My Wine Trip and Tasting of a Lifetime!

This whirlwind tour of France was extremely impressive and just about all encompassing. The trip started in Paris and from there our first stop on this wine excursion was in the Loire Valley. From the Loire Valley we went to Bordeaux. Then from Bordeaux we went to the Rhone Valley. From the Rhone Valley we went to Burgundy and our final stop was in Champagne.

While traveling to these different areas and wineries in France we drove over 2,800 miles. After all this traveling I realized that one could never generalize about any one area. Each area has its own distinct and varied characteristics. The landscape we encounter while traveling from Paris to Loire reminded me somewhat of when I would look across the Hudson River while I lived in up state New York. It had rolling hills that were covered in all kinds of different broad-leafed trees. On this warm and sunny day our first stop was at the Caves of Louis Grenelle, where we tasted through numerous sparkling wines. After tasting through these sparkling wines from Saumur we had an enjoyable lunch just a stones throw from a beautiful medieval castle.

From Loire to Bordeaux the landscape was very reminiscent of the western side of Oregon with pine trees and heavily wooded areas. What surprised me the most about the actual city of Bordeaux was that it was just another big city and not acres and acres of vines. It was not until you got on the outskirts of the city that we found the endless rows of vines. Tasting and traveling through Bordeaux gave me a huge appreciation of the wines they produce. A quick personal synopsis of what we tasted through in Bordeaux was a mixed bag. The 2003 vintage, even though they were very few and far between, were in fact very awe inspiring and absolutely divine. The 2004 vintage seemed a bit spotty. I found some absolutely great wines from the 2004 vintage and quite a few average to above average wines. Below are a few key wines I made notes of:

Chateau Haut Brion 2004 Characteristics - raspberry, strawberry, cherry with a clay or mineral like component. Very long finish, My rating 90-92.

Chateau Haut Brion Blanc 2004 Characteristics - ripe peaches with a hint of nutmeg. Very full and rich with a very long finish. The best white wine of the trip. My Rating 90-92.

Chateau Pavie Decesse 2004 Characteristics - Rich, round, and very full with crushed blackberries, black fig. Opulent with a dynamite finish. My rating 95-97.

Chateau Moulin St George 2004 Characteristics- Dark cherry, coffee grounds, mineral, plum. This wine is made by the winemaker of Chateau Ausone. Good value. My rating 89-90.

Chateau Ausone 2004 Characteristics - Coffee bean, raspberry, blueberry pie. Absolutely delicious and a finish that lasted a good 5 min. Impeccable balance. My rating 95-97.

Chateau Margaux 2004 Characteristics - raspberry, blackberry then leads into dark cherry. Elegant with impeccable balance. My rating 92-94.

Chateau Margaux 2003 Characteristics - intense cherry liqueur, rich, succulent, elegant. Great wine. My rating 95-98.

Chateau Mouton Rothschild 2004 Characteristics - mineral, cherry, raspberry, medium finish. My rating 90-92.

Chateau Latour 2004 Characteristics - mineral, blackberry coulis, plum, rich. Extended finish. Great wine. My rating 94-96.

Chateau Lafite Rothschild 2004 Characteristics - mineral, cherry, rose petals. Long finish. My Rating 90-93.

Leoville Las Cases 2004 Characteristics - Cassis, dark raspberry, long long finish. Hard to tell right now, but could be great. My rating 95-97.

Leoville Las Cases 2002 Characteristics - plum, blackberry, cassis, mineral. Opulent delicious finish. My Rating 94-96.

Chateau Cos D''Estournel 2004 Characteristics - Roasted coffee, ripe blackberries, absolutely delicious. - I didn''t want to spit this one out. My Rating 92-94.

Chateau Petrus 2004 Characteristics - Raspberry, blackberry, smoke, cherry, blueberry, but fruit was still hidden. My rating 90-92. ** Please note!! When we talked to Christian Mouiex he wanted to make sure we understood that what we tasted was not the final blend.

Chateau Cheval Blanc 2004 Characteristics - Mineral, cherry, blueberry. Very rich and round. I really enjoyed. My rating 93-95.

Chateau Vieux Chateau Certan 2004 Characteristics - Plum, blackberry, rich and ripe black fruit, opulent. I really enjoyed. My rating 95-97.

Chateau Le Pin 2004 Characteristics - Blueberry, rich and succulent, impeccable balance, absolutely delicious. My rating 97-98.

Chateau Le Pin 2001 Characteristics - Blueberry, rich and succulent, impeccable balance, bitter tannins on finish. My rating 95-97.

On our way from Bordeaux to Rhone we were hit with snowstorms while climbing extremely steep and winding roads. Even though this seemed a bit dangerous at the time, once we got there some wines proved to be well worth the risk. Our first stop was at Chapoutier, then we made our way to Guigal. Below are a few key wines I made notes of:

Guigal Condrieu 2003 Characteristics - Smoked peaches, ripe nectarines, white peaches. Great balance. My rating 90-92.

Guigal La Mouline. Cote Rotie. 2001 Characteristics - Raspberry coulis, smoke, Blackberry jam. Absolutely delicious. This one floored me. Rating 97-98.

Guigal La Turque. Cote Rotie. 2001 Characteristics - Blackberry Coulis, dried black figs, rich succulent, opulent. Absolutely delicious. Rating 97-98.

Guigal La Landonne. Cote Rotie. 2003 ( Barrel Tasting) Characteristics - This one left me speechless. Roasted meat, intense black fruit, impeccable balance. My Rating 98-100.

From Rhone to Burgundy we encountered lush green fields that were reminiscent of Ireland. No snowstorms here, in fact it was warm and sunny again. It’s amazing how different the climate and landscape changes from one area to another. Burgundy may have been my most favorite area overall. Burgundy offered the joy of exploration and enjoyment of wines as well as the more romantic landscape scenes. Here is where I was reminded of the romantic pictures of France that I previously only saw in books and paintings. Burgundy was riddled with quaint little bistros and cafes as well as the little villages in the middle of nowhere.

I was most impressed with the wines from Thibault Liger-Belair, Domaine Roumier and Perrot-Minot. However the most surprising visit was at Louis Jadot. They are much more serious and impressive than I would have ever imagined. Below are a few key wines I made notes of:

Jean Marc Boillot Puligny Montrachet 2003 Characteristics - Mineral, apricot, slight vanilla, soft, full and round. My rating 92-94.

Meo-Camuzet Nuits St.Georges “ Les Boudots”2004 Characteristics - Bright cherry, raspberries coulis, smoke. Delicious. My rating 92-94.

Meo-Camuzet Echezeaux 2004 Characteristics - Dried dark cherries, cranberries, blueberries, cassis, blackberry. My rating 94-96.

Thibault Liger-Belair Nuit St Georges “ Les St.-Georges” 2003 Characteristics - Raspberry coulis, fresh raspberries, blackberries. My rating 90-92.

Thibault Liger-Belair Clos Vougeot 2003 Characteristics - Blueberries, blackberries, blackberry coulis, rich, round, thick. My rating 93-95.

Thibault Liger-Belair Clos Vougeot 2004 (Barrel Tasting) Characteristics - Blueberries, blackberries, blackberry coulis. My rating 90-92.

Louis Carillon Puligny Montrachet " Les Combettes" 2004 Characteristics - Honeyed nose, ripe apricots, ripe, round, with hint of fresh figs. My Rating 92-94

Domain Fourier Gevry Chambertin "V.V. 2004 Characteristics - Delicious dark berries, rich and succulent. My rating 92-94.

Domaine Roumier Chambolle Musigny 2003 Characteristics - Cassis, plum, ripe blueberries, round, supple, My Rating 92-94.

Perrot-Minot Nuits St George "La Richemone" 2003 Characteristics – Rich and round showing good acid level. Integrated wood with excellent length. Absolutely beautiful. My rating 95-97.

Perrot-Minot Mazoyeres Chambertin 2003 Characteristics - Blackberry pie, rich and well balanced. My rating 95-97.

From Burgundy to Champagne I was completely worn out – I just remember the Champagnes that we tried. This was a great way to end our tour. A refreshing and relaxing change of pace – wandering through the caves at Laurent-Perrier to a glorious lunch at Krug. Below are a few key wines I made notes of:

Laurent-Perrier Alexandre Rose 1997 Characteristics – Creamy cherries, bright strawberries. Perhaps one of the best rosé I’ve tried. My rating 94.

Krug Collection 1981 Characteristics - Maple, honey, green apple, papaya. My Rating 94 - 95. Excellent quality.

Krug 1990 Vintage Characteristics - Caramel, cocoa powder, creamy, succulent. My rating 97.

Stephen Tanzer's New Issue

If you are a member of Stephen Tanzers publication you'll find it hard to overlook some of his reviews on the 2004 Barolo and Barbaresco. Take a look! There appears to be some gems in there.

Centennial Fine Wine and Spirits has been named the 2007 "Retailer of the Year"

Centennial Fine Wines and Spirits was just awarded the 2007 "Retailer of the Year" by Market Watch Magazine. If you click on the Subject line it will take you to their website.

Rhone Review by Parker

If you are a member of Robert Parkers Website, check out his article on Rhone Valley Wines. The article is extensive, but gives alot of good information. Here is his intro paragraph to the article:

"Because of the extensive tastings I did in the Rhône Valley, I decided to divide the Rhône Valley coverage into segments. In this report, the Châteauneuf du Pape will be covered comprehensively and those wines made outside of the appellation by proprietors of Châteauneuf du Pape, such as Côtes du Rhônes and Côtes du Rhône-Villages. Additionally, négociant bottlings of both Châteauneuf du Pape and Côtes du Rhône are reviewed. Future issues will deal with the other major southern Rhône appellations, such as Gigondas, Vacqueyras, and the various Côtes du Rhône appellations, and another separate report will cover the northern Rhône in its entirety, including the both white and red wines from the north."

2007 Sonoma Harvest Report

Here is another excerpt from winebusiness.com. To view the whole report please click on the link.

2007 Sonoma Harvest Report

From Daily News Links, 11/16/2007

The 2007 Sonoma County harvest was smaller than average, but extremely high in quality, said panelists at the 2007 Sonoma County Harvest Report, co-hosted by the Sonoma County Vintners and Sonoma County Winegrape Commission on Monday, November 12 at Paradise Ridge Winery in Santa Rosa. A new element this year for the panel discussion was the addition of grape growers, who were each paired with a winemaker to offer an overview of growing conditions during the season. Peter Marks, MW, moderated the panel, which included Steve Dutton of Dutton Ranch, Dan Goldfield of Dutton-Goldfield Winery, Adam Lee of Siduri Wines, Marne Coggan of Sonatera Vineyards, Dan Barwick of Paradise Ridge Winery, Ulises Valdez of Valdez Vineyard Management, and Steve Reeder and Leland Reichel of Simi Winery. Steve Dutton spoke for all when he said, "The crop size was down, but we harvested beautiful, beautiful fruit this year. If someone's not making great wine from this vintage, they're in the wrong business."

Wine Spectator's Top 100

Just as a reminder, the Wine Spectator's Top 100 list will be available on Mobday 11/19/2007. Here is an excerpt from the Wine Spectator's Website:

"Each year, Wine Spectator editors survey the wines we've reviewed over the past 12 months and select the most exciting for our Top 100. In 2007, we reviewed more than 15,000 wines from around the world in blind tastings. More than 3,500 of them earned outstanding ratings (90 points or higher on our 100-point scale). We then narrowed the list down based on four criteria: quality (represented by score); value (reflected by release price); availability (measured by case production or cases imported); and an X-factor we call excitement. But no equation determines the final selections: These choices reflect our editors' judgment and enthusiasm about the wines we tasted. Thirteen countries are represented in our 2007 list, tying it with 2006 for the most diverse group in the history of the Top 100, which debuted in 1988. The average price for the wines on this year's list is $42, down from $49 last year, yet quality remains at the same level, with an average score of 93 points. We hope our selections stimulate discussion, and lead people to more deeply explore the world of wine."

Wine Headaches

I have been asked so many times "What causes wine headaches." My normal response would be a high sensitivity to naturally occuring sulfites in the wine or a high sensitivity to histamines. I would like to share with you this informative article I stumbled across a few days ago. Organic compounds found in some wines may be the suspected culprit of "Wine Headaches." I thought you might find it interesting. Following the article is a list of some new holiday wine picks as well.

Berkeley Scientists Develop Test for Headache Chemicals in Wine

Thursday November 1, 5:10 pm ET By Marcus Wohlsen, Associated Press Writer

BERKELEY, Calif. (AP) -- The effects are all too familiar: a fancy dinner, some fine wine and then, a few hours later, a racing heart and a pounding headache. But a device developed by University of California, Berkeley, researchers could help avoid the dreaded "red wine headache." Chemists working with NASA-funded technology designed to find life on Mars have created a device they say can easily detect chemicals that many scientists believe can turn wine and other beloved indulgences into ingredients for agony. The chemicals, called biogenic amines, occur naturally in a wide variety of aged, pickled and fermented foods prized by gourmet palates, including wine, chocolate, cheese, olives, nuts and cured meats. "The food you eat is so unbelievably coupled with your body's chemistry," said Richard Mathies, who described his new technology in an article published Thursday in the journal Analytical Chemistry. Scientists have nominated several culprits for "red wine headache," including amines like tyramine and histamine, though no conclusions have been reached. Still, many specialists warn headache sufferers away from foods rich in amines, which can also trigger sudden episodes of high blood pressure, heart palpitations and elevated adrenaline levels.

The detector could prove useful to those with amine sensitivity, said Beverly McCabe, a clinical dietitian and co-author of "Handbook of Food-Drug Interactions," a book cited by the article for its descriptions of the effects of amines on the brain. The prototype -- the size of a small briefcase -- uses a drop of wine to determine amine levels in five minutes, Mathies said. A startup company he co-founded is working to create a smaller device the size of a personal digital assistant that people could take to restaurants and test their favorite wines. The researchers found the highest amine levels in red wine and sake and the lowest in beer. For now, the device only works with liquids. Mathies suggests the device could be used to put amine levels on wine labels. "We're aware of the consumer demand for information. But that has to be tempered by the manner in which wine is made," said Wendell Lee, general counsel for the Wine Institute, a California industry trade group.

Holiday Aperitif Picks
Louis de Grenelle Grand Cuvee Brut

Taittinger Brut Francaise.

Guy Larmandier Grand Cru "Cramant" Blanc de Blanc Brut.

Holiday White Wine Picks
Chateau La Rame Bordeaux Blanc 2005.

Lioco Sonoma Chardonnay 2006.

Maso Canali Pinot Grigio 2006.

Lucien Crochet Sancerre 2005.

Yves Cuilleron Viognier 2005.

Paul Blank Riesling 2003.

Holiday Red Wine Picks
River Road Pinot Noir.

Joseph Phelps "Innisfree" Cabernet 2005.

Louis Boillot Bourgogne Rouge 2004.

Mackenzie Estate Russian River Pinot Noir 2005.

Domaine Mourchon Rhone Valley Grande Reserve 2005.

Petrolo Torrione Sangiovese 2004.

Holiday Dessert Wine Picks
Castello del Poggio Moscato D'asti 2006.

Tesseron Cognac Lot #76 XO.

Taylor Fladgate 2000 Vintage Port.