Cabernet Sauvignon - Alexander Valley

2005 Geyser Peak Cabernet Sauvignon – I had some of this with Blaine and it was a little over-oaked and watery. For $14, this wine tasted good after being opened after a day, which is a good sign. None of it was wasted. Last tasted winter of 2010 Drink now 

1998 Silver Oak, Alexander Valley – I taste a funky year with plenty of mildew. Maybe "Brett" Favre would like this? Let's take a bottle of this and some left over steak and head to "Sewer Peak". This must be a two-foot west swell with a long interval. There must have been a sewer spill with little rodents cheering from the sewer. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 

Cabernet Sauvignon - Carmel Valley

2006 Parsonage Cabernet Sauvignon – The English folks on table 14 ordered this one and they didn’t like it because of the 15% alcohol content. At $150 the wine was probably too young to drink as the tight tannins had a little too much grip. The fruit was there, just locked away. Last tasted fall of 2010 Drink now-2016

Merlot - Napa

2005 Duckhorn Merlot – This is a fruit forward Merlot. On the palette, it reminded me of a showy satin gown. Duckhorn is a benchmark in California and it practically sells itself. Suggest it and see how easy selling wine is. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 

2001 Duckhorn "Three Palms" Merlot Magnum - Cherry vanilla elegance that was clearly over-oaked. The baking spice and bing cherry made me want to become an ex-patriot who only drinks wine from carafes. I'm just kidding, Pelerin makes a good syrah. Last tasted 8/20/0 Drink now-2015 

2000 Nickel & Nickel "Suscol" Merlot- $120 on Casanova's wine list. Coffee nuances and a vanilla bean pureness. If this was a chick, it'd be a hot blonde chick scooping ice cream at Baskin Robbins ice cream parlor on a hot day with good waves. I'm losing it! Last tasted 2007 Drink
now-2015 

1992 Beringer "Bangcroft Ranch" Merlot - a dirty espresso grind earthiness that coated your teeth with grit. It tasted like flat cola, but had a cedar tea and cigar box complexity. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 

Merlot - Carmel Valley

1986 Georis Merlot, Carmel Valley, ($400 per Magnum) - the Taylor Farms party in the Milagro drank five bottles. The subtle brettanomyces nuances are welcomed in situations when the wine is easily quaffed. The deep color and subtle tannins of this wine makes people smile and laugh for no apparent reason. The sediment around the cork makes anyone want to start chewing sediment. This masculine wine shouldn't still have tons of cherry fruit with cigar-box nuances, but it does. Last tasted 9/14/07 Drink now-2015 

Veneto

2001 Zenato Corvina (Amarone blend) – Veneto, Italy
The rustic mocha flavors and higher alcohol make this a good pairing with a robust entrée’s or, desert. Apparently, vintners in Veneto like to dry out their grapes on straw mats to the point that they become raisinated. Someone that likes a Zinfandel would love this. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 

2000 Corvina "La Poja" Allegrini (8/10/07) - a focused bittersweet viscosity that reminded me of a mocha flan. The best wine I've ever had from the Veneto area. I got the mocha traits immediately and thanked the gentleman and his friends by giving them a wine cellar tour. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 

Valpolicella

2005 Masi Valpolicella – Bona Costa $15 (10/4/07) – these dried grapes promote raisin and mocha notes. These wines need to be drunk young. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 

Abruzzo

2004 Illuminati “Riparossa” Montepulciano d’ Abruzzo $15 (10/2/07) – reminds me of the pine needles that cut your hands when climbing a tree. The drinkability gives prunes and plums a better reputation than before. Someone give me a slice of pizza. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 

2005 Montereggio di Messa, Marritima by Campo Bargello 9/6/07 - for $8 a glass, no one who complain about this wine. it had a really nice sweet nose with a little bit of body odor. It was like a sweaty Italian man who's eating fresh tomatoes off of a pizza. It was hot-blooded, chewy and it reminded me like food rather than an alcoholic beverage. It had an opaque maroon color. It had plumy and quaffable soft tannins. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 

Montepulciano

2005 Rosso di Montepulciano Casanova di Neri ($45.00) 8/27/07 - sweet jammy nose and the tannins were dusty. I was underwhelmed, still good. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2013 

2004 Avignonesi Sangiovese (blend) - Vino Noble di Montepulciano, Italy
It’s the wine of the poets and the noblemen. It’s a bit bigger bodied than a Chianti Classico but has many similarities. With red cherries, and mouth-drying acidity it’s hard to resist speaking with your hands. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 

Napa Zinfandel

2004 Chase Zinfandel “Hayne Vineyard” – Napa (9/31/07) – Thin candy like and syrupy cool-aid, viscous and a little rough. The lady broke the cork, so I gave her my wine key. I got so drunk off this wine that I didn’t take notes. For $75 on the wine list, I’d rather have this than Turley’s Hayne. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 

Central Coast Zinfandel

2005 Ridge “Lytton Springs” Zinfandel, California
This is the epitome of hedonism. It’s so concentrated that it’ll stain the teeth pure black. Ridge has become a benchmark name for California Zinfandel production. Although this wine has dark berries and blackberry jam on the palette, it’s not over-the-top like super sweet and candied Zinfandels from Paso Robles. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2020 

2004 Ridge, Geyserville - metallic pencil shavings, straw-cigar-box Pauillac qualities. I got some candied old vine cotton candy. Not like anything from Paso, more Bordeaux style because of its lean traits. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 

Crozes-Hermitage

2006 Chapoutier "Les Meysonniers" Syrah - Crozes Hermitage, France
The lavender and black pepper traits might make people get the word Syrah tattooed on their biceps. Although this wine is mostly syrah, a touch of viognier is blended in. The color looks a like squid just shot its ink into a glass. With a smoky, salty bacon fat quality, the wine is rustic, gamey and good. You can’t find this in Safeway! Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 

2005 Crozes-Hermitage "Les Meysonniers" M. Chapoutier ($228 case) - no barnyard although many Crozes do have some funk. This one was super tannic but no real signs of Brett. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2013 

Cote-Rotie

2003 Cote-Rotie "La Sarrasine" Domaine Bonserine ($385 case) the flavors have been stewed down as a bean ragout may have been put on a side plate. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2020 

Gigondas

2003 E. Guigal Grenache (blend) – Gigondas, France
This spicy, gamey pounder is lot like a Chateauneuf du Pape but a lot less expensive. These winemakers are renowned for their triage system in which they check to make sure each grape is up to par (i.e. not bruised or overripe). Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2010 

Corbieres

2004 Chateau Mattes-Sabran Syrah – Corbieres, France.
With black pepper, rosemary, sage and more, people may forget that a little old vine Carignan is blended in. That’s why it’s so bold. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2011 

Coonawarra Shiraz

2003 Bowen Shiraz, Coonawarra $26 (10/6/07) – a dark wine with enough structure to age and not enough to age for very long. It was slightly watery, but it wasn’t as over-extracted as most Australian wines. There wasn’t enough tannin to be considered Cote Rotie, but the as austere as the Aussie’s have ever done. You could taste the viognier. This wine wasn’t as well like by Amanda’s girlfriend. Apparently, she likes the pruney Rosemount Estate better. I couldn’t stand how bad that wine was. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2014 

Clare Valley Shiraz

2006 Leasingham Shiraz, Clare Valley ($10) - Lots of bacon fat and blueberry cobbler. Steve thought it was "like" a Cote Rotie, I ate it with a skirt steak. Obviously, he thought it was New World. Last tasted 2007 Drink now

McClaren Shiraz

2003 D'arenberg Shiraz/ Mourvedre (50/50), McClaren Valley, Australia 8/24/07 $15 @ Neilsen's - this tasted much better out of a Burgundy bowl and it definitely had a high alcohol concentration. The port-like strawberry jam seemed delicate in the glass. It was real dark and had a burnt fig character. The neighbor Steve Kelly enjoyed a glass. It seems like if you tell a customer what they might get in the wine, they won't complain. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2013 

Columbia Valley Syrah

2005 Waters Syrah, Columbia Valley 8/30/07 - there was more lavender than bacon and its pepperiness displayed a clean elegance. No terrior. They must irrigate. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 

Central Coast Syrah

2005 Edna Valley Syrah "Paragon", S.L.O. - this was tasted on 9/2/07 and the alcohol was 13.9%. It had a metallic character without being as jammy as some Australian Shiraz's. The climate seemed just cool enough for it to be considered a balanced wine. The color is deep purple like that of lascivious velvet. It tastes peppery and something leads me to believe it's from a hot climate without being over-extracted. This seems to taste like granite rocks that display great minerality. The bacon fat in the nose and Caramel character make me think this would be a good pairing with the tri-tip that's cooking in the oven. There's tons of marble fat waiting for this tannic yet elegant, velvet wine. I have a head-ache, but it's not from this wine that costs only $12 a bottle. The headache stems from the time out in the sun and actually, I feel it fleeting. Last tasted 2007 Drink now 

Arroyo Secco Syrah

2005 Morgan "Goats du Crow" 50/50 Grenache/syrah - Monterey a blonde hot chick reading a book and eating strawberries on Carmel Beach. She's into it! This tasted like the green leafs of under ripe strawberries with partially under ripe and overripe character. Prune and then sour jolly rancher candy. Real light like a Pinot would be. Last tasted 2007 Drink now 

2004 Pelerin "Mesa Del Sol" Syrah, 9/14/07 - table 64 wants a local syrah, so what better than this gem? The blueberry, Andersen's Pea Soup, lavender, and violets nuances are welcomed by any primordial hunter-gather. It appears black and concentrated in the glass without being over-extracted. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2012 

Fleurie

2003 Chignard Gamay – Fleurie, France
This is one of the most expensive Beaujolais in the world. Not bad for $48! If this were a person, it’d be a delicate woman lathered in raspberry perfume. If someone likes lighter style Pinot Noir’s, they better try this now! Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2013 

Flagey Echezaux

1998 Echezaux Grand Cru, Immanuel Rouget – For $550 a bottle, I thought the wine was extremely acidic and a bit oxidized. I smelled some red apple nuance that didn’t seem to belong. The folks on 13 know their wines and they mentioned that the wine needed time to come around. They drank it all, so that was a good sign. Lasted tasted fall of 2010 Drink now

Vosne Romanee

1988 Vosne Romaneé "Les Beaux Monts" Confuron (8/21/07) - There should've been a disclaimer on this bottle. It should've said, "Ignore the aroma's of rat hair and enjoy one of the best Pinot Noir's you've ever tasted. So delicate and how could anyone refuse a rustic pasta when this gem is served? Last tasted 2007 Drink now 

Clos de Vougeot

1995 Clos de Vougeot,E. Gros - Holy earth mousse-poo that I somehow love. That is, in a brettanomyces sick kind of way. On the other hand, it was rich, full-bodied, and super-viscous. Very complex earth with a big fruit forward style. Not quite subtle, but really "Old World". Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2012 javascript:void(0)

Morey St. Denis

2004 Perrot- Minot, Morey St. Denis $75 per half bottle (9/25/07) – A masculine darkness mingled with bitter chocolate. It was powerful and table 14 needed two bottles. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 

Chateauneuf du Pape

2004 Vieux Telegraph-Brunier, Chateauneuf Du Pape - dark color in the glass with port-like chocolaty over ripe strawberries. The black pepper and tobacco nuances made this wine seem like a dirty old man thinking up ways to lure the ladies. Maybe not, but it was dirty and had tons of character. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 

2004 Ch. La Gardine Chateauneuf du Pape ($336 case) - Christmas candy mixed with pine trees, and port-like black pepper jam. The hot climate's indigenous grape types lead me to fall off the wagon. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 

2003 E. Guigal Grenache (blend) - Chateauneuf du Pape, France
With tobacco, red raspberry, and black pepper qualities this is perfect for customers who just ate garlic and need something to slake their thirst. Cotes du Rhone Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2013 

1985 Beaucastel Chateauneuf $235 (10/15/07) – this isn’t as good when the sediment integrates with the juice. The nose is so funky and the fruit is quite raspberry-like. The psycho-group deserves to drink the sediment. I’m glad the bottle has been shaken. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 

Corton (Red)

2005 Bourgogne Hautes-Cotes de Nuits "Vielles Vignes" by Olivier Juan 9/6/07 - it was bottled in Morey St. Denis. It didn't taste good in the cellar, but I still thought it was nice for the price. It was like Barney's and Dragon's breath mixed with raspberries and jewels that had just been crushed on the curb. Zane and I like it and his neighbor came back for seconds. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2012 

2005 Bourgogne Jeran Haut de Cotes de Nuits "Vielles Vignes" 8/30/07 - there was so much raspberry jam, but it wasn't sour and it displayed velvet edges. The perfect cafe' wine. It was what the jewel block was trying to imitate. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2012 

1995 Bourgogne Grand Ordinaire, Rotz - Gevrey Chambertin - This had some major barnyard. The smell of a barn is sometimes the most rewarding traits when there's a nice focused viscosity that's light. Lots of funky mushrooms. There were some pinot characteristics in terms of its viscosity. You could smell the cherry leather tobacco from a pipe smoker as your dog takes a poo. I thought it was a Nebbiolo or Chianti by Ruffino. It had the viscosity a Piedmont red might have with the earth of that super-funky Chianti "Oro Gold". Last tasted 2007 Drink now 

Bourgogne (Red)

2005 Bourgogne Hautes-Cotes de Nuits "Vielles Vignes" by Olivier Juan 9/6/07 - it was bottled in Morey St. Denis. It didn't taste good in the cellar, but I still thought it was nice for the price. It was like Barney's and Dragon's breath mixed with raspberries and jewels that had just been crushed on the curb. Zane and I like it and his neighbor came back for seconds. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2012 

2005 Bourgogne Jeran Haut de Cotes de Nuits "Vielles Vignes" 8/30/07 - there was so much raspberry jam, but it wasn't sour and it displayed velvet edges. The perfect cafe' wine. It was what the jewel block was trying to imitate. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2012 

1995 Bourgogne Grand Ordinaire, Rotz - Gevrey Chambertin - This had some major barnyard. The smell of a barn is sometimes the most rewarding traits when there's a nice focused viscosity that's light. Lots of funky mushrooms. There were some pinot characteristics in terms of its viscosity. You could smell the cherry leather tobacco from a pipe smoker as your dog takes a poo. I thought it was a Nebbiolo or Chianti by Ruffino. It had the viscosity a Piedmont red might have with the earth of that super-funky Chianti "Oro Gold". Last tasted 2007 Drink now 

Wairarapa Pinot Noir

2003 Borthwick Pinot Noir, Wairarapa, N.Z., 9/16/07 - I didn't know that $23 Pinot Noir was supposed to taste like sour cranberries and under-ripe plums. The high acidity reminds me of the green leaves from the top of strawberries' head. The leather and rawhide flavor did remind me of prosciutto and bing cherries. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2010

Willamette Pinot Noir

2005 Beaux Freres – This one was showing like a Burgundy as it had good structure and some earthy aromas. The fruit wasn’t sweet, which I liked about it. This wine may improve, but its drinking good enough right now. Last tasted summer 2010 Drink now-2014 

2004 Torri Morr "Deux Frères" Pinot Noir from Willamette, Oregon - the strawberry figs were a little thin for what I was expecting. A $75 bottle shouldn’t be so lean, but it did have pomegranate edges. Bouncy enough. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2012 

Russian River Pinot Noir

2005 O'Connor Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley 8/30/07 - less thin than the Torri Morr and a better value. It had smoky leather integrated with prosciutto. It was subtle without being sour. For $50.00 on list, "What a value! Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2011 

2005 Walter Hanzel "K-Hill" 9/6/07 - this Russian river Pinot displayed strawberries that were peppery and had byte. Very nice. Thank you Paul Bullard. Hanzel is so hot right now. Hanzel. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 

Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

2006 Flowers Pinot Noir - Sonoma Coast, California
If people are in the mood for iced tea, tell them you have Flowers and they may reconsider. With dark cherry, raspberry, teaberry and leather nuances how can the vane say no? The tannins are soft and the wine is concentrated. When people have a bottle of this to show to the rest of the restaurant, they feel rich and classy, kind of like Ron Burgundy. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2011 

Bien Nacido Pinot Noir

2004 J. Wilkes Pinot Blanc "Block Q" Pinot Noir, Bien Nacido 9/6/07 - it had a deeply concentrated pomegranate disposition that reminded me of a beautifully extracted red Burgundy without the funky barnyard. It was like deeply macerated binge cherries that weren't syrupy. The alcohol wasn't offensive like some higher alcohol wines. Cheaper than Saintsbury's Toyon Farm and just as good. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2010 

2002 Calera "Selleck Vineyard" Pinot Noir, Mt. Harlan - burnt leather and tobacco nuances gave this more of a "traditional" character than some of the bigger styles out there. Lots of earth and masculinity without over-extraction. Reminded me of Acacia's wines from Carneros. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2013 

Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir

2008 Bernardus “Rosella’s Vineyard” – It had a lot of weight. There seemed to be an abundance of caramel flavors that probably must’ve come from the oak. It’s too young to tell. Last tasted fall 2010 Drink now-2014 

2006 Tondre “Grapefield Vineyard” – It had a dark raspberry color and seemed to lack tannin structure. There were nuances of sweet fruit and pomegranates and this wine seemed like a great value for $60. It actually had its own identity too. Last tasted fall 2010 Drink now-2013 

2006 Peter Michael “Les Moulin Rouge/Pisoni Vineyard” – I sold this to the folks in the magnum room. It seemed less heady than other Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noirs. The bright color made me believe it was filtered more so than others. For $155 per bottle, I’d rather drink Premier Cru Burgundy, but I that depends what mood I’m in. Last tasted summer of 2010 Drink now-2014 

2005 De Tierra Silacci Vineyard Pinot Noir - Santa Lucia Highlands, California
The snappy red fruit nuances (raspberry, pomegranate and more) encourage salivation but is reserved. Instead of revealing everything on the first date, she makes you wait, think, observe and finally, savor. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2010 

2005 Morgan “Double L”, Santa Lucia Highlands $110 (10/9/07) – Bing cherry with blue fruit and soft tannins dance. The bride and groom think the name of their first child should be Morgan. This alcoholic wine’s robust flavors make me want to give over-extracted wines a second chance. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2010 

2004 Miura "Gary's Vineyard", Santa Lucia Highlands - It felt like the black cherries that would stain a white dress. I guess you, should call them bing cherries? "What am I drinking cherry-cola from a soda fountain?" No it's probably that big, peppery pinot we had at Casanova's tonight. You knew the alcohol was present but it wasn't obvious in the taste. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 

Carmel Valley Pinot Noir

2008 Bernardus “Ingrid’s Vineyard” – It seemed like it was lighter on its feet that the ’08 Rosella’s Vineyard, well balanced and somewhat snappy. Last tasted fall of 2010 Drink now-2015 

2005 Silvestri Pinot - Carmel Valley - high alcohol, real big, with bing cherry, and cracked black pepper. This wine was well-extracted, had an intense light purple color had velvety roundness that reminded me of a 03' Volnay by Bouchard. The black pepper nuance confused me. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2010 

Sauternes

2004 Ch. De Fargues "Lur Surluces", Sauternes - sugary and I could drink a whole glass, probably not a whole bottle. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 

2004 Ch. Rayne Vigneau, Sauternes - very steely and too cold. There wasn't enough acidity and lacked body. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 

2004 Ch. Guiraud 1er Cru, Sauternes - pleasant, but lacking body Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 

2004 Ch. Doisy Daene, Sauternes - nice and sweet with dried tropical fruit Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 

2004 Ch. Latour Blanche 1er cru, Sauternes - there's a Vidal body, long finish and super honeyed. I like it because it's super fat, but a little too sugary. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2020
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2004 Ch. Coutet, Saturnes-Barsac - dried apricots and pineapples with a long finish. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2020 

2004 Ch. Lafaurie-Peyraguey, Sauternes - very nice, but a little too lean. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 

2004 Ch. Sigalas Rabaud, Sauternes - too much sour lemon-peel. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 

2004 Ch. Suduiraut 1er Cru, Sauternes - At first I thought the Latour Blanche was better, but after revisiting this wine it had a nice Old World acidity that would allow me to drink a whole bottle. You need a sophisticated palette because it's not so obvious. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2020 

1999 Suduiraut, Sauternes ($550 case) - I was spitting for a whole week and this was the first wine I wanted to drink. Toberlone and heath candy toffee notes with a side order of crème' brulee. I was reminded of frozen grapes at the old neighbor "Bee's" house. It was a nice finish because it wasn't sugary. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2020 

1994 D'yquem "Les Surluces", Bordeaux- The crème' brulee and red apple traits integrated with toffee and burnt caramel would've made me guess D'yquem. There must've been some botrytis but I did get some oxidative white Bordeaux characteristic's that made me think Haut Brion or something like Carbonnieux. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 

1988 D'yquem - What am I taking crazy pills? A perfect pairing with a Crème Brulee. It tasted like butterscotch and toffee heath candies that have been pureed and dropped into a jar of honey. Despite being unctuous, ridiculously sweet and decadent, the wine had great acidity and minerality. Too young to drink, but I enjoyed assessing its future. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2020 

Baumes de Venise

2003 Jaboulet Muscat de Baumes de Venise (10/15/07) – It has minéral favoris and Is plaisant. It kind of reminds me of the frozen grapes that come straight out of the freezer. It’s grapey if that means anything. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 

Asti

2003 Moscato d' Asti by Michele Chiarlo - $18 for a half bottle! Orange blossom, lots of effervescence without being sparkling. Had nice sprits to go along with its nice floral notes. Luckily, it wasn't cloying or sugary. LPR. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2010 

Napa Dessert Wine

2003 Far Niente "Dolce" - Napa Valley - For that price, I'd rather have quality sauternes. Nonetheless, it wasn't too sugary and was held together nicely. One of the best domestic dessert wines out there. Reminded me of butterscotch candy like most California chard's, but on top of it being rich, it had good acidity. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2011 

Montrachet

1986 Montrachet, Bouchard - canned pineapple with honey. The wine had some amazing acidity for being such an old wine. I liked the butterscotch candy nuances a midst the other three-thousand descriptors I remember. I woke up the nest day and the wine was lingering on my palette. The number of nuances listed on paper would have resembled the "Scroll of David". My manager Ray Bertolino almost had a heart attack; he thought it was so good. Still, more interesting than drinkable a touch over-the-hill. Last tasted 2007 Drink now 

Chassagne Montrachet

2005 Chassagne M. "Les Vergers" 1er D. Fontaine Gagnard 8/30/07 - angelus brought this and I was impressed by their ability to pick good wines that are "under the radar". This would be on the list for under $100 and I recommend it to anyone who likes a good chard that's got finesse without being overly sulfur rich like some Pulignys. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 

Chevalier Montrachet

1999 Chevalier Montrachet - Jadot - Really drinkable. So drinkable, that I wanted to drink a whole bottle or six. I wanted to savor it for its cerebral qualities and pound it for its balance. Probably, one of the best chardonnay's I've ever had. The sulfur had mellowed out just enough to slake anyone's thirst. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2012 

Puligny Montrachet

2005 Louis Latour –Chardonnay - Puligny Montrachet, (Burgundy) France
It’s super-rich but not flabby. The list of characteristics in this wine is unending. Please, experience the nuances of popcorn, allspice, cinnamon, nutmeg, honey, butter, vanilla, eggnog… and more. The township of Puligny Montrachet is home to such Grand Cru vineyards like: Le Montrachet, Chevalier-Montrachet and Bienvenues-Batard-Montrachet. If your customer likes a full-bodied chard like Pahlmeyer but are willing to try something new, tell them to taste this. If they’re gun-shy, tell them that if they don’t like it, you’ll drink it. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2011 

2004 Latour, Puligny $85 (9/26/07) – it’s really tight, but there’s a blossom marigold effect that won’t make sense to anyone but me. It’s like a sunflower that closed and then opens in your mouth. Last tasted 2007 Drink now 

2003 Puligny Montrachet - Latour "Les Folatieres" - I blind-tasted Casanova's Wine Director Kris Harriman on this wine and he thought it could pass for a grand cru Chablis by Ravenau. The chalky minerality and high acidity surprised me in such a ripe year. It was a little tight but a nice rich edge on the mouthfeel. Last tasted 2007 Drink now 

1995 Puligny Montrachet "Les Chalamaux", Chateau de Puligny Montrachet - gold in color, but not brown. It had a bromelaide pineapple character integrated with brioche toast, nutmeg, all-spice, caramel, honey, and steely gun-barrel minerality. This was like a ray of sunshine covered with spiky pineapple ooze. Last tasted 2007 Drink now 

Meursault

2004 Chateau de Puligny Montrachet, Meursault - The light gold color and fleshy popcorn and apple aroma's were present. It was real fat and approachable but had enough back-palette acidity make you wonder, is this a Granny Smith? Then the more of that loosely-goosey instant gratification lures you in for another sip. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2011 

2004 Meursault "Les Clous" Bouchard (7/30/07) - nice lean acidity with a fat richness. It gets you here than it gets you there. It was refreshing, but a little closed in terms of its tartness. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2011 

Corton (White)

2005 Corton Charlemagne, Louis Latour – the gold color indicated that it was getting a bit old and it had that brioche nuance. For $125 a half bottle, this wine was disappointing. Although interesting, the wine is headed downhill. Maybe the wines just weren’t stored or shipped properly? Last tasted winter 2010 Drink now

2005 Corton Charlemagne - Henri Boilot - $125.00 Great citrus minerality that was real clean with nice weight on the center of the tongue. It had a nice bite and was pure. I felt like a deer drinking out of a brook. Had a loosely-goosey, friendly approachableness that a Meursault might have and had backbone. It wasn't sour, but made you salivate—a real hot blonde with a bright future. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2011 

Chablis

2005 “Les Clos Grand Cru”, Jean Marc Brocard– The guys on table seven bought this one and it was beautiful. It was exotic in that it had lemon and passionfruit minerality and had nuances of wet stones. It had a perfect zing of acidity without being green and lean. Last tasted summer of 2010 Drink now-2013 

2005 “Les Clos Grand Cru” Frederic Magnien– There’s no gun-barrel and is not as intense for Chablis. For $145, there’s nice flavors, but not as austere as I’d like. This year must be too hot, because there’s not enough acidity. Last tasted 10/15/07 Drink now-2013 

2004 “Valmur Premier Cru”, Domaine Ravenau – There were nice hazelnut and almond aromas, but it seemed like it was getting old. I thought it was rather fat for Chablis, but had nice acidity. There was a nice lemon curd aroma, but I expected more. Was there too much oak for this wine? Last tasted fall of 2010 Drink now-2013 

1998 Chablis "Les Blanchots" Laroche (7/30/07) – It had a gold color. There were some rich marshmallows, brioche, hazelnuts, and all-spice nuances. This was real fat and a little on the edge but had a little acidity left to make it drinkable, for now. I don't think it has a long life. Last tasted 2007 Drink now 

Pouilly-Fuisse

2005 Drouhin – Chardonnay -Pouilly Fuisse, (Burgundy) France
It’s lean and crisp but it has nice weight on the tongue. This displays nice allspice nuances. Because there’s less sun in Europe than California, Pouilly Fuisse has enough acidity to create a long finish. The region of Cote de Beaune, Burgundy (Fr.) only grows chardonnay. Beneath the soil, the vines are enriched with the remains of animals that were driven off the cliff by Stone Age hunters. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2010 

Bourgogne (White)

2004 Leflaive Bourgogne A.C. – ($95) I double decanted this for the couple on table 13. I think I got some egg-like reductive qualities at first, but after being decanted it had a nice texture. Perhaps it was too young? Last tasted fall of 2010 Drink now-2015 

Napa Chardonnay

2005 Chalk Hill Chardonnay – I was shocked at how good this was. I sold the last bottle to table six, as we were out of the older vintage they’d requested. This one was balanced in that it was rich with a backbone. Last tasted summer of 2010 Drink now-2012 

2005 Nickel & Nickel "Medina" Chardonnay, Napa - Hey, it's not the "Far Niente" but, somehow it tastes pretty close. I taste a mouth-watering and somehow rich creaminess. All women love malo-lactic fermentation, they just hate to admit it. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2011 

Russian River Chardonnay

2005 Lynmar “Quail Hill” Chardonnay -Russian River, California
Instead of being generic like a lot of California Chardonnay’s, this one is unique. The butterscotch and popcorn nuances have weight on the tongue. Nevertheless, the acidity on the back lengthens the finish and brings thee’ back for more. After the wine is opened for a while, nutmeg and vanilla flavors make themselves known. Last tasted 2007 Drink now 

2004 Kistler "Les Noisetiers", Russian River 8/30/07 - it was a bit cloudy and there was plenty of sulfur. Kris thought it was a Burgundy, but Gabe thought it was a high-end Ca. Chard from 04'. I thought it was a bit green and not quite as rich as a Puligny M. Gabe thought it was a Pahlmeyer and then he realized that they filter their wines. He thought it might even be a Talbott Sleepy. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2012 

2003 Kistler "Kistler Vineyard" Chardonnay – I tasted a real bite from the abundance of acidity that it possessed. Nevertheless, it was a dam good California chard. And, it should be for $200! Lots .Last tasted 8/19/07 Drink now-2013 