Perrier-Jouet NV

Color: bright straw with beautiful bubbles

Nose: honeysuckle, brioche, stewed yellow apple, citrus

Palate: honey, brioche, candied apple, citrus & marzipan. Very long citrusy & chalky finish.

Alcohol: 12%

Food Pairing: raw or fried oysters, soft French cheese, lobster with drawn butter, crème fraiche w/ caviar, creamed soup

Purchased from: Rye Brook, NY

Price: $15

Verdict: Love it! Elegant & refined.

Freestone Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast 2007

Color: dark ruby

Nose: dark cherry, mocha, orange peel

Palate: intense upfront dark fruit & mocha with a noticeable ashy undertone. Well rounded. Bright and long finish w/ grippy tannin.

Alcohol: 13.5%

Purchased from: Freestone winery directly

Verdict: very intense & ripe fruit, well balanced. However, it seemed to lack some finesse and the restraint that some Oregon Pinot Noirs, e.g. Domaine Drouhin, have.

Domaine de la Janasse Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes 2007

Color: opaque ruby

Nose: dried black fruit, cinnamon, baking spices, Earth, chocolate

Palate: up front black cherry & prune. Good acidity. Finished with crushed rocks & grippy tannin. Complex & refined yet showed a lot of concentration.

Alcohol: 15.5%

Food Pairing: winter stews, games, charcuterie

Tasted at: Zachys, NY

Price: $450 ($360 on sale this week). That's right, it's not a typo.

Noteworthy: old vines. WA rated 100 points.

Verdict: Excellent juice!

Silver Oak Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2000

Color: opaque ruby with long legs

Nose: dark chocolate, cigar box, cassis, sandlewood

Palate: opulent, candied black fruit, dark chocolate, a hint of tobacco, good minerality w/ grippy tannin. Still young, could use another 10 years in the cellar.

Alcohol: 12.8%

Food Pairing: expresso rubbed steak

Purchased from: Silver Oak (vertical vintage)

Verdict: WOW! I think I'm in love.

I opened the bottle because Robert Parker's WA rated 2000 a poor vintage for Calif Cabs, I wonder what other vintages of this wine would taste like.

Cascina Feipu dei Massaretti Pigato 2008

Color: bright gold, oily

Nose: sage/oregano, citrus, stone fruit, pinenuts

Palate: full body. Well integrated stone fruit, ash, glycerin/lemon oil, herbs & pinenuts. Beautiful finish. Complex.

Alcohol: 13%

Food Pairing: butternut squash ravioli with sage butter, pasta w/ pesto sauce

Purchased from: Astor Wines, NY

Price: $22.99

Noteworthy: made from 80 year old vines

Verdict: Lovely! Perfect wine for the fall with some soft cheeses or hearty dishes.

Canaletto Pinot Noir 2006

Color: bright red

Nose: soft, inviting raspberry & pomegranite with a subtle hint of milk chocolate & orange zest.

Palate: bright red fruit, orange peel and high acidity dominated the palate. Ended with a very very long, soft, & elegant finish.

Tasted at: Todd English's Tuscany in Mohegan Sun

Price: $9 per glass

Verdict: A great find! Very easy going and enjoyable, just like a boy next door.

2004 Luigi Baudana Barolo Cerretta

Color: opaque red with brownish hue

Nose: inviting nose of rose, tart, dark cherry, cocoa, tobacco & tea. Very intense & orgasmic.

Palate: Beautiful black cherry, chocolate, candied fruit, sandalwood and tart. Velvety texture with integrated tannin. Ended with a long chalky finish. I've never had any Barolo this intense & complex. Absolutely delicious!

Tasted at: New Canaan, CT

Noteworthy: single vineyard -> Cerretta

Verdict: Pio Cesare, move over.  This is one of the best wines I've tasted in 2010.