane than they made in those days, weighing in around 14.5%
alcohol.
Though the wine appears to be mature given its color, there was still a bit of
tannin.
It's a slightly unbalanced wine as despite the apparently ripe quality of the
grapes, there's still a mildly herbal aspect to this.
It seemed to be a wine where the grapes were seemingly "ripe" as the
sugar level at harvest was high, but the actual physiological maturity did not
match.
You might find an element described as slightly vegetal in this wine.
It was an interesting bottle, though.
The 1974 vintage had been viewed as excellent as the fruit was ripe and made
wines of 13% alcohol.
A cooler growing season in 1975 provided wines with perhaps a bit less alcohol
and maybe a touch higher level of acidity.
We found the 1975 Caymus to be a most pleasant surprise.
For one thing, it's far different than the inky, fortified wines they've been
making since 2012.
The color was exactly as it should be, showing some ruby tones.
I found plenty of Cabernet fruit in this wine and there is still a bit of fresh
wood framing the fruit.
The tannins have mellowed and the wine is a delight!
The menu at the Basque Cultural Center is varied and I opted
for their Cassoulet.
The 1974 Villa Mount Eden, made by Nils Venge, was excellent! Fairly deep
ruby in color with a remarkable fragrance of dark fruits and some sweet oak
tones.
Dark fruit on the palate, too. It was rather smooth and fairly full.
One fellow ordered the Rabbit Grand Mère.
Another sitting near me had the Pork Chops Basquaise.
I recall the wines of Mayacamas in the late 1960s and 1970s being the biggest,
baddest of California red wines.
They still make the same sort of wine, but today's Mayacamas Vineyards Cabernets
are hardly as inky, big and dark as others we see today.
Of course many of today's Napa Cabernets are 15% alcohol, being picked at much
higher, riper sugar levels.
And then let's not forget many wineries add grape concentrate to their wines to
fortify them with color and body.
The Mayacamas 1974 had fairly dark color (still). The dark berry Cabernet
fruit was showing beautifully and there was still a bit of tannin in the wine,
so it's not at the end of its life.
Very fine and beautifully balanced...
Another 1975 was also exceptional.
The 1975 Heitz Cellar from the famous "Martha's Vineyard" was stellar.
It had the bright note of mint and eucalyptus that were hallmarks of this
storied Californian "grand cru."
Smooth and elegant, this is still youthful and yet mature.
You might notice the color is perfect for a wine that's close to 50 years of
age.
John got busy and opened a 1970 Bordeaux.
1970 was a highly-regarded Bordeaux vintage and the wines were viewed as having
good aging potential.
The 1970 Branaire-Ducru had lovely cherry-like fruit notes and it was quite
smooth. It's a classic "Claret," being lighter than the
California Cabernets.
You'd describe this as having a bit of finesse and elegance, but it was not as
complex as the previous quartet of Napa Cabernets.
Still drinkable though and for a wine of this age it was a solid bottle.
John had another trick up his sleeve.
The 1969 vintage was Robert Mondavi's fourth harvest and they made exceptional
wines.
As you might notice, the label indicates a mere 12% alcohol for this wine.
Mondavi was not only a good vintner, he was a master of marketing.
We recall being invited to taste Mondavi's Napa Cabernet in comparison with 1970
(I think) Bordeaux from top estates.
He would include his wine alongside Lafite, Latour, Mouton-Rothschild, etc. in
blind-tastings.
If his wine finished last, c'est la vie.
It was less costly than those storied Bordeaux, so of course it finished last.
If it finished ahead of some prestigious Bordeaux it would prove Napa (in
general) and Mondavi in particular were worthy of comparison to the best in the
world.
This was another elegant bottle being a medium bodied Cabernet with some red
fruit notes and a faintly herbal tone. It's Cabernet through and through
with the oak beautifully integrated. The vintage got less attention in its
youth being sandwiched between the highly-regarded 1968 and 1970 vintages.
On Spring Mountain in Saint Helena there was a small vineyard owned by the Aves
Family.
They had relatives in Switzerland's city of Yverdon apparently and named their
vineyard and winery after that town near the Lac de Neuchâtel.
We recall there were two bottlings of the 1970 Cabernets. One was Cask 152
which was alright, but it paled in comparison to Cask 88.
I believe we had the wine in a couple of blind-tastings and it won both.
So for the Vino Fino Tasters this was an early benchmark Cabernet and held in
high esteem.
The vineyard still exists but we've not tasted a Cabernet quite as grand as
this.
And on this evening the 1970 Cask 88 was beautifully balanced and still showing
good Cabernet fruits with a mildly floral character.
Of course it was smooth.
Damn! That was a lovely bottle and, sadly, our last.
Nobody ordered dessert, having been filled up by the appetizers, soup, salad and
main plates, but we did have one more wine.
Now, there's a special reason to have a bottle of Sauternes from Château
Suduiraut for this stroll down memory lane.
In maybe the first decade of tastings, but certainly not later than the second,
someone brought a bottle of Suduiraut as a post-tasting treat.
In those days Sauternes were most attractively priced.
We used to regularly enjoy Suduiraut's 1967 in the mid-1970s as it sold for
about $7 a bottle.
Well, one of the old-time, regular members poured a healthy taste in his a glass
after a tasting of red wines.
Unlike others who rinsed their glass with water, this fellow stood up, intending
to dump out that substantial pour of Suduiraut solely to rinse his glass.
Amusingly the fellows sitting immediately next to Tim stood up in unison and
throttled him by the shoulder, returning him to his seat!
He was unable to dump out that glass of Sauternes.
We thoroughly enjoyed this beautifully honeyed bottle from the 2007 vintage and
it was a fine conclusion to a wonderful evening of food, wine and camaraderie.
Many thanks to those who participated in this exceptionally memorable evening!
|
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 48 YEARS!
THE
VINO-FINO TASTERS
(A private tasting group that's
been meeting for more than 52 years!)
GEWURZTRAMINER
October 2026
VINO
NOBILE DI MONTEPULCIANO September 2026
SICILIAN
NERO D'AVOLA August 2026
NAPA
CABERNETS July 2026
ARGENTINEAN
MALBECS June 2026
NAPA
& SONOMA CABERNETS May 2026
NEW
ZEALAND PINOT NOIRS April 2026
PIEMONTESE
NEBBIOLO D'ALBA & LANGHE NEBBIOLO March 2026
SANTA
BARBARA PINOT NOIRS February 2026
PRIMITIVOS
from PUGLIA January 2026
HOLIDAY
WINE & FOOD MARATHON December 2025
CALIFORNIA PETITE SIRAH November 2025
WEST
COAST PINOT NOIRS October 2025
PINOTAGE
-South Africa & California- September 2025
CALIFORNIA
MERLOT August 2025
ALTO
ADIGE LAGREIN July 2025
CALIFORNIA
CABERNETS June 2025
WILLAMETTE
VALLEY PINOT NOIRS May 2025
1978
& 1979 CALIFORNIA CABERNETS FROM JOHN M's CELLAR
NO TASTING MARCH 2025
CÔTES
DU RHÔNE RED February 2025
CHIANTI
CLASSICO January 2025
HOLIDAY
FOOD & WINE MARATHON December 2024
WEST
COAST CABERNET FRANC November 2024
CALIFORNIA
ZINFANDELS October 2024
AGLIANICO
-- California & Italian September 2024
PIEMONTESE
NEBBIOLO August 2024
CALIFORNIA
SAUVIGNON BLANC July 2024
PORTUGUESE
REDS June 2024
2019
BORDEAUX May 2024
2021 NORTH
COAST CABERNET SAUVIGNONS April 2024
MODESTLY-PRICED
WEST COAST PINOT NOIRS March 2024
THE
50th-ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION OF VINO FINO TASTINGS February 2024
MALBECS
(Mostly from Argentina) JANUARY 2024
HOLIDAY
FOOD & WINE MARATHON December 2023
SOUTHERN
HEMISPHERE SEMILLONS November 2023
CALIFORNIA
RED RHONE BLENDS October 2023
CALIFORNIA
CHARDONNAYS September 2023
MONTEPULCIANO
D'ABRUZZO August 2023
SPANISH
TEMPRANILLOS July 2023
2020
LEFT BANK BORDEAUX June 2023
WEST
COAST 2019 CABERNETS May 2023
CALIFORNIA
PINOT NOIRS April 2023
CALIFORNIA
CHARDONNAYS March 2023
CALIFORNIA
SYRAHS of MODEST PRICING February 2023
CALIFORNIA
ZINFANDELS January 2023
2022
HOLIDAY WINE & FOOD MARATHON
GIGONDAS
November 2022
ITALIAN
& CALIFORNIA BARBERA October 2022
2021
FRENCH ROSÉS September 2022
2019
BORDEAUX (Mostly Left Bank) August 2022
June Tasting Postponed
WASHINGTON
STATE CABERNETS (of Modest Pricing) JUNE 2022
MOSTLY
NAPA CABERNETS May 2022
ITALIAN
PINOT NERO / PINOT NOIR / BLAUBURGUNDER April 2022
MORE
2018 BORDEAUX (Left Bank) MARCH 2022
ETNA ROSSO
WINES February 2022
MOSTLY
GEORGIAN SAPERAVI January 2022
THE
HOLIDAY WINE & FOOD MARATHON December 2021
DRY
GERMAN RIESLINGS November 2021
MODESTLY-PRICED
CALIFORNIA PINOT NOIRS October 2021
SOUTHERN
HEMISPHERE GRENACHE September 2021
CALIFORNIA
CHARDONNAYS August 2021
CHIANTI
CLASSICO 2017 & 2018 JULY 2021
SOUTHERN
HEMISPHERE PINOT NOIRS June 2021
MORE
CALIFORNIA CABERNETS TASTED IN PERSON! May 2021
CALIFORNIA
CABERNETS Pandemic Mode April 2021
2018
BORDEAUX in Pandemic Mode March 2021
SOUTHERN
HEMISPHERE CHARDONNAYS in Pandemic Mode February 2021
CALIFORNIA
CHARDONNAYS in Pandemic Mode January 2021
CABERNETS
FROM WINERIES OPERATING IN THE EARLY DAYS OF THE VINO FINO GROUP December
2020
CALIFORNIA
SAUVIGNON BLANCS November 2020
NORTHERN
CALIFORNIA ZINFANDELS October 2020
2017
FRENCH WHITE BURGUNDY September 2020
PANDEMIC
PINOT NOIRS August 2020
CABERNETS
of 2016 & 2017 JULY 2020
NEBBIOLO FROM
THE LANGHE February 2020
AMERICAN
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
ITALIAN BARBERA
TASTING May 2019
NEW
ZEALAND PINOT NOIRS April 2019
2016
CALIFORNIA CABERNETS March 2019
NORTHERN
RHÔNE SYRAHS February 2019
SAUVIGNON
BLANC-SAUVIGNON GRIS-SAUVIGNON MUSQUÉ January 2019
VINO FINO
HOLIDAY WINE & FOOD MARATHON December 2018
SPANISH
ALBARIÑO November 2018
WEST
COAST SYRAHS October 2018
CHIANTI
CLASSICO MOSTLY September 2018
SOUTH
AMERICAN MALBECS August 2018
CALIFORNIA
ZINFANDELS July 2018
WEST
COAST RHÔNE WANNABEES June 2018
WASHINGTON
CABERNETS MAY 2018
GERALD IN EUROPE IN MARCH/APRIL
NAPA
CABERNET$ February 2018
AUSSIE
& KIWI RIESLINGS January 2018
2017
HOLIDAY WINE & FOOD MARATHON December 2017
FRENCH
WHITE BURGUNDY November 2017
SAUVIGNON
BLANC/SEMILLON BLENDS October 2017
SOUTHERN
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
CALIFORNIA
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
WASHINGTON
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
MOSTLY
ITALIAN BARBERA, MOSTLY 2011 VINTAGE May 2014
CALIFORNIA
PINOT NOIRS April 2014
VINO
FINO 40th ANNIVERSARY DINNER February 2014
FRENCH
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
MOURVEDRE
AND MOURVEDRE BLENDS August 2013
ITALIAN
VERMENTINO July 2013
MOSTLY
SPANISH TEMPRANILLO JUNE 2013
CALIFORNIA
GRENACHE & GRENACHE BLENDS MAY 2013
TEMPRANILLOS
(Mostly Southern Oregon) FEBRUARY 2013
PORTUGUESE
REDS Featuring TOURIGA NACIONAL January 2013
2012
HOLIDAY WINE MARATHON at the OLYMPIC CLUB December 2012
FRENCH
& CALIFORNIA CHARDONNAYS November 2012
WASHINGTON
STATE CABERNETS October 2012
AUSSIE
SHIRAZ September 2012
CALIFORNIA
ZINFANDELS August 2012
RIESLINGS
FROM ALSACE July 2012
2009
PIEMONTESE BARBERAS June 2012
WEST
COAST PINOT NOIRS April 2012
MOSTLY
2009 CALIFORNIA CABERNETS March 2012
WEST
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
VINO
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
MOSTLY
2008 CALIFORNIA CABERNETS March 2011
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
MOSTLY
2007 CALIFORNIA CABERNETS October 2010
MODESTLY-PRICED
CALIFORNIA ZINFANDELS September 2010
2007
LEFT BANK BORDEAUX August 2010
WASHINGTON
STATE CABS & BORDEAUX BLENDS
July 2010
2007
BARBERA June 2010
2007
NAPA & SONOMA ZINFANDELS April 2010
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 RHÔNES (7 Châteauneufs & 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-ÉMILION 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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