2007 Loring Wine Company Pinot Noir Russell Family Vineyard

**2007 Loring Wine Company Pinot Noir Russell Family Vineyard (USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles)** The nose had red berries and blackberry, a little coffee and earth, and some sweet oak at the end. The palate was smooth and rich, and had blackberry, mocha, cherry, and a spicy vanilla finish. (92 pts.)

Zinfandel, The Other Red Wine!

Here are the [wines](http://www.cellartracker.com/event.asp?iEvent=7208) I tasted yesterday:

* **2006 Turley Zinfandel Pesenti Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles** The nose had bramble, blackberry, cherry, and stone. The palate had blackberry, bramble, stone, and cherry. (93 pts.)
* **2006 Elyse Zinfandel Korte Ranch - USA, California, Napa Valley** The nose had meat, bramble, floral notes, smoke, raspberry, and cherry. The palate was smooth, and had bramble, earth, cherry, raspberry, smoke, and earth. (92 pts.)
* **2005 Chateau Montelena Zinfandel Estate - USA, California, Napa Valley** The nose had raspberry jam, cherry, and a bit of pepper. The palate was smooth, and had pepper, raspberry, spice, cherry, and some earth on the finish. (90 pts.)
* **2007 Edmeades Winery Zinfandel - USA, California, North Coast, Mendocino County** The nose had pepper, raspberry, cherry, and bramble. The palate was soft, and had pepper, raspberry liqueur, earth, cherry, and a nice floral finish. (90 pts.)
* **2007 Foxglove Zinfandel - USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles** The nose had raspberry jam, cherry, pepper, and spice. The palate was soft, and had raspberry, pepper, cherry, and spice. (88 pts.)
* **2006 Outpost Zinfandel - USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain** The nose had raspberry, cherry, spice, and vanilla. The palate was smooth, and had raspberry, cherry, spice, coffee, and vanilla. (90 pts.)
* **2006 Mauritson Wines Zinfandel Rockpile Ridge Vineyards - USA, California, Sonoma County, Rockpile** The nose had blackberry, cherry, stone, vanilla, and pepper. The palate had blackberry, stone, pepper, cherry, and earth. (90 pts.)
* **2006 Lamborn Family Vineyards Zinfandel - USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain** The nose had raspberry, cherry, earth, pepper, and vanilla. The palate had raspberry, plum, cherry, pepper, and spice. (89 pts.)

N.V. Charles de Fère Chardonnay Brut

**N.V. Charles de Fère Chardonnay Brut (France)** The nose had apple, fresh baked bread, pear, and a little vanilla. The palate was crisp and clean, and had bread dough, apple, pear, and stone. (89 pts.)

2005 Fiddlehead Cellars Pinot Noir Lollapalooza Fiddlestix

**2005 Fiddlehead Cellars Pinot Noir Lollapalooza Fiddlestix (USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Rita Hills - Sta. Rita Hills)** The nose had black cherry and cola, forest floor, brown spice, and a touch of vanilla. The palate was silky smooth and juicy, and had forest floor, cherry, rhubarb, brown spice, and a hint of oak. (93 pts.)

Blended Wines

Here are the [wines](http://www.cellartracker.com/event.asp?iEvent=7164) I tasted today:

* **2005 Kathryn Kennedy Lateral - USA, California** The nose had raspberry, currant, earth, and vanilla. The palate had currant, earth, cedar, raspberry, and vanilla. (91 pts.)
* **2004 Small Gully Mr. Black's Concoction - Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley** The nose had toast, meat, and blueberry. The palate was rich, and had blueberry, meat juice, and toast. (90 pts.)
* **2005 L'Aventure Optimus - USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles** The nose had chocolate, espresso, currant, and oak. The palate had currant, espresso, chocolate, oak, and spice. (90 pts.)
* **2006 Bridesmaid Wines - USA, California, Napa Valley** The nose had beeswax and lemon oil. The palate was fat, and had stone, fig, and lemon. (90 pts.)
* **N.V. Saint-Cosme Vin de Table Français Little James' Basket Press - France, Vin de Table Français** The nose had raspberry, earth, pepper, cherry, and spice. The palate had raspberry, spice, earth, cherry, and pepper. (89 pts.)
* **2005 Flora Springs Trilogy - USA, California, Napa Valley** The nose had raspberry, black currant, floral notes, and spice. The palate had black currant, raspberry, spice, and a floral finish. (92 pts.)
* **2003 Ferraton Père & Fils Ermitage Blanc Le Reverdy - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage** The nose had hazelnuts, apple, peach, and honey. The palate had stone, nuts, apple, and spice. (92 pts.)

A "New Direction" Down The Same Path

Obama's "change" seems to be [evaporating](http://socialistworker.org/2009/03/20/war-terror-20).

>Among other things, since taking office, the Obama administration has: pre-empted a Supreme Court ruling on whether a legal resident on U.S. soil can be imprisoned indefinitely without trial as an "enemy combatant"; attempted to block a judicial ruling on Bush's warrantless wiretapping program; asserted in court that prisoners currently held overseas by U.S. forces in Bagram, Afghanistan, have no constitutional right to challenge their detentions in U.S. courts; and argued to dismiss cases brought in federal court by alleged victims of CIA kidnappings and torture on the grounds of "national security."

Playing Us For Suckers

As bad as the AIG bonus scandal is, that is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the ways they are [ripping off](http://socialistworker.org/2009/03/18/aigreed) the taxpayer.

Blackmail As A Business Strategy

These are the real [terrorists](http://www.wsws.org/articles/2009/mar2009/sork-m18.shtml) we should be worried about.

>The various types of blackmail pointed to by Sorkin and others are not reasons for paying the AIG executives, but indicting them. The comments paint a picture, for all intents and purposes, of financial terrorists.

2004 Bodegas Monteviejo Malbec Festivo

**2004 Bodegas Monteviejo Malbec Festivo (Argentina, Mendoza, Valle de Uco, Vista Flores)** The nose had cherry, black pepper, grilled meat, a little earthiness, and a hint of chocolate at the end. The palate was very rich and smooth, and had cherry, tar, smoke, pepper, and a wonderful chocolate finish. (90 pts.)

2006 Tenuta Argentiera Bolgheri Poggio Al Ginepri

**2006 Tenuta Argentiera Bolgheri Poggio Al Ginepri (Italy, Tuscany, Bolgheri)** The nose had raspberry and black currant, some cake spice, and a hint of oak at the end. THe palate was soft and round, and had black currant, raspberry, spice, a bit of earth, and a nice vanilla finish. (89 pts.)

Pinot Noir

Here are the [wines](http://www.cellartracker.com/event.asp?iEvent=7090) I tasted today:

* **2005 Departure Pinot Noir Silacci Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast** The nose had sweet cherry, raspberry, strawberry, and nutmeg. The palate had sweet cherry, cinnamon, herbs, raspberry, nutmeg, and some strawberry on the finish. (92 pts.)
* **2006 Le Cadeau Pinot Noir Côte Est - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley** The nose had cherry, spice, raspberry, and grilled vegetables. The palate had grilled vegetables, cherry, raspberry, and spice. (92 pts.)
* **2006 Cardwell Hill Pinot Noir Estate Bottled - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley** The nose had cream, plum, boysenberry, and currant. The palate was soft, and had black currant, plum, cream, and a bit of mint on the finish. (91 pts.)
* **2005 Carabella Pinot Noir - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Chehalem Mountains** The nose had blackberry, black currant, and vanilla. The palate was smooth, and had blackberry, black currant, and a little oak on the finish. (89 pts.)
* **2006 Goldeneye (Duckhorn) Pinot Noir Migration - USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley** The nose had cola, cherry, and coffee. The palate was smooth, and had cherry, mocha, and a cola finish. (88 pts.)
* **2004 Rippon Vineyards Pinot Noir - New Zealand, South Island, Otago, Central Otago** The was very floral, and had cherry, raspberry, and vanilla. The palate had cherry, raspberry, floral notes, and nutmeg. (93 pts.)
* **2005 Camille Giroud Beaune 1er Cru Cent-Vignes - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Beaune 1er Cru** The nose had chocolate, meat, licorice, and plum. The palate was rich, and had cherry, plum, licorice, and a slightly salty finish. (91 pts.)

2005 Château La Galante

**2005 Château La Galante (France, Bordeaux, Bordeaux Supérieur)** The nose had black currant and cherry, a little earth, and a touch of oak. The palate was silky smooth, and had cherry, black currant, earth, and a nice vanilla finish. (1 vie

2004 Villa Carafa Aglianico

**2004 Villa Carafa Aglianico (Italy, Campania, Sannio)** The nose had blueberry and earth, a little red fruit, some oak, and a soapy smell at the end. The palate was very soft, and had loads of blueberry and red fruit, a bit of earthiness, and a tasty oak and soap finish. (89 pts.)

2008 Torbreck (Cuvée) Juveniles

**2008 Torbreck (Cuvée) Juveniles (Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley)** The nose had raspberry jam, smoke, tar, blueberry, and a little vanilla at the end. The palate was silky smooth, and had blueberry, raspberry, tar, allspice, and a nice smoke finish. (91 pts.)

2000 Château Côte Montpezat

**2000 Château Côte Montpezat (France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Côtes de Castillon)** The nose had black currant, cherry, earth, and oak. The palate was soft and had earth, cherry, spice, black currant, and a touch of oak on the finish. (88 pts.)

A Taste of Tuscany

Here are the [wines](http://www.cellartracker.com/event.asp?iEvent=7053) I tasted yesterday:

* **2006 Tenuta San Guido Guidalberto Toscana IGT - Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT** The nose had black currant, black raspberry, tar, smoke, and licorice. The palate had tar, smoke, black currant, black raspberry, and a tar finish. (92 pts.)
* **2006 Tenuta dell'Ornellaia Le Volte Toscana IGT - Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT** The nose had smoke, plum, cherry, and some licorice at the end. The palate had licorice, plum, smoke, and cherry. (90 pts.)
* **2004 Rocca delle Macìe Chianti Classico Riserva - Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico** The nose had berries, vanilla, and stone. The palate had stone, berry, and a bit of oak on the finish. (90 pts.)
* **2006 Fattoria di Fèlsina Berardenga Chianti Classico - Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico** The nose had blackberry, lavender, and oak. The palate had lavender, cherry, spice, and a nice finish of oranges. (90 pts.)
* **2007 Corte alla Flora Giuggiolo Rosso - Italy, Tuscany** The nose had licorice, earth, red fruit, and violets. The palate was soft, and had red fruit, licorice, and a floral finish. (88 pts.)
* **2004 Castello del Terriccio Tassinaia Maremma Toscana IGT - Italy, Tuscany, Maremma, Maremma Toscana IGT** The nose had menthol, tobacco, leather, cherry, and smoke. The palate had cherry, tobacco, smoke, menthol, herbs, and smoke on the finish. (92 pts.)
* **2003 Tenute Silvio Nardi Brunello di Montalcino - Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino** The nose had cherry, plum, and oak. The palate was soft, and had cherry, cedar, and plum. (91 pts.)

2006 Vallée de Valeur Classic Cuvée

**2006 Vallée de Valeur Classic Cuvée (France, Bordeaux, Côtes de Blaye, Premières Côtes de Blaye)** The nose had loads of earth and red fruit, along with a little dark chocolate and vanilla. The palate was very smooth, and had bright red fruit, earth, a hint of chocolate, and a solid oak finish. (88 pts)

2006 Viña Leyda Sauvignon Blanc Garuma Vineyard

**2006 Viña Leyda Sauvignon Blanc Garuma Vineyard (Chile, Aconcagua, Casablanca Valley, Leyda Valley)** The nose had peach and citrus fruit, along with some grass and stone. The palate was crisp, and had citrus and grass, peach, and a nice mineral finish. (88 pts.)

2006 Carlisle Zinfandel Carlo's Ranch

**2006 Carlisle Zinfandel Carlo's Ranch (USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley)** The nose had brambly cherry, chocolate, blueberry liqueur, spice, and a touch of vanilla at the end. The palate was rich and juicy, and had blueberry jam, cherry, spice, earth, and a good chocolate and oak finish. (93 pts.)

Wines of Piedmont

Here are the [wines](http://www.cellartracker.com/event.asp?iEvent=7001) I tasted yesterday:

* **2005 Poderi Luigi Einaudi Dolcetto di Dogliani Vigna Tecc - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Dolcetto di Dogliani** The nose had dark chocolate, blueberry, licorice, and tar. The palate had tar, blueberry, chocolate, and licorice. (90 pts.)
* **2003 Travaglini Gattinara - Italy, Piedmont, Northern Piedmont, Gattinara** The nose was very floral, but also had some cherry and raspberry. The palate had cherry and cedar, floral notes, and a spicy raspberry finish. (90 pts.)
* **2003 Marcarini Barolo La Serra - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo** The nose had raspberry, spice, cedar, and vanilla. The palate had cedar, spice, raspberry, and cherry. (90 pts.)
* **2007 Stefano Massone Gavi Vigneto Masera - Italy, Piedmont, Gavi** The nose had stone, pear, and apple. The palate was crisp, and had minerals, apple, and pear on the finish. (88 pts.)
* **2005 Giacosa Fratelli Barolo Bussia - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo** The nose had sweet raspberry and vanilla. The palate was soft, and had raspberry, oak, spice, and cherry. (87 pts.)
* **2003 Conterno Fantino Barolo Sorì Ginestra - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo** The nose had grilled vegetables, cherry, spice, van, and stewed plums. The palate was rich, and had plum, cherry, spice, and an herb finish. (94 pts.)
* **2000 Bruno Giacosa Barbaresco Rio Sordo - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco** The nose had espresso, curry, and plum. The palate was silky, and had espresso, plum, and a curry finish. (90 pts.)