Hmm, seems the seriously big wine thread has become the seriously small, quiet and infrequently used wine thread.
Way to keep it running Ken!

Ya, this thread's been dead a while.

Anyone else have a noteworthy bottle recently, other than Ken?

I had a Pinot the other day that was unusually good. It has some of the typical cherry notes you find in pinot, but it also came with a very crisp, clean and well rounded berry notes. Great pallet, long finish.

09 Failla Pinot Noir, Keefer Ranch Vineyard.

I liked it so much I got on their mailing list and ordered a mixed case. Come to find out, the owner and winemaker is the wine maker for Turley. No wonder I liked it so much.

For various reasons our wine drinking has been down lately, barely going through a bottle a month.
Of that, we haven't had anything new, mostly 'had befores' good bottles (the wines we keep as 'house' stock).

I have been thinking about taking some certification courses though.
https://www.internationalsommelier.com/

I've just been sipping on some sweet cherry wine that I buy from the local grocery store. Hic...

That sounds interesting Chess... I think you should do it and report back.

In a couple weeks we'll be spending about ten days in Wa and Or. I like Pinot's (predominant Or varietal) but not enough to drink them for several days, so we are going to include a few breweries and a couple rounds of golf to mix it up a bit.

I need to get of list of micro breweries from Tom - In the BEER thread though!

Here are some wines we recently enjoyed with friends:

Storr's Santa Cruz Mountains Petit Syrah (CA - 2005). Really interesting tobacco notes. Very complex. Delicious.

Northstar Stella Maris red blend (WA - 2007). I don't usually like blends very much, but this was exquisite. Small winery. Do buy.

Trapiche Broquel Malbec (Argentina - 2008). I like good Malbecs, and this one was REALLY good.

See ya in the beer thread, Mike. Let me know locations. PM me with dates - would love it if we could get together.

Adding to the list of recently opened, must-get-through-these- before-they-pass-their-prime, wines:

Last weekend we cracked a 1999 Robert Mondavi Cabernet sauvignon, Napa Valley (unfiltered). This wine and 2 others (a 2000 and a 2001) have been cellared for about 7 years since we bought them.

I wasn't sure this one was going to be past prime but actually, it has matured nicely and is ready to drink, hold no more than a few months if you own one IMO.

http://store.robertmondavi.com/assets/client/File/RMW_1999_Reserve_Cabernet_Sauvignon.pdf

Merciful heaven there's no way this gorgeous thread can die!

Tonight's tasting:

Beringer Knight's Valley Cabernet sauvignon 2001 .

I have to say the LCBO continues to do a great job with their vintages section. They have taken to identifying more wines that have been highly rated by various tasters\magazines.

So far I have not gone wrong choosing based on the rating.

I plan to head down to Niagara for some tasting over Christmas. I'll have to remember to post my thoughts.

HICCUP... please do so Fred, that will be worth waiting for I'm sure.