Undisputed Greatness

Who says white wine can't age? My neighbour, for one, and with this bottle, we can conclusively disprove that myth. LCBO recently released some of the oldest German rieslings I've ever seen, a 1994 Schloss Schonborn, QbA Rheingau. Of course, I had to pick up a few bottles, and I believe I was the first person to buy - the lady opened up the box for me, it was still sitting on the trolley. That's what you get for keeping up with the releases diligently. If only I approached university in the same way...


I know, I'm sorry - another piece on rieslings. I promise it'll be one of the last for a while. Besides, don't have any more wines in the house. Anyways, it was a magnificent wine. Cork was moldy and black - got me worried. But it's so exciting whenever you open a bottle that has more than 10 years of bottle age on it. You really never know what to expect. The colour was lighter than I expected. Such a fragrant wine, holding onto its sugar and acidity, explosive minerality and endless finish. Still so young, which is why I still have a few bottles put away. Undisputably mature, but still holding onto the sweetness of its youth. A glorious wine, which still has many years of life left.



I decanted this bottle. Some people don't decant, some don't believe in it, some decant only reds. I decant everything. And it really helped bring out the wine from its slumber. Brought the wine into focus, and really intensified the minerale. Beautiful.

Massive rip-off

Waltzed into BV LCBO today and did a double take. I bought a few bottles of the 2004 Ch. Belle-Vue, AC Haut Medoc a few months ago, when it was released, at $31.70 a bottle. Went on sale today, one of the more massive price drops I've ever seen the LCBO do. This wine now goes for $26. I don't understand...are sales of the 2004 Bordeaux so bad? Because I think it's quite a charming vintage, and really one of my favourites.

Ran into a chatty bunch today. Three people, one male, two female - the guy was trying to impress the girls. He was going from bottle to bottle, reciting scores for each wine. Impressive - he seems to have memorized the entire range of Wine Spectator reviews. What does it matter to you whether a wine is rated 85 or 90 points? The difference doesn't matter if you can't tell the qualities of each wine in your mouth.

I saw TWO brand new BMW X6 on the road today. Far too many rich housewives on Bayview. But what gorgeous cars.

Picked up some condensed milk on the way home. My friend lent me some of those vietnamese filters, the ones you use to brew viet coffee. We still have a half bag of viet coffee beans my parents bought back last time from Hanoi. Had a glass, I think it's quite good, with the condensed milk. Just a pain in the ass to brew and to clean up, but it's quite different and interesting.

Fakeness

The highest ideal in life and in wine is honesty. Be honest to yourself, to what you are, to where you came from. Cut the shit, because your true self always comes out in the end.

I hate fake wines. I love wines that show a sense of place, and have character. So what if the tannins aren't exactly smooth and polished, and the nose has a few aromas that seem off? A wine's complete array of attributes makes up its character, whether they may be flawed or not. That's what makes a unique wine, and a wine worth remembering.

Getting frustrated with fake people. You'd think with a university education, some people mature and be more comfortable with who they are, but you'd be surprised how insecure some still are. It's not worth it. Be honest about yourself, because no one's a perfect liar.

Does anyone feel hollow after the Olympics? Its like I'm having a hangover. Turning to some wine literature to bring me out of my misery. Reading Neal Rosenthal's illuminating ode to terroir, in his book, Reflections of a Wine Merchant. A wonderful, thought-provoking piece. Now, if only I'd have the opportunity to try some of the wines he mentions...

2008 Beijing Olympics

Watched the 2008 Beijing Olympics Closing Ceremonies live today, starting at 8am. Literally didn't sleep all night. And what else can I say - it was magnificent.

What an emotional close to the Olympics. As a country, we've waited so long for this, and we've prepared so hard to make sure it was a success. And what a success it was. Every Chinese person owes all the volunteers, the performers, the Chinese athletes, the organizers...everyone involved in these Games...we owe them so many thanks. They deserve our appreciation, for representing our country with dignity and bringing honour to the Chinese people. Thank you.

Director Zhang YiMou is without a doubt, a legend. London can forget about matching even half of what these Olympics were. That's it - every Olympics from now on goes downhill from here. Beijing has set the standard for the next 100 years.

I came away absolutely f*cking disgusted with Canadian media covering the Games. After watching coverage from both CBC and NBC, there was no doubt that there was a thick layer of bias on the part of the Canadians. You have these broadcasters finding any excuse to criticize China, and try to impose their own views on an entirely different culture, a culture which Canadians have only glimpsed at. Of course, there's also the fifth-rate journalists writing their garbage for the Toronto Star. I always thought journalists were only a step above prostitutes, but now I'm thinking that that's unfair to the sexual service industry. Is there any wonder as to why the CBC will no longer be covering future Olympics Games? Say what you will about the Americans, but at least they have a sense of journalistic integrity, and the importance of providing a balanced, objective viewpoint.

Lots of memorable moments in the Olympics. Yao Ming at the Opening Ceremonies. The Chinese men's gymnastics team. The absolutely adorable Shawn Johnson and beautiful Nastia Liukin. Phelps. The Redeem Team. Liu Xiang. The emotion of seeing the young Chinese women's gymnastics team winning gold. Divers dominating the field. So many great moments, memories that make your heart soar. When you see an athlete work so hard to compete at the Olympics, and finally succeed, it's heartwarming, regardless of what flag is on their uniform.

So what's next? These Games showed what China is capable of, particularly in the face of a catastrophic earthquake, who's aftermath is still far from being resolved. I hope people have gotten a better sense of what my country is like - a country of great hospitality, of wonderful heritage, and a country with great hope for the future. One World, One Dream.

Reunions and Gold Medal Finals

Had a great day today. Saw some old friends for the first time in years, had a great dinner and some great 2007 Malivoire Ladybug Rose. Later on Saturday, saw Pris for the first time in 4 months. Lots of reuniting and laughing today. Drank a bottle of Nova Scotian wine - a Marechal Foch, which Pris brought back. Somewhat mediocre, but what can you expect from these hybrids.

If you notice the time, it's 6am. I havn't slept yet. Got home around 2:15 am, just in time to watch the Olympics Men's Basketball Finals. USA vs Spain, an epic matchup. Glad that Jose Calderon didn't play, Raptors don't need him any more injured than he already is.

It was a fantastically entertaining game. Closer than I expected, and a lot more competitive. Not as clean as well, but the stars shined when it mattered the most. Wade was impressive but Kobe was the one that really put the game away. Lots of heart and passion, stuff that we don't see in the NBA regular season.

It's something about playing for your country that brings out that special quality in you. You have loyalty to your NBA team, but only as far as your salary takes you. When you wear your national flag on your chest, that's something entirely different. You compete for pride, for your people - everything but yourself. That's why international competition is so riveting.

One thing that still pisses me off is the absolutely terrible officiating. Terrible. The majority of calls made were inexcusably awful, and just left me confused. And not because viewers don't see the game like the officials do. No, the confusion is due to the refs not understanding what amounts to a violation and what doesn't. There were moments when the refs blew whistles and called for offenses that were totally different from another. At one point, a ref called a foul on Wade, while another ref called a travelling violation. Ridiculous.

Great game overall. The US men definitely deserved it, CB played like a monster. Will remain awake for the live 2008 Beijing Olympics Closing Ceremonies, in roughly 30 min. What a fantastic Olympic Games! One World, One Dream.

Semifinals, USA vs Argentina

I just finished watching the Men's Basketball Semi-Finals, USA vs Argentina. Hyped up to be an awesome game, since Argentina's the reigning Olympic Champions, and one of the few squads to beat the Americans.

It was a good game. Expected it to be a blowout after the first quarter, but Argentina came back strong. Didn't appreciate how dirty they play. I got excited when Carmelo got into Oberto's face - I wanted to see them rumble.

Don't get me started on the officiating. Blatant no-calls, phantom fouls called on the Americans. You know which call blows my mind the most? CB was defending Scola, no hand checking at all, using his chest. And somehow, it's counted as a foul. Unbelievable. That's why FIBA Basketball is irrelevant. Fire all the blind mices officiating, and maybe international ball will become respectable.

USA vs Spain, Gold Medal Game on Sunday. I have my pick on USA of course, but I love how Calderon competes and it'll be an epic game.

New LCBO!

The other day, coming back from the Chinese Consulate, I passed by the new LCBO location on Avenue road. It's just across the street from the current one, just south of the 401. It looks beautiful. Two stories, and I get excited just thinking about the top floor full of Vintages wines.

Definitely will have to visit when it opens in the fall. Who knows - it might replace Bayview Village as my new hangout.

Feel the burn

This Sunday, I took up a challenge. My father's into biking and he bet me that I couldn't last on the route that he takes every week. He bikes downtown, from Edward Gardens. It's about a 25 km ride one way, and it goes all the way to Queen's Quay. The prize? Two more bottles of this glorious 1994 Rheingau riesling.

I kicked it up even more. I told him that I'd bike a return trip - 50 km total. And I accomplished it! The last 10 km was so, so painful. I fell off my bike too...flipped right over the front handle bar. Got lost, had to bike an extra 6 km. Completely exhausted and famished when I got back. First thing I had to do was drink water and eat. But I accomplished it.

I swear, whoever invented biking as a competitive sport was a masochist. You're just abusing yourself, and if you're a male, you know exactly what I mean. I'm hurting even now, 3 days later, in places that I don't ever want to be hurting.

This 50 km bike ride is the first and last ride I'm ever going to attempt. Sticking to jogging.

Withdrawal and some numbers

I ran through some figures yesterday in my tasting notes yesterday. Went through 75 bottles in 2007, and at this moment, am at 81 bottles. However, for the entire month of August...only two. This is terrible - no drinking means no learning. But what can you do when your bank account keeps hemeorrhaging money.

What I'd really like to drink right now? A mature, left bank claret, with some nice pan seared lamb ribs, finished with a hunk of roquefort and 2001 Ch. Guiraud.

To China's Hero

Just watched what happened to 110M Hurdle 2004 Gold Medalist, Liu Xiang. I feel terrible about what happened. If you havn't realized yet, he's the most famous person in China, period. The entire time I was in Shanghai this year, you couldn't turn on the tv, or look in a magazine without seeing his face, and how he was a sure bet for another Gold in Beijing.

I identify with him, and am especially proud of him, because he is from Shanghai. He looks like us, he talks like us - 100% authentic. That's why I'm so crushed at what I saw today. He was in so much pain, and watching him kick the wall in frustration brought up a lot of emotions.

It's not fair, all the pressure being placed on him. It's an obvious case of over-training. And still, he tried his best - he walked out, got on the blocks, and started. If it wasn't that schmuck that false-started, he would have pushed himself to get over those hurdles. I don't think people realize how serious his injury is. You hear about athletes competing injured, but his injury was dangerous. Tendons are fragile, and there was a real possibility of him being taken out on a stretcher. So yes, everyone's disappointed, but as a Chinese, we should be so proud of him, for his fight to compete and fulfill everyone's ridiculous expectations. If you're going to blame someone, blame the coaches for not watching out for his health. Liu Xiang is the last person we should be upset at.

Liu Xiang, we're so proud of you. You represented every Shanghainese and every Chinese person with great dignity, and you can hold your head high.

Obscurity is a good thing

I've always believed that the best Champagnes are the small producers, the names that you don't recognize. Forget the Veuve, Krug, Moet..........they're huge brands and all, but I firmly believe that they overprice, without the corresponding levels of quality. That's just my thought, but the more Champagne I drink, the more I feel that this is true.

I recently opened a bottle of Champagne Chapuy, Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs. A lovely wine, lots of complexity in the nose, with an incredibly intense flavour profile in the mouth. Very focussed and precise - this is not a sipping wine. It went beautifully with foods that were quite rich. A long, long finish, just a gorgeous wine.

Buy based on taste. Don't buy on fame or name brands. The luxury labels are great, but there are better ways to waste your money.

This is not right!!

My goodness. I just watched the Olympics Women's Gymnastics Event Final, for the Vault. Just watched Alicia Sacramone get robbed. This is not right. And that's exactly what happened - she was robbed.

I feel terrible for this girl. She did a good job, she deserved a medal. It's when you have judges and a judging system that's so out of touch and so far from reality that you begin to wonder, what's the point? Unbelievable, especially when you look at who won the gold. Listen, I'd love nothing more than for the Chinese gymnast to win gold, but Alicia was absolutely robbed. It's heartbreaking, and there's something seriously wrong with gymnastics.

Champagne, Ice Bucket, Perfect

Nothing really says elegance and celebration better than seeing a bottle of Champagne chilling in an ice bucket. I don't like my white wines really chilled. Strips too much of the nose, and reduces it to little more than a carbonated thirst-quencher. So I use a lot of ice in my bucket, but I drink it in a larger tulip shaped glass. Warms up a bit, so I can taste the difference when the termperatures change. I love Champagne!!

Bye Bye Port

The night of the 2008 Beijing Olympics Opening Ceremonies, I finished the last of my 1980 Kopke Colheita Port. I was quite sad - really fell in love with this wine, and I can't wait until I open the 1981.

The colour is still there. So fragrant, and the nose is much more integrated. Brandy is really smooth. Lots of sweet caramel, dried fruits...not as much weight in the mouth, but the flavour is so intense. Very focussed. Finish is lovely - crunchy toffee/wafer and just so long. What a lovely wine, I'll be remembering this one for a long time.

Decanting and some drinking

Drank a very, very interesting wine this weekend, will talk about it later. From now on, I'm definitely decanting everything - white wines, red wines, sweet wines....everything short of sparkling wines. It really makes a huge difference.

Learned that you never talk about wine, or anything for that matter, in black and white terms. Someone who's wine knowledge I respect very much told me that "You can't drink wine that's more than 5 years old. The acidity doesn't matter, it just doesn't age." And to that, I respectfully disagree. I've had 2 German rieslings recently that were so beautiful - a 6 year old wine and a 14 year old riesling. Both showed wonderfully, and proved that blunt statements like that are misleading and quite frankly, ignorant.

Watching a lot of the Olympics. The competition's been amazing.

The F Word

Lately, I've been watching a show called The F Word. It's a cooking show from the UK featuring Gordon Ramsay. I'm a huge fan - I share a lot of views with him about quality food and quality ingredients. He's so entertaining, from Hell's Kitchen to both versions of Kitchen Nightmares. Of course, he's becoming more and more of a celebrity chef, but for a Scotsman to get so many Michelin stars, you can't help but respect his talent.



This show is fast paced, and so fun to watch. Lots of great food, and I love that he demonstrates how to cook each dish. A segment I also enjoy is him catching his own food, from rabbit, wild boar, or wild salmon. He catches it, guts it, and cooks it. A lot of great dishes that I want to try cooking as soon as they come into season. Clams with angel-hair pasta. Braised rabbit in ragu. An incredible looking fresh apple tart.

I think this type of programming is the way to go. North American channels are so uptight, so fake, so excruciatingly politically correct that there is no entertainment value. What the hell do we have? Fake 'reality' shows? Shows based on attractiveness of the actors that make you hit mute? This is not the way to go. The decision-makers are so self righteous, it's comical that people complain about Chinese censorship. Give the people what they want - shows that are more than pretty people, shows with substance, and shows that at least have a touch of creativity.

Hoping for the best

Received some unsettling news from Shanghai early this morning. Thoughts are in a mess right now, having a terrible day. Wine is the last thing on my mind right now.

Men's Basketball Preliminary

I woke up at 9 am this morning to watch the Men's Basketball Preliminary between China and the USA. It's the earliest I've ever been up on a Sunday morning in a long, long time, but I had to watch this game. This is billed as the most-viewed game ever in organized sports - easily a billion plus.

It was a great game - I thought China showed a lot of heart. No one expected them to win, but they kept it respectable in the first half, until their lack of depth caught up with them. Team China should be proud, they played well, showed passion, and has come a long way. The goal for this Olympics should be trying to get into a medals game. They're developing some good looking players. I really liked Sun Yue - he's a 6'9'' guard with good shooting range and good ball-handling skills. Just signed with LA Lakers. Things are looking up, great job Team China!

Dry House

With the last few drops of Champagne Chapuy and my 1980 Kopke Colheita Port, I'm sad to announce that I no longer have any more wine back at the house. I'm completely dry and emptied out, with the exception of a few bottles of Corona and a lot of scotch and cognac. This is the first time in more than 4 years that I don't have any wine with me - it's a strange feeling.

So what do I do now? The upcoming releases are big, but doesn't have a lot of wines that are that interesting. I still have a few cases of wine put away, but that stuff is for long term aging. I'm really going to have to live bottle by bottle now.

A Great Celebration

We watched the 2008 Beijing Olympics Opening Ceremonies yet again, this time on NBC. They do such a better job than the CBC. I swear, when the hell are the damn Canadians going to cover these events the right way? Get your act together!

I'm on a patriotic high right now. What the motherland has achieved is history making, and I'll never forget this moment ever in my life. What the Chinese people are able to achieve is incredible, not to mention all the disasters that've happened this year.

We had a fantastic dinner tonight to celebrate. I opened a Champagne Chapuy, Grand Cru, Blanc de Blancs, from the village of Oger. Wonderful wine, I'll have to talk about it later. Prepared some nice fresh organic greens with my own balsamic/olive oil dressing and crumbly goat's milk cheese. Sauteed Chinese celery, as well as duck wings and squid from the deli.

The main dish? An extraordinary braised sea cucumber, poached in fresh chicken stock, topped with ginger, green onion, and shrimp roe. Delicious, and one of my favourite dishes.

Wow, I don't think I can sleep tonight. Just too excited with what I've seen, and what this means to my country. We'll never, ever, see an Olympics like this again. One World, One Dream.

The Opening Ceremonies

Up at 6am this morning to watch the 2008 Beijing Olympics Opening Ceremonies. Been waiting for 7 years for this, and it was a breathtaking event.

I came away stunned with the amount of work and planning that had to go into every performance. The costumes, the choreography, the precision - just astounding. A lot of use of new a/v techniques, very interesting.

I think the director, Zhang YiMou, did a magnificent job. I'm a huge fan of his movies, and the Opening Ceremonies was unmistakably a Zhang YiMou production. The huge swaths of colour, the grand tone of the music and choreography, the sheer size of the cast - he really put his stamp on the show. And he's really the only one that can handle something of this nature. No one else really has the artistic vision to create something so elaborate yet have such clear themes. He's proven without a doubt that he's a legend.

By far, without a doubt, undisputably - this is the greatest Opening Ceremonies in the history of the modern Olympics. No need to argue. A grand spectacle, I'm so proud of my country and my people. Will be celebrating tonight with some fine wine and cuisine. One World, One Dream.

2008 Beijing Olympics

The 2008 Beijing Olympics are starting in less than 12 hours, and I'm extremely excited. Excited and very, very proud.

I've been looking forward to this event for a long time. Anyone who knows me understands how much I love my homeland and how proud I am not only to be from Shanghai, but to be Chinese. A lot has happened to China this year, but I have no doubt that the Olympics will be the most spectacular in the history of the games.

I'll be waking up at 6am tomorrow to catch the opening ceremonies. I'm a huge admirer of the director, Zhang YiMou, a visionary and a film legend in Asia. This event really will be an opportunity for the world to see modern China.

No doubt, this will be the greatest Olympic Games the world will ever see. One World, One Dream.

Great Riesling, at all prices

This past Sunday, I sat out in the backyard with my neighbours, Frances and Annie. Had a long conversation about.....everything. Of course, I brought over a nice bottle of wine - they're heading to Alsace, Rheingau and the Mosel soon, so it was only appropriate that I brought over a riesling. A Niagara. A Flat Rock.

2006 Flat Rock Cellars Nadja's Vineyard Riesling.

This is their high end riesling, single vineyard. Everyone makes a single vineyard wine nowadays, and I think it's just a ploy to charge more. Anyways. I really loved Flat Rock's estate riesling, as I've written about here. Really great value, shows fantastic varietal and regional characteristics. High expectations for this bottle, as it is a bit more expensive but at $20.35, it's really at a great price point.

Nice nose, fresh tropical fruits, honey, spice - not unlike the estate riesling. Same on the palate, with good weight and texture, smooth creaminess but with a racy acidity and a long, subtle, minerally sweet finish. Fantastic, but I just didn't see the need to pay more for this wine, over the $17.35 estate riesling.

After we wrapped up our conversation, I saved about a glass and a half worth to keep for later. It's after you let this wine breathe that it really starts to shine. Begins to show its individuality as well as characteristics of the vineyard.

It develops a yeasty, nutty nose. Beautifully reminiscent of an aged Rheingau riesling, it has such character and spice to it. Nice weight as before, and the finish just lasts forever.

So, next time I go up, will definitely pick up a few more bottles. I'd love to see how well this wine ages. Never let price points affect your judgements on taste and quality. Both Flat Rock's estate and Nadja's riesling are exceptional. Like all good things, they just need a little bit of time to breathe, to reveal their secrets.

Lailey at LCBO

Very excited to be finally seeing Lailey Vineyard wines at the LCBO. They had a few bottles for this release, including the 2006 Lailey Vineyard Pinot Noir. Picked up a few bottles - it's one of my favourite Niagara pinot noirs, and in my opinion, one of the best wines in the Niagara Peninsula.

Really looking forward to see how these wines develop. Have a few bottles of the 2005 in the cellar. Will wait until the end of this year before I drink them. If you still think that Niagara can't produce good red wines, then look for this bottle at the LCBO.

Corona on sale!

Sometimes, especially in the summer, you just want to have a beer. I will say upfront, no bullshit, I have simple tastes with regards to beer. I love lagers as well as pale ales. My favourites? Off the top of my head...Carlsberg, Dos Equis, Corona, Boddingtons, Tsingtao, and all Japanese draft beers - Suntory, Asahi, etc...

The Beer Store is having a sale on 24 packs of Corona, as well as a few others. Time to stock up! I love Corona - probably because it's lighter, more refreshing, and just easier to just gulp down on a hot day.

I'd love to talk to someone who's as into beers as I am into wine. Really interesting to get their perpective. Beers are really misunderstood, because everyone drinks it, without giving a shit about quality. Must really piss beer connoisseurs off.

The Batman

I'm feeling productive tonight. Today, watched Batman: The Dark Knight. Great movie, we watched it in IMAX, which made it that much better.

Creepy, watching the Joker. He's so convincing as this pyschopath that really doesn't care about anything. Genuinely terrifying. And Two-Face. Damn. Great actors, great characters. My only issue is how they killed everyone off. Two-Face isn't supposed to die so soon. Fantastic movie, if you havn't seen it, you're missing out.

What I don't understand is why they don't sell alcohol in theatres. I'd enjoy the movie so much more if I had a beer. What are the options? Greasy popcorn and junk food, washed down with extra large cups of coke. If you have to be of a certain age to watch certain movies, then why can't you be given the option of buying alcohol? I just don't get it. You can get beer at ballgames, at concerts.....so why not at theatres? You're ripping us off with concession food already.

The soft touch

I know, I'm blogging on a Saturday night. I just came back from a family friend's place, and although I love to see them, it just feels like sometimes I go to these things for my parent's benefit. If you're Chinese, you know what I mean.

Anyways...what does it mean to have a soft touch? People really value it, whether you're a basketball player, a musician, a forklift driver. It's a skill that shows technique, that shows skill, that shows a restraint that's beneficial in the long run, that takes the big picture into account. So what does that mean to my wine experiences?

I love wine that shows restraint. I hate overripe, pruny wines, with incredible amounts of new oak, and with obliterated sense of place. These blockbuster wines are nothing but flash, and have no substance beneath the exterior. A wine with big tits but little charisma and intellect. Excuse me - I've been drinking.

There's so few people that understand that wine is sacred...that the highest ideal it to let the grapes express themselves. That express their origin, their place. So few people really respect the land and mother nature and tradition. So whenever I find a wine that has these precious qualities, I hang on for dear life. A wine with a soft, deft, delicate touch. A wine with class, grace, and substance.

Just ONE more

I emailed my En Primeur form in to LCBO, when I saw the description for CH. DOISY-DAËNE. Dammit, should have added that one to the list. Oh well...I'll wait until they call, then try to add it onto my order. I'm thinking the 37.5 cL format, but maybe I'll change my mind and go for the 75 cL. Who knows....

2007 Bordeaux En Primeur

Finally, finally, finally, the 2007 Bordeaux En Primeur campaign has started! Received my catalogue this morning, a full week earlier than I expected. Great way to start the day.

Went through it, was very disappointed to see that a lot of the prices didn't go down as much as I had hoped. If the Bordelais were running an honest business, prices would have gone way down. But what can you do when rich consumers with callow palates are driving up demand? And we're talking about the same consumers who drink for face, not for taste, as Decanter so eloquently puts it.

Researched, filled out the form, and sent it out in an hour. I've been reading a lot about the 2007 vintage, so I had a good idea of what area to go after. White Bordeaux, and Sauternes/Barsac wines. For red, the only wines I'm getting are 2 estates that I'm trying to build a vertical of. I'm a loyal person, what can I say - I know I'm getting ripped off.

We're getting spanked by the French this year. Prices havn't gone down significantly like they should have. But then again, if the quality of the white wines are as good as advertised, then I'll be happy. A lot poorer, but happy.

The List:

2007 Ch. La Lagune, 3e Cru, AC Haut Medoc
2007 Ch. L'Arrosee, GCC, AC St-Emilion
2007 Ch. Carbonnieux Blanc, Cru Classe, AC Pessac-Leognan
2007 Ch. Larrivet Haut-Brion Blanc, AC Pessac-Leognan
2007 Ch. Caillou (37.5 cL), 2e Cru, AC Sauternes
2007 Ch. Carmes de Rieussec (37.5 cL), 2nd wine of Ch. Rieussec, AC Sauternes
2007 Ch. Clos Haut Peyraguey (37.5 cL), 1er Cru, AC Sauternes
2007 Ch. Coutet (37.5 cL), 1er Cru, AC Sauternes
2007 Ch. de Rayne-Vigneau (75 cL), 1er Cru, AC Sauternes
2007 Ch. Guiraud (75 cL), 1er Cru, AC Sauternes

Hopefully, I'll be able to get all of these. Will wait with my fingers crossed until they begin processing this. I still don't understand why LCBO won't pull its head out of its ass and implement a better system to do these orders.

Intense German rieslings

I want to talk about 2 German rieslings that I had over the weekend that left such an impression on me.

I've always loved German wines, rieslings, as well as Austrian wines, gruner veltliner. It's the balance, the acidity, the complexity, and the minerality that just makes them so unique. Been looking forward to get into some of these wines in depth, so very excited to taste these two wines.

The first was a 2006 Furst Lowenstein, Hallgarten Schonhell, QmP Riesling Kabinett, from the Rheingau. Young wine.

Light colour, but intense nose. Citrus and honey. Wonderful acidity and backbone, tempered by the slightest amount of residual sugar. Perfect balance. Tastes a bit tart and tough compared to the 2002 we had later, but definitely will age very well. Long, mineral laced finish. Wow.

The second wine was a 2002 Forstmeister Geltz Zilliken, Ockfener Bockstein, QmP Riesling Kabinett, from the Mosel-Saar-Ruwer. I don't have a lot of experience with older white wines, so this was exciting. But then again, 2002 is hardly an 'older' vintage.

Deeper colour. What an intense nose! Lots of yeasty aromas, mineral, tropical fruits. A wild, wild wine. So big on the palate, creamy and filling, with the perfect balance of acidity and sweetness. And by the way, for a Kabinett, this was much sweeter than I expected. But a gloriously long, minerally/citrus finish. An exceptional wine, very unique, very interesting.

---

Looking forward to trying more of these wines. As I've said before, I really believe in Niagara rieslings, so definitely want to experience more of their Old-World influences. Also want to begin buying some of these German rieslings to put away, as clearly, they can age so well.

Post No. 101

This is my One Hundred and First post here. Looking back on my last 100 posts, it's interesting to see how everything's developed, and everything that's happened. Promise to write more regularly. Wrote more in July than I have in any other month, and I want to keep that up.

Again, I know that outside of my group of friends, no one reads this. And even then, I know that there's only a handful of people that regularly come back, so thanks very much for the support. I'm not out to get a large following. This is personal for me - I just feel like it's good for me to keep a written record, to see how my palate develops and things like that.

Has my palate changed since I started writing here? Definitely, yes. I drank a lot more wine in my 4th year in university, which was a big help. Really broadened my experiences. Also, learned a bit more about the industry. Following Bordeaux and other industry news very closely now. And clearly the most important, started going up to Niagara every couple of months, to visit the properties and engage in dialogue with them. This is an exciting new region, producing quality wines, and I want to witness every single step.

So what's up for the next 100 posts? I don't know. Will definitely be talking about Bordeaux futures when the prices come out, and I start making my buy list. Also, planning on drinking a few interesting things later in the year, during the holiday season. Definitely will visit Niagara again sometime in the fall, and visit some new properties. So, a lot of exciting stuff. Thanks for reading, please visit often.

Contrast in styles and attitude

Lately, I've been drinking a lot of rieslings. Not that I've suddenly fell in love with them - it's just that the weather's inducing me to drink more white wines, and I was really impressed with the quality of Niagara rieslings, so naturally, I want to explore more of them, in particular those from Germany.

Let's start with a comparison of two New World rieslings. One, a Finger Lakes riesling, and one, a Niagara riesling. Both regions claim to produce world class rieslings, so let's see if it's true or just a load of shit. And excuse me once again for the atrocious pictures.


First bottle - a 2006 Hermann J. Wiemer Dry Riesling, Finger Lakes, NY. We had this wine at Suzanne Fine Regional Cuisine (click to read my post). I was told this producer was the best in the region at producing rieslings, along with Dr. Frank, so I was excited. Also, it was $36, so a reasonable markup.

Let me get straight to it - I was disappointed. Americans like sweet things. Sweet, cloying, obnoxiously simple wines. This was anything BUT a dry riesling. And not that there's anything wrong with that - most German rieslings are slightly sweet. I expected some residual sugar, but to me, this sweetness was unbalanced. Adequate acidity in the wine, but it was more than overshadowed by the sugar. Other than that, some minerality, some tropical fruits, not a lot of complexity, I just don't see how this is the best Finger Lakes riesling. Cloying in the throat.

Don't get me wrong, it's a well made wine. It's just I don't see any regional typicity, not a lot of character. I can think of several rieslings we tasted on our last Niagara trip that easily are more memorable than this one.

The next bottle was a 2006 Flat Rock Cellars Riesling, VQA Twenty Mile Bench. This is their estate riesling, $17.35. As you know, I really love this producer, especially with their pinot noir. I've also tried their unoaked chardonnay, which was interesting. I tasted this riesling at the winery, and came away very impressed. I was hoping that it would show even better in the bottle.

This is still very young, and for me, the acidity levels in Niagara wines make them excellent candidates for aging. Would have loved to taste this wine a few years down the road, but couldn't wait!

On the nose, a lot of varietal characteristics - fragrant, grassy, petrol - everything you'd associate with riesling. So fresh on the palate, but with excellent weight and presence. Nice creaminess, but none of that obnoxious flabby quality you get with over-manipulated white wines. Just delightful. And the finish!! A long, crisp, dry finish, that cleanses your palate so nicely. A subtle sweetness that lingers, definitely makes you reach for another mouthful.

---

So, it should be pretty obvious which of the two wines I liked more. Niagara wines are much truer wines - true to their variety, true to the land and climate. There isn't over-manipulation, which I loathe. Just an honest interpretation of the fruit, in a style that isn't designed to be mainstream and bland. A uniquely made wine, that forces you to pay attention.

Of course, the Finger Lakes riesling has its good qualities as well - it's just that it's an ordinary wine. Its the same as any ordinary riesling produced in Australia, California, wherever. The future of New World riesling? Niagara, Ontario, Canada.

Just one more lot

Added one more lot of wines to my 2006 Bordeaux Futures orders. I know, I just can't help it. Damn, it's not even like I actually have any disposable income. Anyways, been looking at this estate for a long time, and very excited to have a couple more bottles coming in.



It was a lot of 2006 Ch. Chasse-Spleen, AC Moulis. Not a very well-known region of Bordeaux, but this estate has a reputation for high quality wines, and that's all that matters. Oh, and I saw a video of the owner somewhere. Very eccentric looking, but he looks like someone who understands fine wines.

Just a little hangover

The moment I cleaned my wine glasses and brushed my teeth last night, I could feel it. Shit, I feel kind of drunk. Not the kind where you want to puke everywhere - not yet. Just tipsy and getting very sleepy. Tried to sleep it off. Still a bit hungover right now. Trying to drink lots of water.

Wow...the wines we had last night were surprising. Great wines - a Mosel Saar Ruwer and a Rheingau. Both riesling kabinetts, and quite light - 8% and 11% alc. So how did I get so pissed? Don't know, maybe just out of practice.

What a boring life

I am so bored. No money, no action, nothing. I'm even running out of wine! I don't know how things can get any worse.

There's no more red wine in the house. Just one more bottle of 2006 Flat Rock Cellars Nadja's Vineyard Riesling, and a 2007 Ch. d'Aqueria, AC Tavel. And a lot of scotch and cognac. And about 1/4 bottle of that port left. Oh my goodness.

Some things to look forward to though. Next LCBO release has some of that Lailey pinot noir that I really love. And also, the Beijing Olympics are starting soon. I'm opening a Champagne to celebrate - a Chapuy Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs.

Anyways, that still doesn't make my life any more exciting. Oh my goodness, this is getting pathetic. I'm going downstairs to have a sandwich.

Decanter Magazine

I've always loved reading Decanter magazine. In general, I find British wine writers to be of a much higher quality than American. I just like their perspective on things. They never have to prove that they know what they're talking about, unlike Americans. They just write about the wine.

Anyways, subscribed earlier this month - it's pretty expensive, so that's why I was holding off. Maybe because they mail it from the UK? Two years. I bought the June issue, and the July is on newstands. However...I didn't know until today that my first issue won't be until September. So I'm going to have to buy the July and August at Chapters. I don't mind though. Just reading Michael Broadbent's piece is worth the price of the whole thing.

Wine-drinkers

I plan on drinking every single bottle of wine in my cellar. Every single bottle. I don't collect - I have neither the finances nor the foolishness to do so. To say you collect wine is such a disrespect. You drink wine, not display it as a showpiece.

Wine loses all its value as soon as you open the cork. It's just an agricultural product, after all. And there will always be another vintage, and another vintage after that. I keep wine to track its aging, and experience it in different stages of its maturation. I don't understand people who explicitly buy wine as an investment. Probably the same kind of prick that introduces themselves by their business school degrees.

Enjoy wine! It's for drinking. I love appreciating the colours, the aromas, the complexities of wine. And sometimes, I just love getting hammered off a good bottle. So stop analyzing it like a stock and stop treating it as such. If that's the way things are heading, with more and more people investing in wine instead of drinking, then we're f*cked.

Suzanne Fine Regional Cuisine

I have to talk about this restaurant we ate in at the Finger Lakes. It's called Suzanna Fine Regional Cuisine - country dishes, beautiful farmhouse dining room, friendly staff, and the most important, fresh local, seasonal foods.

I heard about this restaurant from a couple of places. It specializes in regional foods and produce. Whenever I visit a place, I always want to eat local foods. How else are you going to get to know a place until you eat food that's been grown and raised there?

It was an easy drive, and the restaurant looks over Seneca Lake. A beautiful farmhouse. Our server was such a sweetheart. For dinner, we ordered 2 salads and a corn soup - for entrees, a pork tenderloin, duck breast, and cod. For wine, a 2006 Hermann J. Weimer Riesling. Everything we ate was from the region, it was fresh, and it was in season. Perfect. I enjoyed the food. Not inexpensive though. Simple, country dishes, nothing fancy. And I mean, nothing fancy. The food was so fresh, the cuts were top quality. And that's all you can ask out of a restaurant. Very impressed. Really got a taste of the local produce. Interesting experience.

Here's a couple of pictures of the outside and the dining room. If you're in the area, make sure you visit.

Taxes and tasting in an uncivil manner

Writing about Shalestone got me worked up about something. I purchased 2 bottles of Shalestone wine - the Cabernet Franc of course, as well as the Merlot. The merlot was a bit too soft for me - pleasant but a little soft. My father wanted it, so we got it. Definitely would have prefered to get 2 bottles of cabernet franc, but I wasn't paying.

Anyways, I thought that we could bring 2 bottles back to Canada, no problem. Turns out its only duty free if you've been away for at least 48 hours. The wines cost $43 in total, but the customs duties were $28.53. How does that make sense? Punishing honest Canadian citizens just for buying some wine? A really negligible amount, if you think about it. It's not like I was bringing back 20 cases. Just 2 bottles, between 3 people. This is why all this talk about economic closeness between the two countries is absolute bullshit, because everyone just wants to make money, even if its off their own citizens.

What I was a bit disappointed about was that there were so many people visiting the wineries that you never are able to engage in a real dialogue with the staff. Its nothing more than a tasting bar - they pour you the wine, then they have to move on to the next group of people.

Unbelievable. I'm sure it'll be better after the summer tourist season passes, but it's such a different experience than being in Niagara. I'm not plugging for Niagara, but Ontario offers such a better experience. I'm leaving out the commentary about loud, obnoxious, boorish Americans, but you get the idea.

Shalestone Vineyards

When I was researching which wineries in the Finger Lakes I was going to visit, the name Shalestone came up quite a bit. It had the reputation as producing the best red wines in the region, so of course this was going to be my first stop. Quite wary of claims like this, but eager to taste and find out.

The winery is on a stretch of nice road parallel to Seneca Lake, on the east shore. The winemaker, Rob Thomas, was pouring, and he was a very personable guy. Really likes to get to know the people who come into the winery. And the flow of people coming in never stopped.

We tasted through all thes wines. The wine list is below. I can do without all the colourful descriptions, but it shows the personality of the winery.

The wines had a common character to them. They had had lovely, aromatic noses, with lots of character and varietal typicity. The were dense, very focussed wines, with a clean, long finish. Purity and silkiness, but with enough stiff structure to hold its hold up. Wonderfully made wines, really exceptional. I fell in love with the cabernet franc. Really, I don't think I've tasted a better cabernet franc outside of the Loire Valley. So rich, but not over-manipulated. The density and clarity of the texture is amazing. As yet, this is definitely the best cabernet franc in the New World.

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to taste the pinot noir. We did taste the pinot noir rose, but I wanted to try the red wine. And also, they didn't have a 100% syrah. Would have been interesting to compare it with the Lailey syrah.

Overall, Rob makes excellent wines. Focussed, honest wines, just like the winemaker. Brave and unapologetic about the fact that this is riesling country, and people don't really expect great red wine to come out of the region. That's why you have to keep an open mind about wine - you never know what to expect. As far as Bordeaux-style blends and cabernet, Shalestone is definitely one of the best. I can't stress that enough, how happy I am to have visited this winery and to have tasted Rob's wines. Just incredible wines. Everyone in Niagara who says they make great cabernets - you need to taste Shalestone wines, because this is the benchmark that EVERYONE should be aiming for.

The winery and production facility entrance:

Back from the Finger Lakes

Returned from the Finger Lakes today, one day ahead of schedule. Just wasn't really feeling the area, or the wines. No point in staying another night.

Not that I really dislike the place. It's just - something. It doesn't give me anything to be excited about. The place is like the wines - little to no character.

Drove all day today, about 500 km. Very tired. And to make things worse - we got taxed at customs. For the wine we bought back. A grand total of 2 bottles. TWO f*cking bottles! Unbelievable. Judging by how aggressively the Cdn government goes after its own citizens, they do a pretty f*cking shitty job at stopping actual felonies. I mean, if they went after real crimes like they go after taxing petty purchases, we'd be living in an exceptional country.

Anyways, I'm still hurting over the $28.53 in taxes and fines they made us pay. Will post up some pictures tomorrow. Don't plan on getting up until at least noon.

Not impressed...at all

I'm sitting in our hotel, in the Finger Lakes region. We visited a couple of wineries, tasted about 30 wines. Not that many, but enough to get an impression of the region. And I'm not impressed. With the exception of Shalestone Vineyards, the wineries here make flabby wine, for learning disabled drinkers.

Very happy with what I tasted at Shalestone. Not only was Rob friendly and genuine, he was honest. That's the most important thing you can ask for from an owner/winemaker. Honesty. And on top of that, he makes magnificent red wines. The cabernet franc was so impressive. Dense, focussed, tight and hard. Just delicious. As were all his wines, from his Bordeaux blends to his merlot. I had hoped to taste his pinot noir, but it wasn't available. Also, I would have wanted to try his syrah, if he made a 100% varietal. Just for comparison with the Lailey Syrah that we tasted last month.

Americans have a very different idea about wine than Canadians and Niagara winemakers. I don't want to call it flawed, but they just value different things - I think it's not the proper approach, but who am I to pass judgement? And another thing that really pisses me off... They insist on having you pay for tastings! It's so foreign to me, because Niagara wineries never ASK for payment. Even if I don't buy any wines, I feel like there's no obligation. I try to engage the people at the winery in dialogue about their wines, about their philosophy, and I never feel forced to buy wine. You feel that pressure in the Finger Lakes. It's a horrible feeling - especially when this rabid bitch chases you at the door to pay $4 for a tasting of wines, that were genuinely quite f*cking horrible.

I will post some pictures tomorrow. Really surprised by Shalestone, really grew attached to all their wines. Compelling, well-made, honest wines. And I have to post some pictures of the restaurant we had dinner at.

Anyways - at this point - I want to get out of here. This place jsut doesn't hold up to Niagara at all, in any way. No way. Any one of Thirty Bench's wines will knock these so called "top riesling estates" out. You're kidding me right? Feeding me this bullshit about how Finger Lakes makes world quality riesling? Give me a f*cking break.

The Finger Lakes

Just finished planning out a route for a road trip. I'm going up to the Finger Lakes, in New York State. Don't really know what to expect - to me, this is just another one of those cookie cutter tourist spots, like a cheap version of Niagara Falls without all the casinos. Wow, I probably offended some people saying that. Sorry.

Visiting some wineries, of course. Going to Shalestone Vineyards, Hermann J. Wiemer, Miles Wine Cellar and Attwater Estate. Don't know any of these places, or what wine they make. This list was made based on recommendations, so I hope they turn out to be nice.

Stuck in middle-aged tourism hell for an entire weekend.

Buying large format bottles

All the bottles of wine I purchase are standard, 75 cL bottles, because of space and financial restrictions. I'd really to start looking into larger format bottles, such as magnums (1.5 L), double magnums (3 L), or maybe even bigger. That's because they look impressive, and I do believe that they age better, under the right circumstances of course. Also, if you're looking to buy wine to commemorate a special occasion, I think large bottles are the way to go.

I was thinking this when I got an offer from LCBO to buy large format from Ch. Pontet Canet. This estate is a Cinquièmes Crus, from Pauillac. What was the only thing stopping me? Money, of course. It's always about money.




Definitely, in the future, I'll purchase large bottles. Just waiting for the right occasion, the right price, and of course, the right cellar conditions. And of course, lots of wine loving friends to share it with. After all - is anyone even physically capable of downing a magnum of wine, no matter how good, and still remember what it tastes like?

Are we alcoholics?

You know the single rationale I've heard the most about why I shouldn't get into wine? The argument that I hear constantly and has been most consistent? That I'll become an alcoholic.

First off, let me say, shut up. Honestly. There's several people who I'll take that kind of criticism from, but most people have this perception of me as some out of control binge drinker. So for those people, don't make judgements on me until you understand exactly what kind of person I am, and what wine really means to me.

It's like someone who's really into collecting stamps. They can spend countless hours and thousands of dollars buying up stamps, and the most people will say about them is, "Oh, they're really dedicated to their hobby. That's great." I spend the same effort on wine and the reaction I get is "David, you're liver is going to rot."

I don't buy that argument. First of all, I appreciate the wine - not the alcohol. Big difference. Alcohol is just a natural part of wine, but I don't derive any pleasure from getting piss drunk. Maybe a little from getting buzzed, but definitely not getting drunk. And come on - alcoholics get drunk off of cheap vodka. If I were going to get drunk off of wine everyday, I'd piss all of my money in 2 weeks.

So don't judge people if you don't really know what they're about. Learn about wine first, and then judge me. I'll tell you right now - the vast majority knows nothing about my hobby. It's like me criticizing a scientific paper. I might hate the guy who wrote it, but the material goes way over my head. What kind of dumbass would take me seriously?

My interest in wine is personal, and no one else's business. I don't go around telling you how you should spend your money or what hobby you should pursue, and I don't appreciate it when I get judged. If wine intimidates you, then stay away. Leave me alone. If I hear this shit again, I swear I'll lose my f*cking mind.

They're coming!

Got an email from LCBO that brightened up my day a little - and then I thought about it in closer detail. LCBO announced today that they're releasing their 2007 Bordeaux Futures catalogue soon. Very very exciting news.

So...that means I'm going to have to start saving up. Spend less. Drink a bit less. I need money!!!!!

Breaking shit

My friends will tell you that I buy a lot of wine glasses, as well as break a lot of them. Maybe that's the reason why I buy so many in the first place. It's frustrating to break a glass I really like, but I've learned to accept it as one of the hazards of my hobby.

Crystal is just too damn easy to break. I thought it was because of the stems, so I got a couple of Riedel's "O" series glasses. They're the ones with just the bowl, no stem. But.......my father still managed to shatter one of those, so that argument has been proven wrong.

Just recently, my mother broke one of my favourite glasses. It's a standard size bowl, tulip shaped. I love it because I drink it with everything - red wine, white wine, Champagne, port, eau-de-vie - everything. So now I only have 2 of them left, and no hands or lips but mine are going to touch it.

Is there any way to prevent this? I don't think so. Except maybe I should buy glasses by the dozen. Or I can just drink wine out of a bowl, like we did in 2nd year. We were so desperate.

Flat Rock Clone

When we were in Niagara, we had dinner at a place called On the Winery. It was a great place - simple, rustic foods, very fresh, and in season as well. The wine we ordered was quite interesting. It was the 2004 Flat Rock Cellars Clone 667 Pinot Noir.

I've seen these clone bottles at LCBO before. They were offered in a box of four, with four different clones of pinot noir. That's really interesting - I suppose they were experimenting with which clone worked best and decided to bottle for it, for fun. When you taste them side by side, they're just so different.

I'm quite familiar with Flat Rock's estate pinot noir, so I was looking forward to this wine. It's much more herbaceous, and has an interesting minerality to the wine. But a problem I'm noticing in many of these wines, is that they're quite soft. This doesn't apply to just Flat Rock, I noticed it with a 2004 Malivoire Pinot Noir as well. These aren't very old wines, but are softening up already. Can't say for certain if this is really the case - there's too many variables, like storage conditions, my taste buds........yes, maybe it's just me.


This bottle was interesting. I can imagine this being one of the wines the blend to make their estate pinot noir with. Fascinating.

2007 Bordeaux En Primeur

There's been a lot of industry talk about the 2007 Bordeaux vintage. A lot of American writers have written the vintage off. Even the Asians aren't a sure bet to buy. So hopefully, that'll translate into lower prices, because I feel like we've been spanked around by the 2005 and 2006 prices.

But the power is all up to the Bordeaux estates. We really don't have a say, because I'm sure there'll always be a market for top end Bordeaux, regardless of price. It's getting quite ridiculous - I still can't wrap my head around the idea of a triple digit bottle of wine. I mean...it's a perishable drink!

I will be so happy if prices went down. I'm hoping for at least a decrease of 30%. The vast majority of people are ignorant, and will run away as soon as they read about critics panning the vintage. That's what I'm hoping for. Come on, how many of these people can really distinguish the difference between vintages anyways? Give me a break. You're not going to buy because Wine Spectator says it's been a bad year?

If that's the case, and prices are down, it'll be good - for me. A lot of more reasonably priced wines I can buy. I have a list of wines I want to look at. It'll also be a good time to look at some of the more top level producers. After all, this is a vintage to drink while my 2005 and 2006s mature.

My wish list:

Ch. La Lagune
Ch. L'Arrosee
Ch. Chasse Spleen
Ch. Ducru Beaucaillou
Ch. Canon la Gaffeliere
Ch. Smith Haut Laffite
Ch. Suduiraut

I also want to take a look at some of the dry white wines. But mainly these. So, I'll be watching for the prices very carefully. I'll keep you updated.

Assembling verticals

I have loyalty. It's a trait that I really admire, and one that I really try to adhere to. So it goes without saying that there are several wine producers that I'm loyal to, and whose wines I'll keep trying to buy.

Currently, there are 4 estates whose wines I'm buying with every release. Two are from Bordeaux, the third is from Champagne, and the fourth is a Rioja.

The oldest bottle of claret I've drank is a 1986 Ch. La Lagune, AC Haut Medoc, Troisieme Cru. I've always felt a connection to this estate. So far, I have the 2004, 2005, and 2006 vintages. The 2006 I have yet to receive, as I bought them last year as futures. Regardless of price, I'll be buying the 2007 en primeur. Hopefully, I'll be able to build a nice vertical.

From the right bank, I really love Ch. L'Arrosee. I've drank the 1992 vintage, which was quite spectacular. So elegant. I have in my cellar the 2003, 2005, and 2006 vintages. I'm waiting for LCBO to release the 2004 vintage and I'll also be purchasing the 2007 en primeur.

I've always been trying to pick up every vintage bottle of Pol Roger Champagne. I have the 1996 and 1999. It's something about Champagne that really excites me. Maybe it's the bubbles, but it's also the intensity and focus of the wines. It just embodies pleasure and celebration.

Rioja has always been one of my favourite red wine regions outside of Bordeaux. A producer I've been following is Bodegas Lan. I have the 1999 Reserva, the 2000 Gran Reserva, and the 2001 Reserva. Obviously, it'd be ideal if every vintage was a Gran Reserva, but it's just not the case. They make elegant wines, which I think age wonderfully.

So there you have it. Maybe as I go on, I'll find other producers that I really love, but for now, these are the ones that I'll be working on.