• California
• Syrah

Review Date:	02/29/2008
Price Range**:	$$$
Winery:	Ledson
Vintage:	2004
Varieties:	Syrah/Shiraz
Country:	US
Region:	California
Appellation:	Sonoma
Rating:	8/10
Notes: Dark red bold drinking syrah with pepper and blackberry that will pair well with steak.
** $ - approx $10 or less $$ - approx $25 or less $$$ - approx $50 or less $$$$ - approx $100 or less $$$$$ - more than $100

• California
• Pinot Noir

Review Date:	02/29/2008
Price Range**:	$$
Winery:	Cartlidge and Browne
Vintage:	2006
Varieties:	Pinot Noir
Country:	US
Region:	California
Appellation:	Napa Valley
Rating:	8/10
Notes: Dark red plum flavor with a hint of spice.
** $ - approx $10 or less $$ - approx $25 or less $$$ - approx $50 or less $$$$ - approx $100 or less $$$$$ - more than $100

• Cabernet Sauvignon
• California

Review Date:	02/29/2008
Price Range**:	$$$
Winery:	Heitz Cellar
Vintage:	2001
Varieties:	Cabernet Sauvignon
Country:	US
Region:	California
Appellation:	St. Helena
Rating:	8/10
Notes: Deep bold cabernet
** $ - approx $10 or less $$ - approx $25 or less $$$ - approx $50 or less $$$$ - approx $100 or less $$$$$ - more than $100

• California

Review Date:	02/29/2008
Price Range**:	$$
Winery:	Kit Fox
Vintage:	2004
Varieties:	Cabernet Sauvignon
Country:	US
Region:	California
Appellation:
Rating:	7/10
Notes: Nice dark red table wine
** $ - approx $10 or less $$ - approx $25 or less $$$ - approx $50 or less $$$$ - approx $100 or less $$$$$ - more than $100

• California
• Pinot Noir

Review Date:	02/29/2008
Price Range**:	$$$
Winery:	Robert Mondavi
Vintage:	2006
Varieties:	Pinot Noir
Country:	US
Region:	California
Appellation:
Rating:	9/10
Notes: Sleek light red fruity pinot
** $ - approx $10 or less $$ - approx $25 or less $$$ - approx $50 or less $$$$ - approx $100 or less $$$$$ - more than $100

• Chile
• Pinot Noir

Review Date:	11/22/2007
Price Range**:	$
Winery:	Anakena
Vintage:	2007
Varieties:	Pinot Noir
Country:	Chile
Region:
Appellation:	Central Valley
Rating:	6/10
Notes: Lighter ruby-colored pinot tasting of overly soured light fruit and berries. Medium-bodied with nice tannins, but not all that drinkable. No different then previous vintage.
** $ - approx $10 or less $$ - approx $25 or less $$$ - approx $50 or less $$$$ - approx $100 or less $$$$$ - more than $100

• Aghiorgitiko
• Cabernet Sauvignon
• Greece

Review Date:	11/21/2007
Price Range**:	$$
Winery:	Domaine Skouras
Vintage:	2003
Varieties:	Aghiorgitiko, Cabernet Sauvignon
Country:	Greece
Region:	Peloponissos
Appellation:
Rating:	7/10
Notes: Deep red fruit with black berry flavors plenty of smokiness.
** $ - approx $10 or less $$ - approx $25 or less $$$ - approx $50 or less $$$$ - approx $100 or less $$$$$ - more than $100

• Cabernet Sauvignon
• California

Review Date:	11/17/2007
Price Range**:	$
Winery:	Treana Winery
Vintage:	2005
Varieties:	Cabernet Sauvignon
Country:	US
Region:	California
Appellation:	Central Coast
Rating:	7/10
Notes: Deep purple-black color with plenty of dark fruit and tannins.
** $ - approx $10 or less $$ - approx $25 or less $$$ - approx $50 or less $$$$ - approx $100 or less $$$$$ - more than $100

• Beer
• US

There are plenty of nice winter beer options available on the market.  These are great to drink at any time of the year, but these brews are especially tasty during the cold winter months.

Rising Moon is a new Blue Moon beer with a bit of lime, specifically Kieffer lime leaves and a bit of peel, and floral brew notes.  This beer is actually called a springtime beer, but it's still technically winter here, and it's been drunk.

Hoegaarden is a great winter beer as well.  It has traditional elements like curacao orange peel and coriander, making it a tempting, yet not overly spicy brew.

 
Anchor Steam has a nice Christmas ale that has some deep ginger and all-spice flavors that go well with the brew over all. 

• Gargenega
• Italy
• Pinot Grigio

Review Date:	11/17/2007
Price Range**:	$
Winery:	Delle Venezie Indicazione Geografica Tipica
Vintage:	2006
Varieties:	Pinot Gris
Country:	Italy
Region:	Venezia
Appellation:	Friuli
Rating:	8/10
Notes: Light acidity with plenty of fruit and floral notes. Excellent companion to spicy dish like a Fra Diavolo.
** $ - approx $10 or less $$ - approx $25 or less $$$ - approx $50 or less $$$$ - approx $100 or less $$$$$ - more than $100

• Cabernet Sauvignon
• California

Review Date:	10/21/2007
Price Range**:	$$
Winery:	Sterling
Vintage:	2004
Varieties:	Cabernet Sauvignon
Country:	US
Region:	California
Appellation:	Central Coast
Rating:	8/10
Notes: Deep ruby red color with nice tannins and some coffee and cocoa flavors.
** $ - approx $10 or less $$ - approx $25 or less $$$ - approx $50 or less $$$$ - approx $100 or less $$$$$ - more than $100

• California
• North Carolina
• Syrah

Review Date:	01/17/2008
Price Range**:	$$
Winery:	Biltmore
Vintage:	2003
Varieties:	Syrah/Shiraz
Country:	US
Region:	California
Appellation:	North Coast
Rating:	8/10
Notes: An impressive syrah with very ripe red berry fruit, plum and raisin, sweet, with a hint of pepper.
** $ - approx $10 or less $$ - approx $25 or less $$$ - approx $50 or less $$$$ - approx $100 or less $$$$$ - more than $100

• Australia
• Shiraz

Review Date:	01/15/2008
Price Range**:	$$
Winery:	Hope Estate
Vintage:	2005
Varieties:	Syrah/Shiraz
Country:	Australia
Region:	S. Australia
Appellation:	Hunter Valley
Rating:	7/10
Notes: Nice blueberry and dark fruit with a slight herbal note. Suffers a little from being overly sweet.
** $ - approx $10 or less $$ - approx $25 or less $$$ - approx $50 or less $$$$ - approx $100 or less $$$$$ - more than $100

• Cabernet Sauvignon
• California

Review Date:	12/15/2008
Price Range**:	$$
Winery:	Greg Norman
Vintage:	2005
Varieties:	Cabernet Sauvignon
Country:	US
Region:	California
Appellation:
Rating:	8/10
Notes: Deep red, solid cabernet with lots of dark, black fruit. Medium tannins give nice feel.
** $ - approx $10 or less $$ - approx $25 or less $$$ - approx $50 or less $$$$ - approx $100 or less $$$$$ - more than $100

• Napa Valley
• Pinot Noir

Review Date:	12/27/2007
Price Range**:	$
Winery:	Ramsay
Vintage:	2006
Varieties:	Pinot Noir
Country:	US
Region:	California
Appellation:	Napa Valley
Rating:	6/10
Notes: Nice pinot noir with lighter red fruit, although too tart and peppery for our liking.
** $ - approx $10 or less $$ - approx $25 or less $$$ - approx $50 or less $$$$ - approx $100 or less $$$$$ - more than $100

• Cabernet Sauvignon
• Napa Valley

Review Date:	12/29/2007
Price Range**:	$
Winery:	Arnold Palmer
Vintage:	2005
Varieties:	Cabernet Sauvignon
Country:	US
Region:	California
Appellation:	Napa
Rating:	7/10
Notes: Quality cabernet, nicely balanced with lots more fruit than most cabernets. Reminiscent of rasins, cherries, and lighter red fruit such as strawberries. Only hints of pepper and spicier flavors throughout and at the finish.
** $ - approx $10 or less $$ - approx $25 or less $$$ - approx $50 or less $$$$ - approx $100 or less $$$$$ - more than $100

• California
• Pinot Noir

Review Date:	12/28/2007
Price Range**:	$
Winery:	McManis Family Vineyards
Vintage:	2007
Varieties:	Pinot Noir
Country:	US
Region:	California
Appellation:
Rating:	8/10
Notes: Nicely balanced, well-priced pinot with lighter red ruby color and fruit on the nose. Nice touch of fruit blended with a touch of spice.
** $ - approx $10 or less $$ - approx $25 or less $$$ - approx $50 or less $$$$ - approx $100 or less $$$$$ - more than $100

• Chile
• Pinot Noir

Review Date:	12/14/2007
Price Range**:	$$
Winery:	Anakena
Vintage:	2006
Varieties:	Pinot Noir
Country:	Chile
Region:
Appellation:	Central Valley
Rating:	6/10
Notes: Lighter ruby-colored pinot tasting of overly soured light fruit and berries. Medium-bodied with nice tannins, but not all that drinkable.
** $ - approx $10 or less $$ - approx $25 or less $$$ - approx $50 or less $$$$ - approx $100 or less $$$$$ - more than $100

• California
• Pinot Noir

Review Date:	12/14/2007
Price Range**:	$$
Winery:	Three Saints
Vintage:	2005
Varieties:	Pinot Noir
Country:	US
Region:	California
Appellation:	Santa Maria Valley
Rating:	8/10
Notes: Deep berry and fruit flavors, slightly jammy with cherry aromas. Similar to Bella Glos Pinot Noir.
** $ - approx $10 or less $$ - approx $25 or less $$$ - approx $50 or less $$$$ - approx $100 or less $$$$$ - more than $100

• Cabernet Franc
• Cabernet Sauvignon
• Malbec
• Merlot
• Petit Verdot
• Sonoma

Review Date:	12/25/2007
Price Range**:	$$$$
Winery:	Ledson
Vintage:	2002
Varieties:	Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot, Petit Verdot
Country:	US
Region:	California
Appellation:	Sonoma
Rating:	9/10
Notes: The fruit is very dark, and you will indeed get the occasional hint of chocolate or even oak and tobacco maybe.
** $ - approx $10 or less $$ - approx $25 or less $$$ - approx $50 or less $$$$ - approx $100 or less $$$$$ - more than $100

• Cabernet Sauvignon
• Napa Valley

Review Date:	12/24/2007
Price Range**:	$$$$
Winery:	Silver Oak
Vintage:	1994
Varieties:	Cabernet Sauvignon
Country:	US
Region:	California
Appellation:	Napa Valley
Rating:	10/10
Notes: Extremely sophisticated and well-balanced. Big ruby red color with nice blend of fruit, smoke, and tobacco. Absolutely brilliant wine to be remembered.
** $ - approx $10 or less $$ - approx $25 or less $$$ - approx $50 or less $$$$ - approx $100 or less $$$$$ - more than $100

• California
• Pinot Noir

Review Date:	12/19/2007
Price Range**:	$$$
Winery:	Jack Creek
Vintage:	2004
Varieties:	Pinot Noir
Country:	US
Region:	California
Appellation:	Santa Lucia Highlands
Rating:	9/10
Notes: Extremely sophisticated pinot noir with lightness and sweetness, well-balanced with red fruit, violets, and a hint of spice.
** $ - approx $10 or less $$ - approx $25 or less $$$ - approx $50 or less $$$$ - approx $100 or less $$$$$ - more than $100

• Italy
• Pinot Noir

Apparently, there are a few modern Gregory Mendels tinkering with the genetic makeup of various plants, especially wine grapes, most likely because the grape is such a cash crop. Who doesn't like grapes after all? Nobody, that's who. But some grapes have become extremely popular of late since a critically-acclaimed movie or two haved hyped one varietal over another.

Italian scientists have cracked open the genetic make-up of Pinot Noir, responsible for the great red wines of Burgundy, in a breakthrough that may lead to hardier vines and cheaper fine wines.

The researchers said on Wednesday they had found more than 2 million genetic variants within the Pinot Noir grape, providing winegrowers with a "treasure trove" in the hunt for new strains.

Pinot Noir, made famous by the 2004 film Sideways, has been dubbed the "heartbreak grape" because it is so difficult to grow and susceptible to disease.

Pinot is one of our favorites at the moment, mostly because the pinots of California and Oregon are so very very good, but we've started to run into the higher end pinots. It's truly prohibitive to drink such expensive wine regularly unless one has started his own vineyard or technology company in wine country.

If modern science can perfect the pinot grape to make it much hardier than we're all for it. Pinots are wine grapes too, and getting a bottle of Goldeneye or Jack Creek Cellars for under $30 would suit us just fine.

• Cabernet Sauvignon
• Merlot
• Shiraz
• South Africa

Review Date:	12/10/2007
Price Range**:	$$
Winery:	Guardian Peak
Vintage:	2004
Varieties:	Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah/Shiraz
Country:	South Africa
Region:	Stellenbosch
Appellation:
Rating:	8/10
Notes: Dark red color with a nice blend of berry and floral aromas. Taste is deep red fruit, a bit jammy with a hint of spice.
** $ - approx $10 or less $$ - approx $25 or less $$$ - approx $50 or less $$$$ - approx $100 or less $$$$$ - more than $100

• Absynthe

So apparently the green fairy is making its way back to the US after a long time ban.

The green liquor that is sometime called the queen of poisons has been banned since 1915.

However, some companies have found away around the ban, WJXT-TV reported.

"It was outlawed because of the narcotic quality," said Riverside Liquors owner David Joudi. "It's already being imported into the states under camouflage of packaging."Bob Merendino, also of Riverside Liquors, said their store sells a product similar to Absinthe that does not have the wormwood. The wormwood is the illegal and controversial part of the drink. However, consumers might start seeing the product make a comeback.

Wormwood was said to have some hallucinogenic qualities, but this weird attribution may have been due to the competitive nature of the liquor producers of the late eighteen-hundreds who sought to add to the mystical nature of the drink by adding all sorts of really nasty ingredients.  Some say that the amount of narcotic in a bottle of absinthe is less than that of a few sage leaves.  We're not completely sure of this as of right now, but we're pretty confident that the legendary status of this drink among the bohemian set 100 years ago was mostly exaggeration...oh, and a little more inedible ingredients than most people would be comfortable with.

• France
• Pinot Noir

Review Date:	11/28/2007
Price Range**:	$
Winery:	Pinot Evil
Vintage:	2005
Varieties:	Pinot Noir
Country:	France
Region:
Appellation:
Rating:	4/10
Notes: Very poor. Overly sour with plenty of alcohol. No complexity to speak of and a little watery. A relatively inexpensive wine, but that doesn't excuse the poor quality, and the stupid name.
** $ - approx $10 or less $$ - approx $25 or less $$$ - approx $50 or less $$$$ - approx $100 or less $$$$$ - more than $100

• Australia
• Shiraz

Review Date:	12/01/2007
Price Range**:	$$
Winery:	Green Point
Vintage:	2004
Varieties:	Syrah/Shiraz
Country:	Australia
Region:	Victoria
Appellation:
Rating:	8/10
Notes: Deep brick red color with lots of berry. Relatively light on the tannins and less peppery than most shiraz. An excellent, affordable wine, especially if you prefer shiraz.
** $ - approx $10 or less $$ - approx $25 or less $$$ - approx $50 or less $$$$ - approx $100 or less $$$$$ - more than $100

• Beer

There is a new champion of beer in the "priciest" category.  The beer is called the Sam Adams Utopia and comes in a collectible brew kettle-like bottle and comes in at a whopping $5 per ounce, $120 for the 24 ounce collectible container of high-alcohol brew.  (had to change the link to a 2006 article from a 2007 article)

The brewing process is very unique in order to produce such a concoction.

Keeping the yeast active is a problem: The cells tend to sink into a torpor when overfed, much like humans after a heavy Thanksgiving meal. The trick is coaxing them into forcing down that extra slice of pie, so to speak, to produce the extra alcohol. Koch says he inverts the usual feeding regimen, offering the yeast more complex sugars at the start of fermentation, then finishing with simpler molecules. A dash of maple syrup during the process piques the yeast cells' appetites and inspires them to new heights.

"It's not rocket science, but it is 'grain surgery,'" Koch quips.

The 2007 will be the fourth release of this beer. Koch believes he might have reached the biological limitations of the yeast cells with the latest vintage: "Unless there's a major breakthrough, I don't see them doing much more. They're whipped."

Boston Beer is releasing 12,000 bottles of the 2007 Utopias. The beer will be available nationally (except for 14 states where caps on the alcohol level of beer make it illegal).

As you can see, the beer is extremely high in alcohol at 27%, but it makes for a very unique experience.  We can't review it at this time since we have yet to try it, but the uniqueness alone is enough to merit a mention.  If you have the means, we definitely recommend giving it a try if for no other reason than being able to say you've sampled the world's most expensive brew.

• Beer
• Red Wine
• White Wine

Chinese hot pot dinners are the perfect place to really try out some drinks that you've never tried before, just as they are an opportunity to try out some "unique" and varied foods.  Not only is hot pot great for trying out foods, but it's a community event in the mold of fondue since everyone basically gets to cook his/her own food, or just steal food that someone else is currently cooking in the hot pot.

At hot pot, expect to see all sorts of interesting fare.  You should see plenty of interesting seafood to sample as well as meats and leafy vegetables.  Everything gets plunged into a very hot pot of watery broth that is made of simple ingredients such as  salt and water and maybe some other ingredient like a spicy sauce.

Drinks at the hot pot are quite varied.  We were able to taste an wide range of drinks from sake to German beer to Italian wine.

PoggioBonelli Chianti Classico - 2003

St. Urbans-Hof Ockfener Bockstein Spatlese Riesling -

2006

Momokawa Pearl Sake - An unfiltered sake in the Nigori Genshu style.  Excellent hits of tropical fruit and coconut, a perfect accompaniment to hot and spicy foods that are typical of a hot pot dinner.  We sampled a bit of this sake and were instantly taken with it.  It's sweet but has the complexity and depth of a good chardonnay.  Very enjoyable when served chilled.

Check this out at sakeone.com:

STYLE
Junmai Ginjo Nigori Genshu: Made with only rice, water, yeast & koji with the rice milled to 60%, it is cask strength and roughly filtered.

TASTING NOTES
This old style, roughly filtered saké is an amazing experience. Pearl offers notes of vanilla and pineapple with banana, coconut, and anise rounding out a creamy body.

PAIRING NOTES
Pearl balances spicy dishes like Thai and Latin yet is a perfect match for rich chocolate deserts, fresh raspberries, and strawberries. Enjoy with steak, barbecue, and hearty dishes. Pull together an evening with spicy barbecue, crisp grilled vegetables, wild rice, and a layered chocolate cake with raspberry sauce drizzled liberally. Or simply enjoy Pearl on its own.

MILLING
Rice milled to: 60%

FILTRATION
Coarse mesh filtration to remove heavier particles and to allow finer elements of moromi to remain for added flavor & character.

SAKÉ METER VALUE
SMV: -12

ALCOHOL CONTENT
ALC: 18.5%

We're still working on all the great stuff so stay tuned...

• Italy

Day two of our trip to Italy bleeds into the previous day since we necessarily took the red eye flight from Philly to Venice.  As we explained however, the delayed flight put us into Venice too late in the day to really see anything that we wanted to see.

Customs in Italy is kind of a breeze, especially when compared to the time we had going through customs when returning to the good ol' US of A.  We were through there in no time at all, and picked up our baggage quite promptly from the baggage belt, the one not sponsored by the Venice Casino and decorated like a roulette wheel.

Getting into Venice itself is something of an adventure, and we'd recommend that you decide what to do before you actually get there.  There are several options that you have at your disposal.

Getting into Venice:  If you plan to travel to Venice, read this!  You will not find a better description of how to negotiate your way out of the airport and to the city anywhere that we've seen.

If travel by water is your thing, purchase a ticket at the
AliLaguna (the company that runs the boat from the airport) ticket windows to the left as you exit the baggage claim, and then follow the signs down the walkway out of the Marco Polo Aeroporte to the docks (out the front door and to the left; there are signs with little boats floating on the water).  At the end of the walkway there are water taxis immediately in front of you and public transport boats to the left by a cafe.  The boat from the airport is quite slow and ponderous, although relatively direct with a couple of stops in Murano and Lido respectively before landing at the dock at San Marco Square.  This square and the surrounding few blocks seems to be the primary destination for visitors on holiday since all of the best hotels and shopping are located generally around this area.  The ride is slow, about 40-60 minute trip into San Marco, but about 12 euro per ticket.  However, you may wish to take a direct water taxi, which is a really fast ride directly to the dock closest to your hotel.  Be sure to locate your hotel on a walking map of the city before boarding the taxi.  The taxi guys may know the address or at least a city landmark like a Piazza, but you still need to locate the actual hotel.  If you've never been to Italy before, you can not really navigate easily by street signs or addresses since the street names change each block, signs are very few and sometimes unreadable if they exist at all, and the cities are never laid out in neat city blocks.  Anyway, the taxis are fast but extremely expensive, like 100 euro or so depending.  You could probably split a taxi between a number of people if you're all bound for the same general area.  Although, you could be charged slightly more, amounting to a per person surcharge.  The taxis sit about eight people or so depending on the number of bags and so forth.

If you'd like to stay on land for as long as possible, and if it's not too busy (rushhour), you could come into the north west side of the city at the Piazzale Roma via the bus, a cheap 2 to 3 euro trip and 20 minutes.  Alternatively, you could take a regular taxi into Ple. Roma for about 27 euro.  Piazzale Roma is about as far from the square as you can get on the island city so you'll have to walk a long way with your bags or get onto a Vaporetto.  Blue Line 1 goes through the city on the Grand Canal stopping at every single point, very slow.  The odd routes generally go round the city counter-clockwise while their sister lines of even numbers go around clockwise 41 and 42 and 81 and 82 are good examples.  Hop on a Vaporetto here, but be sure to validate your ticket in the yellow punch card machine.  You'll probably want to get on either of these lines depending upon which one is coming around.  The counter-clockwise lines seem to be closer to the square from the Ple. Roma, but we haven't timed the rides.

The Vaporetto tickets are issued for time increments so just tell the "Biglietti" guy where you'd like to end up.  The help will be marginal at best, but you'll get the right ticket.  There are options for puchasing full day transport tickets, but we recommend walking most of the city unless you're headed to Murano or another island or have your luggage with you.

Also, when you ride the Vaporetto always double-check the dock markings and the route number and stops marked on the boat itself to make sure you're headed to the right destination.  This is probably one of the most confusing aspects of using the water bus in Venice when compared to the trains in, say, London.  All boats  sort of come in to the same docks though not always, and it's hard to tell which direction they're headed.

There is a train station at the Ferovia boat dock that runs trains into the heart of Italy, but there is no convenient train into Venice from the airport so don't believe anyone who says there is.  The locals at the airport will give you some really weird looks if you ask them where the train is.

Hope this helps anyone going to the city for the first time. 

We met some friends from the plane and decided to meet up a little later for dinner.  Ask the hotel manager or concierge where to go for dinner or just walk around off the beaten track to find great food and wine.  Check out the menus, and see if locals are in the place.  We ate at a modest osteria packed with locals on our first night.  The dinner was excellend and the wine was pretty decent for being nothing more than red table wine.  Buffalo mozzarella is fantastic.  Be sure to have at least one caprese appetizer when in Italy.  If you're headed into Venice, you might try to find this delightful Osteria Campagna that is about 1 block or so south west of the Rialto bridge.