In article <21f4q3pvttk86nokguddleqi4hhuhus89l@4ax.com>,
Zane sansnetcom.com> wrote:

I saw that but wasn't sure that Smooth was a retailer.

Salut/Hi Lawrence Leichtman,

le/on Wed, 30 Jan 2008 17:53:20 -0500, tu disais/you said:-

Obviously I can't be aby help over where you can get swiss wines in the
States, or how much you would have to pay for them. However, I was hugely
impressed with some Merlots from Tessin (Ticino) and if you do some Googling
around you might find a delight or two.

Another little known Swiss Grape variety is the Petite Arvine, and there's a
splendid botrytised wine made from it - Mike T might have met the lady last
week, and be able to help with the names. She's part of Sapros, I think.
All the best
Ian
Suffering from severe electile dysfunction.

Went by Binny's a few days ago and asked a sales rep who I'm familiar
with for some advice in the Rhone section. I was looking for an
inexpensive Cotes du Rhone that had the garrigue/peppery character of
a Chateauneuf, so he pointed me to a few wines from the village
Cairanne, saying it was like another Vacqueyras or Gigondas - just not
priced as such, as it was still a CdR Village appelation.

I ended up popping this yesterday with alongside some Italian sausage
roasted in peppers and tomatoes over pasta - a 2005 Domaine des Grands
Bois Cotes du Rhone Village Cairanne Cuvee Maximilien.

15 bucks, and it drinks like a traditional (if slightly light)
Chateauneuf. Absolutely stunning nose loaded with the garrigue/
Provencal herbs flavour I love, lots of pepper and some red fruits,
leather and floral notes. Not quite as complex or thrilling on the
palate, but still very pleasant with medium body weight, lots more
peppery red fruits, chewy tannins and a medium length finish. Great
value, great pairing with the food and now I need to look up some more
wines from this area. Any recommendations, if someone else is also a
fan of these?

Cheers,

In article
q39g2000hsf.googlegroups.com>,
cwdjrxyz cwdjr.info> wrote:

Napa, California
PRESS RELEASE

Contact: Brenda
Knight
DRAFT FINAL
707-319-4773

JV Wine and Spirits celebrates Black History Month

JV Wine and Spirits is overjoyed to welcome the Association of African
American Vintners as their featured wine tastings throughout Black
History month. Each Friday night in February, from 5:00 p.m.-7:00
p.m., there will be wine tasting and conversations with the African
American Vintners. The Association of African American Vintners is an
organization whose mission is to increase the quality of wine
communications to all.

Stephen Sterling is the current president of the organization and will
open on February 1, 2008 featuring wines from Esterlina Vineyards and
Winery. "Our goal for 2008 is to get the best kept secret out. There
are African American Vintners producing excellent wines".

On Jan 31, 6:30�am, "Nils Gustaf Lindgren"
wrote:

Nils,
I find that the Beringer Founders Estate bears little resemblence
to good Zinfandel. I'm not sure what might be available in your part
of the world but you might look for Rosenblum, Ridge or Ravenswood.

On Thu, 31 Jan 2008 11:30:43 GMT, "Nils Gustaf Lindgren"
wrote:

My sympathy goes out to you. Being denied the experience of good
zinfandels is a terrible burden to bear. One of the prices to be paid
when we let government into the marketplace...

I've enjoyed Beringer Founders Estate varietals in the past, and like
Dale W. found them to be good if slightly on the over-blown,
Yellowtail/Little Penguin/Rex Goliath style of cheap grocery store
wines. That's not as bad as it sounds on first reading, they've been
at my dinner table on many an evening.

On Jan 31, 6:30�am, "Nils Gustaf Lindgren"
wrote:

Don't remember having the Zin, but have had other grapes from Beringer
Founders Estate. General sense is slightly sweet mass market wines, I
think they retail for about $8 here.

SOBER met last night at Michael's home. Michael did a bang up job on
his dinner, with the theme "The Blind Leading the Blind."

We started with a couple of non-blind whites:

2002 Latour Meursault
Round, ripe, peachy. Nice but not intriguing. B

2004 Sylvain Langoureau " Les Perclos" Chassagne-Montrachet
Never heard of this producer before, but will keep an eye out now.
Crisp yet solid Chassagne, pear and earth tones. B+

First course was French onion soup, and the blind wines started:

Wine #1
Some oak, round, a bit of ripe pear and some hazelnut. I actually am
thinking white Bordeaux SB/sem blend from a hot year, but I'm wrong.
It's Burg- 2003 Henri Boillot "Les Genevrieres" Meursault 1er. B

Wine #2
Crisp, bright, citrusy, layers of butterscotch and spice. 2004
Carillon "Les Champs Gains" Puligny-Montrachet 1er. B+/A-

Next course was salmon with a horseradish beurre blanc and asparagus.
Mike was worried re the horseradish and the wine, but it was fine.

After posting the ther day, I had a chance to try the Sepp Gr