2005 Excellence IX

**2005 Excellence IX (France, Bordeaux, Côtes de Blaye, Premières Côtes de Blaye)** The nose had black currant and lavender, a little cow manure, and some cherry and vanilla at the end. The palate was soft, and had earth, cherry, black currant, and a touch of oak on the finish. (89 pts.)

2006 Roar Syrah Garys' Vineyard

**2006 Roar Syrah Garys' Vineyard (USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands)** The nose had tar and graphite, black currant and blueberry, and a hint of dirt and floral notes at the end. The palate was rich and smooth, and had black currant, pencil lead, tar, dirt, and a nice blueberry finish. (92 pts.)

2006 Roar Pinot Noir Pisoni Vineyard

**2006 Roar Pinot Noir Pisoni Vineyard (USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands)** The nose had herb covered cherries, cranberry, rhubarb, and a hint of almond milk at the end. The palate was soft, and had cherry, earth, rhubarb, and a cranberry and nut finish. (93 pts.)

Varietals of the Rhone & the "Rhone Rangers"

Here are the [wines](http://www.cellartracker.com/event.asp?iEvent=6941) I tasted yesterday:

* **2005 Domaine Giraud Châteauneuf-du-Pape Tradition - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape** The nose had blackberry, licorice, and a little vanilla. The palate had tea, licorice, blackberry, and some vanilla on the finish. (92 pts.)
* **2006 Ferraton Père & Fils Crozes-Hermitage La Matinière - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Crozes-Hermitage** The nose had metal, floral notes, cherry, and black currant. The palate was soft, and had black currant, lavender, iron, and a cherry finish. (91 pts.)
* **2004 Domaine Isabel Ferrando Châteauneuf-du-Pape Colombis - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape** The nose had raspberry, licorice, and sea shells. The palate was soft, and had soy, raspberry, spice, and an earthy finish. (91 pts.)
* **2007 Ferraton Père & Fils Côtes du Rhône Villages Plan de Dieu - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône Villages Plan de Dieu** The nose had black currant, floral notes, licorice, and nutmeg. The palate was silky, and had black currant, spice, earth, and licorice. (90 pts.)
* **2007 Delas Frères Côtes du Rhône Saint-Esprit - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône** The nose had blackberry, plum, earth, and spice. The palate had earth, spice, blackberry, and cherry. (90 pts.)
* **2006 Domaine Jean-Louis Chave St. Joseph Offerus - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, St. Joseph** The nose had cherry, graphite, raspberry, and earth. The palate had cherry, raspberry, earth, and pencil lead. (94 pts.)
* **2006 Saxum James Berry Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles** The nose had black currant, stone, licorice, and floral notes. The palate was soft, and had licorice, black currant, spice, floral notes, and some minerality on the finish. (93 pts.)

2005 Warnke Cellars Merlot

**2005 Warnke Cellars Merlot (USA, California, Napa Valley)** The nose had cherry and chocolate, a little earth, and a hint of vanilla at the end. The palate was very soft, and had chocolate, cherry, earth, spice, and a slight oak finish. (88 pts.)

2007 Dain Wines Pinot Noir American Beauty Amber Ridge Vineyard

**2007 Dain Wines Pinot Noir American Beauty Amber Ridge Vineyard (USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley)** The nose had cherry, nutmeg, cinnamon, and a nice floral finish. The palate was soft, with good acidity, and had cherry and spice. (90 pts.)

Sweetheart Tasting (Champagne and Dessert Wines)

Here are the [wines](http://www.cellartracker.com/event.asp?iEvent=6898) I tasted yesterday:

* **N.V. Emilio Lustau Jerez-Xérès-Sherry Solera Reserva Sherry - Spain, Andalucía, Jerez-Xérès-Sherry** The nose had sweet raisins and dirt. The palate had sweet raisins and a good earthy finish. (95 pts.)
* **2005 Château d'Arche - France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes** The nose had apple pastry and lemon. The palate was sweet and tart, and had apple, minerals, and lemon. (93 pts.)
* **N.V. Graham Porto Six Grapes - Portugal, Douro, Porto** The nose had chocolate, cherry, and plum. The palate had dark chocolate, plum, and cherry. (92 pts.)
* **N.V. Henriot Champagne Brut Rosé - France, Champagne** The nose had apple pie, and cake spice. The palate had stone, apple, nutmeg, and cinnamon. (90 pts.)
* **2004 Luigi Bosca Extra Brut - Argentina, Mendoza, Lujan de Cuyo** The nose had apple, pear, and stone. The palate was creamy, and had citrus, pear, and stone. (88 pts.)
* **2003 Dow Porto Vintage - Portugal, Douro, Porto** The nose had chocolate, cherry, oak, spice, floral notes, and blackberry. The palate had blackberry, oak, spice, cherry, and a floral finish. (95 pts.)
* **2002 Pierre Gimonnet Champagne Fleuron Brut 1er Cru Blanc de Blancs - France, Champagne** The nose had yeast, citrus, and stone. The palate had toast, minerals, apple, and lime. (92 pts.)

2006 Carlisle Syrah Dry Creek Valley

**2006 Carlisle Syrah Dry Creek Valley (USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley)** The nose had blackberry and tar, some cherry and blueberry, and a little earth and nutmeg. The palate was rich and smooth, and had blackberry, cherry, tar, baking spice, and a nice earth and blueberry finish. (91 pts.)

The Honeymoon Is Over

[What's changed and what hasn't changed](http://socialistworker.org/2009/02/10/whats-changed-and-what-hasnt).

>The result is a series of half-measures and ineffectual policies that, as Krugman argued, may end up making the problems worse.

2006 Kanzler Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

**2006 Kanzler Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast (USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast)** The nose had cherry and raspberry, a little forest floor, and a touch of root beer. The palate was soft and juicy, and had raspberry, root beer, earth, and a nice cherry finish. (91 pts.)

2005 X Winery Merlot

**2005 X Winery Merlot (USA, California, Napa Valley)** The nose had black currant and earth, a litlle chocolate and spice, and some cherry at the end. The palate was smooth, and had chocolate and black currant, and a finish of cherry and earth. (1 view)

"Hearty Reds" Cabernet, Merlot, and Syrah

Here are the [wines](http://www.cellartracker.com/event.asp?iEvent=6852) I tasted yesterday:

* **2005 Novy Family Wines Syrah Garys' Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands** The nose had sage, smoke, blackberry, pencil lead, and raspberry. The palate had smoke, blackberry, raspberry, graphite, and earth. (92 pts.)
* **2006 Amavi Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley** The nose had cloves, cinnamon, rasp, and black currant. The palate had black currant, raspberry, cloves, and an earthy finish. (91 pts.)
* **2005 Henry's Drive Shiraz Dead Letter Office - Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Padthaway** The nose had earth, smoke, blueberry, and game. The palate had smoke, earth, blueberry, and graphite. (90 pts.)
* **2005 Volker Eisele Family Estate Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley** The nose had smoke, earth, cherry, and raspberry. The palate had blackberry, cherry, spice, and earth. (90 pts.)
* **2005 Chateau Ste. Michelle Merlot Ethos - USA, Washington** The nose had smoke, earth, cherry, and blackberry. The palate had blackberry jam, earth, smoke, and a cherry finish. (90 pts.)
* **2005 Novy Family Wines Syrah Christensen Family Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley** The nose had blackberry, smoke, earth, raspberry, and pencil lead. The palate was soft, and had pepper, black currant, and licorice. (90 pts.)
* **2005 Pax Syrah Griffin's Lair - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast** The nose had bacon, smoke, pencil lead, blackberry, and cassis. The palate had blackberry, cassis, smoke, graphite, and meat. (94 pts.)
* **2005 Long Shadows Wineries Pedestal - USA, Washington, Columbia Valley** The nose had clove and spice, cherry, and black currant. The palate was soft, and had spice, graphite, toasted oak, and currants. (94 pts.)

2006 Longhop Shiraz

**2006 Longhop Shiraz (Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Adelaide Plains)** The nose had blackberry jam and pepper, a little grilled meat, and some earth. The palate was rich and thick, and had blackberry, pepper, earth, and a meat juice finish. (89 pts.)

How Will They Ever Survive On Only $500,000 Per Year?

Obama [cowers](http://www.wsws.org/articles/2009/feb2009/exec-f05.shtml) before the financial elite.

>Even after having received a mandate in the election, with both houses of Congress controlled by Democrats, and under conditions of enormous public anger toward Wall Street, Obama is incapable of launching even the most timid reform. Nothing could more clearly demonstrate the dictatorship that the financial aristocracy exercises over the American state.

2005 Don Nicanor Malbec

**2005 Don Nicanor Malbec (Argentina, Mendoza)** The nose had lots of licorice, plus some cherry, dirt, and a touch of cedar. The palate also had loads of licorice, along with dirt, spice, and a nice cherry finish. (88 pts.)

2006 Radog Sauvignon Blanc

**2006 Radog Sauvignon Blanc (USA, California, Central Coast, Monterey County)** The nose had cat pee and grass, and bit of stone, and a splash of citrus and tropical fruit. The palate was quite bitter, but had grass and cat pee, stone, and a little lemon. (74 pts.)