Happy New Year!

From our house to yours, we wish you the best in 2009! Once of my New Years resolutions this year is to keep up with this BLOG more than I have, but the end of the year was a busy year for us, with lots of travels, and lots of Air Force stuff going on. That being said, look for great things in 2009! As the ball has started to drop, we wish you a Happy New Year! Cheers!

2000 Château Lascombes

Definitely think this wine is in a shut down phase right now, and wish we would have waited. Not much of anything even after a 2 plus hour decant. Would hold for another 5 years... formal notes to come, but kind of disappointing unfortunately.

2005 Château Bois Redon

Gorgeous nose, but lacking in the fruit department. Might get better with time, but I think it's just your typical budget, mass produced Bordeaux...formal notes to come, and ok starter for New Years Eve before heading onto the good stuff. 80 points. Formal notes maybe...not really worth writing about.

2004 Taz Pinot Noir Santa Barbara County

This wine got much better with air, and was a pleasure to drink, but gave me a terrible headache which I found odd as I have never experienced this with Taz, or any wine or that matter. Formal notes to come, but worthy of 87 points.

2007 Seghesio Family Vineyards Zinfandel Sonoma County

This wine will definitely benefit from some more time in the bottle. Picked up today locally about hearing all the rants and raves about this wine. Got it home, had it in the Avanti for a few hours, then decanted through the Vinturi, into a decanter and let it sit for a good hour and a half before consuming. Beautiful nose of raspberry, blackberry, blueberry, and spice. There is still a bit of alcohol on the nose here as well, but I think that this will integrate nicely with 6 months to a year in the bottle. On the palate, a nice medium body, with hints of jammy blackberry and cherry. This some alcohol on the palate, and this wine is a bit hot, even after decanting. Tannins and spice prevalent on the palate, and more heat on the finish. Again, I think that time in the bottle is going to be everything with this wine. Still have 3 more in the cellar, and will pick some more up as it is just under $18 a bottle locally. Hell of a QPR, and looking forward to picking up a case of these soon! 88 points now, but will go well over 90 with some time in the bottle. Cheers! (

2000 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon

Another great wine tonight with friends, this wine is still very young in the bottle, even after being decanted for an hour and a half-2 hours. This wine has a very deep, dark garnet color in the glass. On the nose, some dark blue and black fruits: blackberry, blueberry, black cherry, vanilla, coffee, and a whole lot of cigar box. This wine seemed very floral on the nose. On the palate, the first glass was very tannic, but this settled out very nicely with some time in the glass. Again, this wine is still very young, and has many years left in my opinion. More blackberry and black cherry on the palate, and other identifiable dark fruits. Nice medium length, very pleasant finish. This wine was even better on day 2! I would love to have a few of these to try every 2 years or so to see how this wine is going to evolve. This is definitely a winner, and another possible runner up for my wine of the year! 95 points! Thanks for bringing this "Dennis" and Denise!

1997 Kistler Pinot Noir Kistler Vineyard

I know, it has been forever since I have put an update on here. Sorry, super busy as of late, but these wines deserve some notes! Opened with friends tonight and this wine was gorgeous. I cannot possibly imagine this wine getting any better at this point, but I assume anything is possible. Great dark ruby in the glass, showing some nice age and maturity.Gorgeous nose of cherry and strawberries, with a tad of earth. This nose on this wine was incredible, yet in a subdued, Burgundian style. On the palate, this was definitely not your new world, fruit forward pinot noir. Very nice strawberry, cherry, with hints of plum and spice, with a hint of black cherry and cola. Nice 30 second plus, silky smooth and creamy finish! Incredible wine, and right there for my runner up for my wine of the year! 94 points....Cheers.