2006 Shafer Red Shoulders Ranch Chard

2000 Dehlinger Estate Cabernet - maturing nicely but there is some green flavors here

2001 Dehlinger Estate Pinot noir - really drinking well and definately ready

1999 Pierre Gimonnet Champagne Brut Blanc de Blancs Gastronome
2002 Domaine Charles Koehly Riesling Altenberg de Bergheim
2005 Koehly Gewürztraminer Gloeckelberg
1991 Dalla Valle Maya
1985 Château Lynch-Bages
1986 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande
1961 Château Léoville Las Cases
1959 Château Léoville Las Cases

NV Taittinger La Francaise

03 KB Kanzler Vin Sonoma Coast Pinot

2004 Turnbull Cabernet

2004 Peter Michael "Belle Cote" Chardonnay at opening day of our favorite outdoor BYO lobster pound. A bucket of steamers, a 2 1/2 lb lobster and a terrific wine from my cellar overlooking the sailboats on the Sound. I can't think of a reason not to do this once a week.

2005 Pax Syrah Walker Vine Hill
2005 Hartley-Ostini Hitching Post Pinot Noir Highliner

2005 Kistler Chardonnay Vine Hill
1994 Rochioli Chardonnay
1992 Togni Cabernet Sauvignon
2001 Harlan Maiden
Trio of Grand Marnier

With Barbara, Randy and Randy at the Plumed Horse in Saratoga, CA. The wines were great - even the Togni opened nicely after sitting in the glass a while. The food less so ... Nothing bad, but somewhat uneven with some combinations that didn't work well. For example, a special tuna carpacchio starter was under-seasoned and bland - even the sliced Fresno chile didn't help. On the other hand, my venison was really nice. The remodeled restaurant was beautiful, with an impressive show cellar as one dining room wall; the service was generally excellent and very wine friendly - although corkage was $35 a bottle. I'd go back, in the hopes the food would be more consistantly good.

2005 Castle Rock Napa Valley Merlot - Surprisingly decent, Vine 86.

Looking for new QPR's, bought a bunch of sub $15 bottles yesterday. And any Napa red priced at $9.00 always merits some attention!

2005 Azienda Agricola Ronchi di Giancarlo Rocca Barbera d'Alba Terté - very average Barbera

Thanks - it was a great trip - 111 days - 30 countries - 50,000 miles traveled - not much wine but we will make up for that shortly.

Pete, that is a heck of a trip. Good to have you back and please post some highlights of your trip if you get a chance.

Pete, welcome back! Sounds like lots of fun!

2006 Eyrie Pinot Gris - This is the best Oregon Pinot Gris I've had in some time - Note posted
2002 Cameron Pinot Noir Abbey Ridge

And?  I have this one in the hopper and I'm wondering if I should still hold onto it...

2006 Moshin Vineyards Pinot Russian River Valley
2006 Trevor Jones Virgin Chardonnay
2005 Bon Cap Syrah

Last night: 2006 August West Pinot Noir, Graham Vineyard - outstanding, delicate, beautifully balanced.

1996 Vincent Arroyo Napa Valley Petite Sirah - nice wine - tasting note posted.

2004 Quilceda Creek Red Table Wine - decant, decant, decant. Much better after 3 hours.... with bone-in rib eyes (at $4.99/lb!!!!), I was in heaven