Best of
Since there are about 500 posts on this blog, readers might find helpful a list of what I consider among my best/most informative pieces to date. The following list includes the posts that have received the most hits and on which I receive the most comments from others in the wine world. The categories are Great Producers/Winemakers; Wine Regions; Criticism and Opinion; Introductions to Wine & Wine Enjoyment; and Memorable Wines and Meals.
- I. Great Producers/Winemakers
- Cheval Blanc
Cheval Blanc Vertical Dinner: 1970-2004 (4/3/2010) - Marco de Bartoli
Marsala Master and Sicilian Icon Marco De Bartoli (6/25-26/11) - D’Oliveiras
17 D’Oliveiras Vintage Madeiras with Luis D’Oliveira (5/21/10) - John Kongsgaard
Lunch with John and Maggie Kongsgaard (7/17/04) - Leacock Family (Madeira)
Leacock Family Madeira Tasting (6/6/09) - Marchesi di Grésy
Stunning Barbarescos: Marchesi di Grésy’s Martinenga (1/25/12) - Mount Eden/Jeffrey Patterson
Mount Eden Retrospective with winemaker Jeffrey Patterson (6/14/2008) - Petrus
Petrus 1921 – 1966, all the great years, in Magnum (9/28/03) - Produttori del Barbaresco
Produttori del Barbaresco Rabajà Reserva Vertical: 1967-2005 (6/2/11) - Quinta do Noval
Visit to Quinta do Noval, with vertical of Nacional (5/18/10) - Rhys
Tour of Rhys Vineyards’s New Cave with Kevin Harvey (11/11/10)
Tour of Rhys Vineyards with Kevin Harvey (5/2/08) - Ridge
Ridge Monte Bello Vertical Blindtasted 1977-2010 (6/17/11)
Ridge Lytton Springs Bloggers’ Tasting: 10 vintages of Lytton Springs plus small format Monte Bello (9/26/10) - Small Vines
High Density Planting: Visit with Paul Sloan of Small Vines Wines (7/31/11)
II. Wine Regions
- Argentina
Argentine and Chilean Wines assessed: current releases and other thoughts (6/22/11) - California
- Dry Creek Valley
Visit to Dry Creek Valley Part I: A Tale of Generations (8/15/11)
Visit to Dry Creek Valley Part II: Organic and Fish Friendly Farming (8/15/11)
Visit to Dry Creek Valley Part III: Northern DCV and Rockpile Ridge Vineyard (8/15/11) - Marin
Marin County AVA: tiny but growing source for delicate, minerally Pinot Noir (6/11/11) - Santa Lucia Highlands
Santa Lucia Highlands Tasting: Pinot Noir and Chardonnay Country (9/20/11) - Sta. Rita Hills
Sta. Rita Hills AVA 10 Year Anniversary Trade Tasting: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah (2/28/11)
- Dry Creek Valley
- Chile
Argentine and Chilean Wines assessed: current releases and other thoughts (6/22/11) - Croatia
Croatian Blindtasting: Plavac Malis and Croatia’s first Zinfandel bottling (3/28/11) - Eastern Europe
Intriguing Wine Exotica: Eastern European and Balkans New Releases (2/25/11) - France
- Beaujolais
More 2009 Beaujolais: a dozen blindtasted (1/4/11) - Burgundy
Full Monty Dinner: Montrachet & Le Montrachet (9/18/09) - Champagne
All-Champagne Euro Lunch: Clos des Goisses, Salon (2/27/11) - Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Harry Karis visit pt. II: Old Châteauneuf-du-Papes from his cellar (2/4/11) - Jura
The Mellowness Inducing Wines of the Jura (6/12/11)
- Beaujolais
- Greece
Wines of Greece Seminar and Tasting (4/23/07) - Italy
- Portugal
- Spain
- Virginia
Virginia Wine: Serious Winemaking Overcoming Serious Challenges (8/3/11)
III. Criticism and Opinion
- Aesthetics
My Wine Aesthetic (4/20/10) - Bloggers Conference
2011 Wine Bloggers Conference: Sponsor Programming Heavy, Relevant Content Light (7/25/11) - Robert Parker
Liquid Sex? Retrospective blindtasting of Parker Aussie favorite Oliverhill (3/14/11)
Robert Parker is a reeking pile of pus (4/29/10) - Stems and Pinot Noir
Curse of the Stems: Domaine de L’Arlot tasting (7/20/10)
J’Accuse: Criminal Stem Inclusion Levels in 2009 Bouchard Red Burgundies (8/17/11) - Tasting Notes
The Wine Tasting Note: Its Role and Value (8/7/11) - Traveling Consultants
Long Shadows Vintners and the phenomenon of big name, long-distance joint venturing (9/30/11) - Wine Competitions
Why I am Dubious of Wine Competitions: Medals for Everybody (10/12/11) - Wine Marketing
New Cult Wines, by winemaker Heidi Barrett? (10/29/10)
IV. Introductions to Wine & Wine Enjoyment
- Advice
- Grapes
- Cabernet Sauvignon: A Question of Style (1/4/12)
- Minerality, Tropical Fruit or Butter? The Styles of Chardonnay (12/28/11)
- The Many Moods of Pinot Noir (1/10/12)
- Moscato Madness: Identifying the Good Stuff (2/8/12)
- Syrah: The Rodney Dangerfield of Wine (1/24/12)
- Zinfandel Styles: Sublime to Ridiculous (2/1/12)
V. Memorable Wines and Meals
- Adventures in Wine Pairing Part I: Haute Cuisine by Chef Dan (4/30/2010)
- Alinea Restaurant Wine Pairings (5/14/09)
- 40th Anniversary of Saturday Wine Lunch Group (7/10/04)
- Great 1950s Cabernet from California’s Big Four: Beaulieu, Charles Krug, Inglenook & Louis Martini (10/15/11)
- Memorable Wines to Celebrate the New Year in the South of France (12/26/07-1/3/08)
- Most Memorable Meal of 2010: Manresa Restaurant (11/21/10)
- My Top 15 Wines in 2011 (12/30/11)




















Hi Richard: Best of luck! Hope you win both catagories!!!!!!!!
Thank you Dotty! It’s wonderful to hear from you.