August 2006

Riesling

Scoring a Stool at L’Atelier
For dinner, we tried a glass of New York State Riesling ($9), an iced-tea "Italiano" (Meletti Amaro, sparkling wine and lemon, $11), appetizers of braised chicken legs ($12) and roasted pork cheeks ($11), and entree-size portions of sauteed Montauk fluke ($20) and chanterelles with scrambled eggs and chicken liver ($25).

Grape
Nonetheless, there are still a few good drier-style wines locally made from this great grape, as well as some very fine dessert wines – the Paul Cluver Weisser Riesling Noble Late Harvest was recently announced as a five-star winner. The organisers confirmed that this year there will be an official trophy for the ‘best South African riesling’, sponsored by the South African High Commission in Canberra.

NY winemaker takes riesling honors
One of New York's best known winemakers, Hermann J. Wiemer of Seneca Lake, N.Y., in the Finger Lakes, was the repeat winner of the annual New York Wine Wiemer's Riesling, which was also named best white wine, was among a record 703 entries.

New Zealand winery spreads its wings and soars
This is not in itself a bad thing; some wines like gewrztraminer and riesling need a hint of RS to ameliorate bitterness in the back palate. For example, Devault said, "riesling is the hardest to make consistently because it takes the longest to ripen.

The wines of Huia
• 2004 Huia Riesling — * * * 1/2 — not as dry as I would like, but I'm in the minority; good fruit and acidity, with hints of mandarin orange and honeysuckle; $18.

Five ways to expand your wine sense
The usual counter argument is “Nope, no sweet wine,” but that sells riesling way short. Christoph Tyrell of the Karthauserhof winery in Germany’s Saar told me earlier this summer that he’s on a mission to get Americans to drink dry riesling.

Riesling takes top honours at New York wine show
Riesling takes top honours at New York wine contest - decanter.com - the route to all good wine A 2005 dry Riesling from the Finger Lakes has won the 2006 New York Wine Food Classic, held August 15-16.

Some wines really can kick up a bit of a stink
bottles in stores include the generously clove-scented Taste the Difference Barossa shiraz 2004 (£7), Dr Loosen Graacher Himmelreich riesling kabinett 2004 ...

Dry Riesling Chosen As New Yorks Best Wine
The 2005 Dry Riesling from Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyards was chosen from 702 wines made by 102 wineries. Hermann Wiemer, a native of Germany's Mosel wine region says that the Finger Lakes are ideal for growing Riesling grapes.

Quality the key, winegrowers told
The riesling category was excellent, dessert wines were strong and luscious without being cloying, pinot noir continued to excite and New Zealand syrah, "quite a different beast to Australian shiraz", was also very pleasing.

Wiemer Vineyards Riesling wins top state wine prize
A $19.50 Riesling from the Finger Lakes was voted New York's best wine Wednesday. The 2005 Dry Riesling from Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyards on the western shore of Seneca Lake beat out 702 wines made by 102 wineries to capture the coveted Governor's Cup silver chalice.

Top 10 white wine makers
Decanter places makers of riesling in third and fourth spots with Egon Muller and Ernst Loosen occupying those spots. I drink more Loosen riesling than any other maker from Germany.

International riesling tasting in October
As part of their 20th Anniversary celebrations, Howard Park Wines are delighted to announce they will be holding an International Riesling Tasting on Saturday 7th October 2006 at Howard Park in Margaret River. In 1986 it was the Riesling that launched Howard Park and in 2006 this variety is honoured through a celebration of great Riesling of the world.

Dry Riesling Wins Top Award in State Contest
A 2005 dry riesling from the Finger Lakes was voted New York’s best wine in an annual contest yesterday. The winner, a white made ...

Rieslings just right
A well-chilled bottle of riesling, covered in condensation, should do the trick.

Tom Cannavan's Wine Pages
Beautiful old Riesling-like notes of honey, wax and gentle petrolly notes.

Good and Dry–and Cheap
Chateau Ste. Michelle lets its Riesling grapes speak for themselves. The Seattle Weekly tasting team reacted that way a few weeks ago when a new vintage of Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling was opened.

Zinfandel

ZINFANDEL CLOSER TO BECOMING STATES HISTORIC WINE
With the approval Thursday of the California State Assembly, zinfandel could soon be officially the state's "historic wine," according to the office of state Sen. Carole Migden, D-San Francisco. Zinfandel vines were brought to California in the mid-1800s and some of the oldest zinfandel vineyards in the world, with vines up to 100 years old, are in California, according to the text of a Senate bill analysis.

Line of wine targets women
"White Zinfandel is primarily for the female palette; some of the lighter wines generally are," Sudano said.

Zinfandel bill hangs on governors vote
Among all of the weighty issues being debated here this summer, here's one question that, ahem, consumed some Capitol watchers Thursday: What's Arnold Schwarzenegger's position on zinfandel? Originally the measure would have named zinfandel the state's ''official'' wine, but lawmakers amended it after howls of protests from cabernet and pinot noir devotees.

You drink: White Zinfandel
You think that White Zinfandel is made from white grapes. Try these: If you are drinking White Zinfandel, try Riesling.

RAVENS TO RICHES
He's among the men most responsible for establishing Zinfandel as a world-class grape. Though Zinfandel was not well regarded in 1976, Peterson was interested in it from the beginning; he had prepared for entrepreneurship by helping Zinfandel pioneer Joseph Swan make five vintages.

Sonoma Pomegranate Syrups
Made by two childhood friends in Brooklyn, sorbets currently come in seven different vintages starring some familiar wines like Cabernet Sauvignon, Riesling, and Zinfandel.

Oriel travels the world ... affordably
 by a 46-20 vote (SB 1253), to give zinfandel the legal honor of being known in the future as Californias historic wine. ...

Local winegrape harvest begins; will be in full gear Monday
Vino Farms, on East Lodi Avenue and East Peltier Road, began its harvest on Wednesday, while Stanton Lange picked some white zinfandel grapes on Thursday morning near Woodbridge Winery. John Baker and Francesca Pellegi sort the MOG -- materials other than grapes -- at the sugar stand at Woodbridge Winery Friday as a truck of white zinfandel grapes arrived from Harris Ranch.

Colby Adds Sutter Home Winery Creative
Sutter seeks to broaden its image beyond Zinfandel. One of Sutter's challenges is that it is mainly known for white Zinfandel, "so we have to broaden Sutter's image," she said.

Napa Valley Register
Prices are fair, with options running from Pine Ridge viognier ($28) to Stags Leap Wine Cellars sauvignon blanc ($30), from a Franus Mount Veeder zinfandel ($26) to Flora Springs merlot ($34).

Lodi News-Sentinel
Zinfandel may be Lodis best-known wine varietal, but savvy consumers may not want just any zin, but one that has the characteristics they crave. In a region as large as the Lodi appellation, the zinfandel grapes near the Mokelumne River are far different than those cultivated on the small hills outside of Clements.

Vancouver Courier
Plantings around the tasting room will include Rhone whites, such as Roussanne-Marsanne, as well as new clones of Pinot Gris, Malbec and Zinfandel, which are all expected to do well in the rocky soil and warm site. Look for the chewy cherried and black fruited 2004 Discovery Series Zinfandel (from Osoyoos Lake Bench, $29.73) in private wine stores, as well as the broad textured and rose petal toned 2005 Discovery Series Viognier with vibrant acidity, ($19.99).

THE WINES OF DIRECTOR COPPOLA IN DISTRIBUTION IN ITALY
His companies are called Rubicon Estate, producing the red 'Rubicon', FFCoppola Winery created the whites Diamone Zinfandel and the Chardonnay.

TCS Daily
Not surprisingly, we usually cut our wine teeth on wine coolers or, at best, intensely sweet White Zinfandel. Or, to move down the rusticity scale, Pot au Feu with a still youthful Northern Rhone Côte-Rôtie, South Australian Shiraz, or Sonoma Zinfandel?

Please Don't Be Jealous
Not surprisingly, the Zinfandel Advocates and Producers (ZAP) organization is happy. "It's unprecedented that a state legislature would recognize wine and celebrate the agricultural foundation that produces it," commented Zinfandel vintner Julie Johnson (of Tres Sabores in Napa ), ZAP's immediate past Board President.

Inniskillin opens its new tasting centre
Plantings around the tasting room will include Rhone whites, such as Roussanne-Marsanne, as well as new clones of Pinot Gris, Malbec and Zinfandel, which are all expected to do well in the rocky soil and warm site. Look for the chewy cherried and black fruited 2004 Discovery Series Zinfandel (from Osoyoos Lake Bench, $29.73) in private wine stores, as well as the broad textured and rose petal toned 2005 Discovery Series Viognier with vibrant acidity, ($19.99).

Help yourself
Barefoot California White Zinfandel (barefootwine.com): This refreshing wine offers tropical aromas of fresh pineapple and sweet citrus.

Pools of paradise
Carlos Badilla introduced his wife and children -- 7 and 9 years old -- to his river refuge under the Zinfandel Bridge as they drove back to Napa after an outing to Calistoga on an uncomfortably warm Saturday afternoon. Badilla's uncle first brought him and some cousins to "Zinfandel" on a summer day back in 1984.

Find a good wine for less than $10
Aroma: This was like a fruit bomb, almost like a zinfandel, with aromas of cherries, cherry cough drops, cedar and coffee.

All American Grape
Zinfandel is the only grape native to the Americas. Zinfandels characteristics are unlike any other grape.

Sauvignon Blanc

The Wine Guy
Admittedly, Sauvignon Blanc wasn’t one of Mirassou’s previous specialties, so maybe it’s unfair to use this one as a bellwether, but it’s hard not to. It was almost full-bodied, and I think Sauvignon Blanc should be on the light side of medium-bodied.

2005 Whitehall Lane Sauvignon Blanc – Napa Valley
The Whitehall Lane Sauvignon Blanc shows Napa Valley’s warm climate can produce wonderfully crisp wines in the heart of Cab Country.

IT’S TIME FOR THESE WINES
Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc: You can always count on Cloudy Bay to put out breezy, exotic Sauvignon Blancs. Shoo fly Buzz Cut: A few Aussie-grown whites, Verdejo, Viognier, Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling, come together in a sunny fruit compote.

Mixed Cases
This case contains two bottles of each of the following wines; Berrys' White Burgundy, New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, Berrys' Pulligny Montrachet, Berrys' Côtes du Rhône Rouge, Berrys' Chianti and Berrys' Pauillac.

Another festival where wine is flowing and corking talent is on ...
A totally exciting drop of California's finest - that's Dancing Bull Sauvignon Blanc 2004 (£5.99, was £7.99, Sainsbury's, until Sept 12).

Damn fine wine tasting
I much preferred the Chenin to the 2006 Sauvignon Blanc which I think needs time to settle down and was not as lively and grassy as I had expected.

Do you know what makes a good sauvignon blanc?
Do you know what makes a good sauvignon blanc? Every big wine fair has a seminar debating how sauvignon blanc should taste.

Sniffing out the best 800
Chardonnay remained the most entered white variety with riesling, rose and sauvignon blanc also growing steadily.

Demystifying terroir
So, it's Sancerre or Chablis rather than sauvignon blanc and chardonnay, respectively.

The Foodie Goes Fishing For A Perfect Summer Dish
As for wine, Kevin Simon says try a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc: Monkey Bay, Brancott, or Matua Valley.

Fine Wine Shop
Pale straw green in colour and vibrantly aromatic, the 2005 Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc is like an exotic infusion of fresh ginger, sweet basil, and lemongrass layered over ripe tropical and citrus fruits.

Viognier Monologues
Although like Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier tends to run the gamut these days in styles and appeal, it’s a fun wine to experiment with. Sips: Came across a very nice California Sauvignon Blanc last week at Zola called Pomelo.

JUST A TASTE | STAFF
Sharon Schwartz of The Rodney Strong Winery will be on hand to discuss vintages: the "Charlotte's Home" sauvignon blanc, Chalk Hill chardonnay, a merlot and Alden Vineyard cabernet sauvignon.

The Compleat Angler, Marlow, Buckinghamshire
A bottle of sauvignon blanc, at 22.50, was good and well-chilled.

Blaauwklippen celebrates amateur blenders
Current Blaauwklippen products that originated from the competition are the Blaauwklippen BVS Sauvignon Blanc 2004 (Natalia Wine Society) and the Blaauwklippen Barouche blend 2003 (Oude Molen Wynkring).

More weird wine and food
Asparagus: Like other relatively strong-flavored vegetables, the flavor of asparagus can seem a little strange with wine, but remember the wine-pairing rule, "Match likes with likes." A grassy, herbaceous Sauvignon Blanc can be stellar with asparagus.

Winners From the New York Wine and Food Classic

Salt Lake City Weekly
The Outdoor LimitsSalt Lake City Weekly,UT- Aug 16, 2006... The menu includes grilled avocado and tomato salad with Wildhurst Sauvignon Blanc, Utah trout and prawn Napoleon paired with Flora Springs Chardonnay, baby ... New! Get the

Red Bordeaux
Light Bodied, Dry, Drink now, Sauvignon Blanc, 12% alc.

The Terroirist: The World of Wine
The first, from the Loire Valley region of France is the Joseph Mellot Sancerre 'La Chatellenie' 2004 (Loire, France, $22.95, 525154), which is made from Sauvignon Blanc grapes, of which I have spoken of muchly in past columns.

Merlot

VINES WINES: Merlot remains a good all-around red wine option
Miles, a wine snob if there ever was one, said the words that seemed to put a damper on Merlot sales. "I heard what he said and haven't had a sip of Merlot since," Corky said.

No respect for mellow merlot
My recent tastings have focused on petite sirah, syrah (the father of petite sirah) and merlot.

Blaauwklippen celebrates amateur blenders
The Blaauwklippen base wines were Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Shiraz and Mouvedre and the amateur blenders were told to aim for a fruit-driven wine that can be enjoyed immediately, but with maturation potential.

MSNBC
Or Marilyn Merlot, which has been around for 20 vintages and is one of a number of wines offered by Napa Valley-based Marilyn Wines under agreement with the estate of the late actress. Bisson recalls having labels made for some merlot produced from UC Davis’ vineyard in Oakville.

Piedmont Jeopardy
And the answer is: This grape variety is analogous to Merlot in Bordeaux.

Adding Class in Your Glass
Chardonnay and Pinot Gris are good, middle-of-the-road white wines, while a friendly Merlot or even the popular Syrah/Shiraz grape are safe choices for reds.

Merlot-hater Miles strikes a rich vein
Actor for Cinderella Man, and the previous year was the focus of enormous fuss over how he had been ignored for his portrayal of Merlot-hating Miles. ...

Edmonton Journal
Merlot got a bad rap in the movie Sideways, but the grape makes some of the world's best wine. Merlot sales have steadied, or dropped in some instasnces, since movie character Miles Raymond said in Sideways: "If anyone orders Merlot, I'm leaving.

Merlot and meatloaf? Well, yes
Looking for a full-bodied and fruit-driven merlot?

WTN: Wolffer Estate Vineyards 2002 Estate Selection Merlot
Just know that despite vineyards that have slightly more chardonnay in them than merlot, Wolffer, and winemaker Roman Roth are devoted to Long Island merlot. They are a founding member of the Long Island Merlot Alliance and also create Long Island's most expensive merlot -- their Premier Cru Merlot ($125).

Merlot to go
As of July 12, however, you can drink what you like and carry the rest home. Its the new merlot-to-go law in action. Say a foursome goes out to eat. ...

Cooking with wine can uncork hidden flavors
Or, how about a merlot-based marinade for the tri-tip steaks you plan to drop on the grill?

WonderBranding
Consumers have their choice of three feminine favorites (they said it, I didn't) - Pinot Grigio, Merlot and Chardonnay.

Six Heroes Memorial Merlot Donates to Coalition to Salute ...
Six Heroes Memorial Merlot Donates to Coalition to Salute America's Heroes: Financial News - Yahoo! The inaugural 2003 Six Heroes Memorial Merlot Limited Edition Serialized Presentation Case is limited to 10,000 cases for the U.S. market.

Temecula battles back from vineyards sharpshooter problem
As in the rest of the state, cabernet sauvignon, chardonnay and merlot account for most of the area's vineyard acreage.

Chilean Carmenere and Cabernet Sauvignon Complement Summer ...
An acclaimed chef offers a barbecue recipe to pair with Carmenere, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot Carmenere blends. Rediscovered in Chile in the early 1990s as a variety distinct from Merlot, Carmenere continues to be used as a blending grape in Chile, and is also produced as a single varietal.

Many workers sitting pretty after buyouts
The night before the buyout expired, she still didn't know what to do, so Manning invited her girlfriends to a restaurant patio to drink merlot and discuss her job future.

National awards highlight Porongurup wine success
The accolades are not restricted to white wines, with Ironwood Estate winning best merlot at a boutique show in Sydney last month.

Chardonnay

Oak is essential to chardonnay
While chardonnay increasingly is produced and marketed in steely, unoaked styles akin to French Chablis, we still have a taste for the buttery flavors of a chardonnay fermented in oak barrels. I think chardonnay needs something to develop it, she said.

Refreshing whites are just right for summertime
The label announces its non-Chardonnay status in large letters and sheepishly admits below, in smaller type, that it's actually Chenin Blanc. Chenin Blanc plays a supporting role in the delightful 2005 Folie a Deux Menage a Trois California White Table Wine ($10), which also includes Chardonnay and Moscato.

Chardonnay under $10 is patio-party perfect
For those folks who constantly look for a good chardonnay under $10, we have a value for you. Every year we search for a good $10 chardonnay, and this year's winner in our tasting cost under $6.

Wine round-up
I recently enjoyed the Wolf Blass Yellow Label South Australian Chardonnay 2005 with its classic peach and melon flavours, with a subtle vanilla oak influence from small French and American oak casks. A final Blass blaster is the Red Label Sparkling Brut, a reliable, creamy aperitif bubbly made from the classic champagne blend of pinot noir/chardonnay.

Cool Hunting
Anette's Chocolates: Beer and Chardonnay Brittle Anette's Chocolates: Beer and Chardonnay Brittle - Anette and her brother Brent make all kinds of tasty treats in their Napa chocolate shop.

Wine Events
Choices of wine include NV Brut Rose, Roederer, Anderson Valley; 2004 Gruner Veltliner, Schloss Gobelsburg, Kamptal; and 2003 Chardonnay, Dog Point, Marlborough, New Zealand. Begin with hors d'oeuvres, mai tais and 2004 Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast, then enjoy a four-course menu featuring duck confit with crispy purple potatoes paired with 2004 Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley and pan-seared filet of beef with braised oxtail served with 2004 Pinot Noir, Los Carneros.

Torres China offers wine lovers an easier access to imported wines
The wine was excellent (Among others, I ordered a very good Californian Marimar Torres Chardonnay 2000) and I even received a corkscrew and a personalized postcard with the wine! So I bought a bottle of Chinese Grace Vineyard Premium Chardonnay 2002 for my friend.

Mobiles and wines to spell big bucks for India
This, the magazine says, can become a big business idea as the refined tastes of India's middle class are growing beyond swanky cars and jazzy mobiles and now include a bottle of Chardonnay.

Daily bubble - B.
In France, a blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier is used, whereas in B.C., often just the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes are used.

Surpises from the Jura
He makes a spicy pinot noir, and a tangy chardonnay. Fifty percent of the grapes planted in the Jura are chardonnay, more or less, and they can be very good.

It’s a matter of taste
That is why that favorite buttery and oaky Chardonnay will somehow seem a little more fruity when sipped while nibbling on salty olives than when you last drank it. A fruitier, oaky chardonnay or a grenache would go great with the grilled salmon, but would overpower the poached salmon.

Crisp, fruity chardonnay flies high in summertime
No matter what the season, some people drink chardonnay. Clos LaChance Glittering-Throated Emerald Chardonnay (2005, 13.99) is the latter kind of chard, filled with papaya, banana and other ripe fruit flavors.

Wine Talk: 2004 Crane Lake chardonnay
For those folks who constantly look for a good chardonnay for less than $10, we have a value for you. Every year we search for a good $10 chardonnay, and this year's winner in our tasting costs less than $6.

Chardonnay and lobster, a match made in New England
Chardonnay is almost always best served as a sipping or cocktail wine. 2002 Bernardus Chardonnay, California ($17-$20) - Four words to describe this wine: cream, nuts, vanilla, toast.

It's a matter of taste
That is why that favorite buttery and oaky Chardonnay will somehow seem a little more fruity when sipped while nibbling on salty olives than when you last drank it. A fruitier, oaky chardonnay or a grenache would go great with the grilled salmon, but would overpower the poached salmon.

Wine Pick Of The Week: Adelsheim chardonnay
There's a good reason many consumers complain that they are bored with chardonnay wines these days. Often the grape is overworked by winemakers trying to out-chardonnay each other.

New Line Media Solutions Presents: “Pulse on America” to ...
Widely acknowledged as one of Napa Valleys most highly regarded wineries, Trefethen Vineyards has had its Chardonnay named best in the world and its Cabernet Sauvignon honored as the best in America by leading competitions.

About Wine: Vouvray offers fine value with sweet touch
2004 William Hill Reserve Napa Valley chardonnay, $27: Scents of pear, pineapple, bananas, passion fruit, peaches and oranges. This big chardonnay could take on non-traditional white wine pairings such as pork or veal.

Wine Lovers Wednesdays at the Gaslight From Chardonnay to Shiraz
Wines are named either by the grape variety (Chardonnay, Merlot, etc.) or by their place of production (Sonoma, Napa Valley, etc.) The combination of flavors is as complex as the wine making process. Chardonnay can taste like butter, melon, apple or vanilla, while a Sauvignon Blanc can have a hint of lime, cut grass, or bell pepper.

Pinot Noir

Pinot noir wins gold in Britain
A Central Otago pinot noir has won gold at a prestigious international wine competition in Britain. "With pinot noir I think we're very lucky when it all comes together and obviously it's all come together (here) which is why it's has done so well," she said.

Pinot Noir Celebration wraps up 20th in style
Amy Wesselman, executive director of the International Pinot Noir Celebration, was experiencing equal measures of elation and exhaustion as McMinnville's signature wine event drew to a close for the 20th time Sunday.

Duck game for berries, Pinot Noir
Duck with dark berries brings Pinot Noir to mind and our recommended Sonoma Coast Pinots fill the bill. Earthy, slightly gamy duck (large, one-pound Muscovy duck breasts are a little gamier than the smaller-breasted White Pekins) is a great match for the cherry and berry fruit of Pinot Noir.

Compiled by Chronicle Wine Editor
While running the Franscioni ranch, the couple in 1996 planted Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Syrah vines on their Santa Lucia Highlands property west of Gonzales. The Franscionis are also represented on the Top 100 by their 2003 Roar Rosella's Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir and the 2003 August West Rosella's Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir, a brand they own with winemaker Ed Kurtzman and grape grower Howard Graham.

Pork pairs perfectly with pinot noir, sangiovese
Pork, especially when it's grilled or roasted, pairs perfectly with pinot noir, tempranillo, sangiovese and -- depending on the accents -- some merlot. Buena Vista 2004 Pinot Noir from Carneros ($22) would be an excellent choice, with its red cherry and strawberry flavors and soft finish.

Three Wines and a Cracker
A little analysis is in order for Grey Bear's new Blue Ridge wine, Bridgeview's 2001 Oregon Pinot Noir, and Cooper's Legacy 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon.

International win for Central Otago pinot noir
The winery won gold best in class with its 2003 âBlack Poplar Blockâ Pinot Noir. Pisa Range Estateâs Jenny Hawker says the win is a great achievement for New Zealand wine on the international stage and further strengthens Pisa Range Estateâs position as a premier producer of pinot noir.

Ernst Loosen to make Oregon Pinot Noir
decanter.com,UK- Jul 27, 2006Ernst Loosen, one of Germanys leading Riesling producers, is to make an Oregon Pinot Noir, decanter.com has learned. Although Loosen ...

2004 Ponzi Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
They specialized in pinot noir, with chardonnay, pinot gris and pinot blanc. A good example is the 2004 Ponzi "Willamette Valley" Pinot Noir — * * * * 1/2 — more Burgundian in style than New World, with excellent aromatics and flavors of strawberry, cranberry, raspberry, cherry, a hint of anise, plus beetroot and cinnamon.

The word is out about Fore Street, and the word is `perfection`
And there are, on the very good wine list, sporadic bottles like the good value DeLoach Pinot Noir ($28). A 1996 Trimbach Pinot Noir ($34) was soft and almost too smooth; its red color tinged with caramel, it seemed just a little too old.

Quick tips for fast but fabulous weeknight meals
Good versatile wines include Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Pinot Noir, Sangiovese and Syrah.

Modern Love for Ancient Vines in Southern Italy
But it softens faster and, like pinot noir, the aromas and flavors of aglianico differ markedly depending on the soil and climate in which it grows. Grapes like chardonnay, pinot noir and cabernet have been thoroughly analyzed, allowing farmers to select clones and rootstocks best suited for particular combinations of soil and climate.

Pinot noir vineyard emerges
I have not been shy about praising the best of the pinot noir growing areas like the Russian River Valley, Carneros, the Anderson Valley, the Santa Lucia Highlands, the Santa Maria Valley and the emerging Santa Rita Hills appellation. To my surprise, it turned out that the three highest-rated wines in this extensive look at pinot noir were grown in Rosella's Vineyard located in the very heart of the Santa Lucia Highlands Viticultural District.

Interview with Julian Alubaidy from Bubble Brothers
The grape varieties permitted by French wine law for the production of champagne are Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier.

From pinot plonk to pure noir nirvana
The pinot noir grape is always a challenge, to grow, to ripen properly, to vinify. Talented winemakers both love it and hate it because sculpting a great bottle of pinot noir is such a test of skill and ability.

Wine Australia 2006 - Pinot Tutorial
I started this event by looking at some varied set of six Pinot Noir with wine writer Peter Bourne and the winemakers from Willow Creek and Ten Minutes by Tractor on the opening Friday night. Perhaps it is a Pinot Noir for those that dont like Pinot Noir?

Q: I am familiar with Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris or Grigio but what ...
I am familiar with Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris or Grigio but what can you tell me about Pinot Blanc?

Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
Cooling breezes and fog help maintain the cool, moderate climate, which the finicky Pinot Noir grape prefers. Our recommended wines also have palate cleansing acidity and balance, which are additional characteristics people appreciate in well-made Pinot Noir.

How bubbly reds discovered their sparkle
They forget that the world's greatest sparkling wine region - Champagne - is dominated by two red varieties, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, even if it makes white wines. So-called sparkling Burgundies were a misnomer, since they were very rarely made from Pinot Noir and had about as much in common with a Gevrey Chambertin or a Volnay as crazy golf does with the British Open.

Cabernet Sauvignon

Central Coast Cabernet Sauvignon
When it comes to California Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley is the star in the klieg lights; Sonoma County is the less glamorous character actor still capable of stealing the show on any given night. With some exceptions -- one is the Santa Cruz Mountains, led by the impeccable wines made by Paul Draper at Ridge Vineyards -- California's other Cabernet Sauvignon-producing regions compete for bit parts or wait in the wings for their turn.

Worth its weight in gold?
In June, the new owners of Screaming Eagle Winery in Oakville sent a letter to their mailing list subscribers, offering them the opportunity to purchase a three-pack of 2003 Screaming Eagle Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon for $1,500. A typical bottle of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon with a suggested retail price of $50 was likely sold to a wholesaler for $25, who then sold it to a retailer for approximately $33.

Celebrating Ohio wines
Kinkead Ridge Estate Winery in Ripley, Ohio, for its Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Viognier/Roussanne. Popular grapes: Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Catawba, Chambourcin, Chardonnay, Concord, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Riesling, Seyval Blanc, Vidal Blanc.

Tastings: Get off beaten path to discover fine wines at bargain ...
They also excel at making Bordeaux-style blends from merlot, cabernet sauvignon and cabernet franc grapes.

Food for Thought by Gail Ciampa: Dont get caught without your ...
I had a dinner guest who requested a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon to accompany her dinner. I went to my wine rack and pulled off a bottle of Louis M. Martini Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon.

Friday deadline for wine competition
There are nine classifications of wine - chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, other white, cabernet sauvignon, zinfandel, merlot, syrah, pinot noir and other red.

Undaunted by fire
It turns out those were ideal conditions for cabernet sauvignon. Today, Villamin farms 10 acres of vines, planted with 9 acres of cabernet sauvignon and one acre of syrah.

Smoking Loon Cabernet Sauvignon is the No. 1 Selling Cab in the ...
of the most recent data from Information Resources Incorporated (IRI) for the 12-week period ending June 18, 2006, Smoking Loon Cabernet Sauvignon became the ...

The Terroirist: Organic Wines
This bright medium-cherry blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah has a heavy aroma of pepper, tar, leather, cherry, and spice.

Va. pays tribute to top wines
Other gold medal winners included: AmRhein Wine Cellars for its 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon; Barboursville Winery, 2002 Late Harvest Dessert and non-vintage Late ... New! Get the

Cabernet Sauvignon with steak, right?
You've ordered the blackened rib-eye just the way you like it, and your favorite cabernet sauvignon is on its way. Cabernet sauvignon may seem ideal with steak, but that isn't true in all circumstances.

Sweeten your disposition with late harvest wine
I always loved having the enamel stripped off my teeth and my gums turned purple for a week from quaffing and intense cabernet sauvignon or petite sirah.

A chance to show off your wine
of wine in up to nine categories including Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, other white, Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Merlot, Syrah, Pinot Noir and other red. ...

Wine Collectors Near and Far Eagerly Await 19th Annual Auction of ...
Winning bidder takes home three etched 5-litre bottles, one each of 2004 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Mill Creek Upland Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, and Seven Hills Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon. The Andrew Will 2004 Ciel du Cheval red wine is a blend of 48% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 7% Petit Verdot -- all grown on Red Mountain at Jim Holmes' Ciel du Cheval Vineyard.

Grilled skirt steak complements Central Coast cabernets
Cabernet sauvignon is grown in most areas of California's wine country, including the large Central Coast appellation, which is about 2,448 square miles and runs from the San Francisco Bay south to Santa Barbara and as far east as Livermore. With the range of climates along the Central Coast, cabernet sauvignon is made in many styles, from medium- to fullbodied and fruity to brawny and tannic.

Summer 2006 Releases
This month we have quite a variety of wine reviews to offer, ranging from huckleberry fruit wine all the way up to Beringer Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. 2003 Atlas Peak, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, California, $42, 4,989 cases.

Riesling

Eden Valley Riesling “the noblest white wine variety”
The cooler slopes of the Eden Valley have consistently ranked amongst the best for Riesling in Australia.

Gothamist
Our Austrian tasting wouldn’t be complete without a good Riesling, so we finished our evening with the Gobelsburger 2005 Riesling ($15.99). This dry Riesling was refreshing and light with notes of peach, apricot and minerality.

Our local food vendors
We also like these local wineries: Roshambo:

The Wine Advocate Tastes New York: Some Thoughts
When you're used to drinking clean, fresh riesling and gruner veltliner, maybe any oak or malo-lactic fermentation really stands out. Saying that it's premature to declare riesling the inevitably preeminent grape of the Finger Lakes seems ludicrous to me.

On the lees
A workhorse variety that needs little polishing in the cellar, riesling may well be the most underrated of the world's white wine grapes. Often labeled Johannisberg or white riesling -- its two dominant aliases -- the classic, cool climate German varietal is at its best in Germany's renowned Rhine and Mosel River valleys where it produces an array of wines ranging from bone dry to decadently sweet.

Winery set for life-altering riesling vintage
We are seated at Ruth Zilliken's dining room table feasting on big, juicy white spargle and riesling.

The lap of southern comfort
Varieties include chardonnay, riesling, sauvignon blanc, cabernet sauvignon and shiraz. Mt Barker: This sub-region is producing world-class quality wines and many award-winners, the most sought-after being riesling, shiraz and cabernet sauvignon.

Riesling proves popular again
For centuries, Riesling was the worlds most celebrated white grape, the only one capable of producing wines that could fetch prices and praise comparable to the greatest reds. Riesling became such a forlorn exile largely due to wine snobbery.

Champion Riesling is finger Laken good
The other winners in the Riesling championship included the Ohio winery Ferrante, for best semi-dry; Boulder Creek Winery of Colorado for best semi-sweet, and California's Navarro for best sweet Riesling. But politics had nothing to do with making this wine, a crisp, floral Riesling with a characteristic bouquet that hangs in the air and draws the nose like a magnet.

Daniel: Australias dArenberg is consistently good
The 2004 red is juicy and easy to drink, with bright strawberry and blackberry and a note of white pepper, while the 2005 white is lean and racy, with lime and lime zest flavors and, because riesling dominates the blend, a hint of diesel. The area around McLaren Vale isn't really known for riesling (Clare and Eden valleys have that honor), but the 2005 ``Dry Dam'' Riesling ($16) is mouth-watering and mouth-filling, with crisp, aromatic lime notes, accented by a hint of diesel.

A reliable riesling
Its not certain what grape varieties the invaders planted and there is no written reference to the riesling grape until 1348.

Today: Wine books for a refreshing read

Sweet Riesling Mousse With Summer Berries
Chef Jamie Roraback. Place the orange juice in a small bowl, sprinkle over the gelatin to allow to soften. In a mixing bowl, combine ...

50 Connect
Riesling is the greatest variety in the world – this is not an opinion, this is a statement of viticultural fact and if anyone would care to counter this please address all comments to Jancis Robinson’s purple pages.

Wine of the week
Riesling ($11): This lightly sweet, low-alcohol (8.5 percent) German Riesling from Mosel-Saar-Ruwer is ideal for casual summertime quaffing.

Growing grapes
Now part of the Moët Hennessy Wine Estate group, Cloudy Bay’s main grape varieties are Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, with smaller quantities of Riesling and Gewurztraminer also produced.

The dilemmas of mystery wines
Even people who don't like riesling like this wine, she said at last. My guess was that she was talking about Columbia winery, which produces a wine they call Cellarmaster Riesling.

Celebrate Wine

New Web site fetes 35th year for Smith-Madrone
Stuart Smith and brother Charles, the winery's owners-pounders, continue to make around 5,000 cases a year of estate-grown, carefully hand-crafted riesling, chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon, often producing polished wines that have gained international repute. Yet its 2005 riesling continues to merit the attention this varietal has garnered for the winery over the years.

Cellars' best bottles stir sellers' envy
de Chaberton Estates 2003 Canoe Cove Shiraz Inniskillin Okanagan

50 States. 50 Wineries. #10: Jefferson Vineyards
If I hadn't known that this was a viognier, I would have pegged it as a floral riesling and we all know how much I like riesling.

Good 'n' cheap wines
Incidentally, the Fetzer Vineyards 2005 Valley Oaks California Riesling ($6) is another steal, especially if you like your rieslings pleasantly but not cloyingly sweet.

Onions Brings Tears To Middlesex Eyes
We watched the first hour or more of the afternoon session in the shade of the Warner Stand finishing off that bottle of Riesling (it would be a shame to make it travel any further).

The guys
And so what if it was a bottle of Alsatian riesling, served alongside a crackling fire?

Vancouver Courier
Our pick of wines that you can find include the 2005 Quails' Gate Limited Release Dry Riesling with a green apple top and zesty lemon-lime notes (BCLS $15.86). This easy drinking blend of Bacchus and Riesling, along with Muller Thurgau and Gewurz accounts for much of the winery's production-testament to its popularity and approachability.

SOUTH FLORIDA ALBUM
2004 Inniskillin Riesling Ice Wine, VQA Niagara Peninsula (10.5 percent alcohol): intense flavors of apricots, pears and honey; very viscous and smooth; very sweet yet very crisp: $60 per half-bottle. 2004 Jackson-Triggs Riesling Ice Wine, VQA Niagara Peninsula: (9.5 percent alcohol): aromas and flavors of peaches, pears, mangoes; honeyed mouth feel; not super-sweet; $40 per half-bottle.