2007 Kanzler Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

**2007 Kanzler Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast (USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast)** The nose had massive amounts of black cherry, raspberry, and forest floor, with smaller amounts of rhubarb, nutmeg, thyme, and rosemary. The palate was smooth and rich, and had earth, black cherry, rhubarb, nutmeg, cooking spices, and a touch of oak on the finish. (91 pts.)

White and Red Blends

Here are the [wines](http://www.cellartracker.com/event.asp?iEvent=7758) I tasted today:

* **2005 Château Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc - France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan** The nose had honey, apple, cloves, and stone. The palate was crisp and clean, and had honey, stone, citrus, apple, and a nice clove finish. (94 pts.)
* **2005 Forchini Beau Sierra Estate - USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley** The nose had raspberry, earth, spice, and some mocha at the end. The palate had cedar, raspberry, spice, and a little chocolate on the finish. It was a little tannic, but good. (90 pts.)
* **2005 M. Chapoutier Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc La Bernardine - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape** The nose had peach, floral notes, orange zest, and some slight minerality. The palate was crisp, and had stone, earth, lemon, and a floral finish. (90 pts.)
* **2004 Terrabianca Campaccio Toscana IGT - Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT** The nose had raspberry, black currant, spice, chocolate, and a bit of vanilla at the end. The palate was a little oaky, but had raspberry, earth, black currant, and spice. (88 pts.)
* **2006 Domaine Lafond Lirac Blanc Roc-Epine - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Lirac** The nose had honey, lemon, orange zest, and some floral notes on the end. The palate was crisp, and had lime, floral notes, stone, and some earth on the finish. (88 pts.)
* **2006 Château Le Sartre Blanc - France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan** The nose had orange, honey, licorice, and a little stone. The palate was crisp and herbaceous, and had lemon and stone. (87 pts.

2007 Mauritson Wines Sauvignon Blanc Dry Creek Valley

**2007 Mauritson Wines Sauvignon Blanc Dry Creek Valley (USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley)** The nose had grass, apple, pear, and stone. The palate was crisp, and had grass, stone, pear, and a nice sour apple finish. (90 pts.)

2007 Kutch Pinot Noir McDougall Ranch

**2007 Kutch Pinot Noir McDougall Ranch (USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast)** The nose had cherry and raspberry, a little cocoa powder and spice, and a touch of vanilla at the end. The palate was soft and rich, and had blackberry, cherry, spice, chocolate, and a toasted oak finish. (90 pts.)

2007 Foxglove Cabernet Sauvignon

**2007 Foxglove Cabernet Sauvignon (USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles)** The nose had raspberry, black currant, a little chocolate, and some spice and vanilla. The palate was rich, and had black currant, raspberry, mocha, spice, and a touch of oak on the finish. (87 pts.)

Oregon, Whites and Pinot Noir

Here are the [wines](http://www.cellartracker.com/event.asp?iEvent=7716) I tasted today:

* **2006 Pali Wine Co. Pinot Noir Shea Vineyard - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley** The nose had boysenberry, cherry, mushroom, spice, and a bit of vanilla. The palate was velvety, and had mushroom, spice, cherry, boysenberry, and a slight oak finish. (92 pts.)
* **2007 Elk Cove Vineyards Pinot Gris - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley** The nose had pear, tropical fruit, and cantaloupe. The palate was crisp and clean, and had pear, cantaloupe, mango, and a little stone on the finish. (90 pts.)
* **2005 Cristom Pinot Noir Louise - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Eola - Amity Hills** The nose had blackberry, spice, cherry, forest floor, and a little spice. The palate was soft, and had raspberry, cherry, spice, and earth. (90 pts.)
* **2006 Torii Mor Pinot Noir - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Eola - Amity Hills** The nose had cedar, spice, cherry, and a bit of raspberry. The palate was velvety, and had cherry, spice, raspberry, and a nice cedar finish. (89 pts.)
* **2006 Torii Mor Pinot Noir Dundee Hills Select - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills** The nose had cherry, earth, raspberry, and spice. THe palate was soft, and had earth, cherry, and a spice finish. (89 pts.)
* **2007 Anne Amie Pinot Gris - USA, Oregon** The nose had peach, stone, and violets. The palate was crisp, and had stone, lemon, and a peach finish. (87 pts.)
* **2007 Carabella Chardonnay Dijon 76 Clone - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley** The nose had citrus, and a fresh cream aroma. The palate was buttery, and had citrus and stone. (86 pts.)
* **2006 Domaine Serene Pinot Noir Evenstad Reserve - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley** The nose had cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, cherry, raspberry, and cedar. THe palate was soft, and had cherry, cinnamon, cloves, cedar, and a little vanilla. (93 pts.)
* **2007 Ken Wright Pinot Noir Nysa Vineyard - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley** The nose had toast, cassis, cherry, and a little vanilla. The palate was soft, and had cassis, cherry, earth, and a bit of oak. (92 pts.)

2006 Fiddlehead Cellars Pinot Noir Oldsville Reserve

**2006 Fiddlehead Cellars Pinot Noir Oldsville Reserve (USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley)** The nose had forest floor and cherry, a little pepper and allspice, and some oak at the end. The palate was smooth, and had sweet cherry, earth, pepper, baking spice, and a good vanilla finish. (1 view)

2007 Kutch Pinot Noir Kanzler Vineyard

**2007 Kutch Pinot Noir Kanzler Vineyard (USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast)** The nose had cola, forest floor, cherry, spice, and a little vanilla. The palate was soft, and had sour cherry, earth, raspberry, and a cola finish. (89 pts.)

The Bold and the Delicate

Here are the [wines](http://www.cellartracker.com/event.asp?iEvent=7657) I tasted today:

* **2006 Langmeil Hangin' Snakes - Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley** The nose had blackberry, blueberry, tar, and some floral notes. The palate was rich, and had blackberry, tar, smoke, and a nice floral finish. (90 pts.)
* **2006 Two Hands Shiraz Gnarly Dudes - Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley** The nose had leather, earth, floral notes, and blueberry. The palate was smooth, and had blueberry, floral tones, earth, and a good leather finish. (90 pts.)
* **2007 Mollydooker Shiraz The Boxer - Australia, South Australia, McLaren Vale / Padthaway** The nose had blueberry, oak, earth, and some floral notes at the end. The palate was a little hot, and had sweet blueberry, oak, spice, and a little blueberry on the finish. (90 pts.)
* **2007 Kerpen Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Spätlese - Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer** The nose had lemon, stone, earth, and a little honey. The palate was crisp, and had citrus, honey, tropical fruit, and a mineral finish. (89 pts.)
* **2004 Kurt Darting Ungsteiner Honigsäckel Scheurebe Auslese - Germany, Pfalz** The nose had honey, tropical fruit, lemon, and stone. The palate had loads of sweet citrus, honey, and bunch of acidity on the finish. (89 pts.)
* **2005 Rusden Shiraz Black Guts - Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley** The nose had meat, blueberry, smoke, floral notes, stone, and a hint of lardon at the end. The palate was soft, and had meat, smoke, blueberry, game, stone, and a floral finish. (94 pts.)
* **2006 R Wines Grenache Chateau Chateau Triumphal Arch Light Pass - Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley** The nose had lots of spice, along with tobacco, sage, cedar, and a little raspberry at the end. The palate was soft, and had spice, earth, tobacco, cherry, and a strawberry finish. (93 pts.)

Back to the Future: Then and Now

Last night I attended a tasting at [Pappas Bros. Steakhouse](http://www.pappasbros.com/) in Dallas, Texas. Here are the [wines](http://www.cellartracker.com/event.asp?iEvent=7653) I tasted:

* **1985 Spring Mountain Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District** The nose had raspberry, earth, black currant, spice, mocha, and vanilla. The palate was soft, and had raspberry, spice, black currant, floral notes, and mocha. (91 pts.)
* **1997 Alexander Valley Vineyards Zinfandel Sin Zin - USA, California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley** The nose had a lot of bramble, plus some raspberry jam, cedar, and spice. The palate was very soft, and had bramble, raspberry, cherry, and spice. (91 pts.)
* **2006 Perrin & Fils Vacqueyras - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Vacqueyras** The nose was very perfumed, and had raspberry jam, spice, and vanilla. The palate had raspberry jam, spice, oak, and some cherry on the finish. (90 pts.)
* **2004 Ausvetia Shiraz - Australia, South Australia** The nose had lots of earth, some raspberry, black currant, and vanilla. The palate had raspberry, black currant, pepper, and vanilla. (90 pts.)
* **2007 Alexander Valley Vineyards Zinfandel Sin Zin - USA, California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley** The nose had bramble, raspberry, cherry, spice, and vanilla. The palate was soft, and had raspberry jam, cherry, and spice. (90 pts.)
* **2002 Betts & Scholl Grenache - Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley** The nose had sweet cherry, earth, spice, and cedar. The palate had cherry, earth, cedar, and some raspberry on the finish. (89 pts.)
* **2000 Ausvetia Shiraz - Australia, South Australia** The nose had raspberry jam, black currant, spice, and vanilla. The palate had raspberry jam, spice, and a finish of black currant. (89 pts.)
* **2003 Spring Mountain Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District** The nose had raspberry, black currant, chocolate, spice, and vanilla. The palate had black currant, raspberry, spice, coffee, and oak. (88 pts.)
* **2006 Betts & Scholl Grenache - Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley** The nose had earth, raspberry, and cherry. The palate was a little hot, but had raspberry, earth, cherry, spice, and a bit of cedar. (88 pts.)
* **2001 Perrin & Fils Vacqueyras - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Vacqueyras** The nose had cherry, cedar, floral notes, spice, and oak. The palate had raspberry, cedar, cherry, spice, and oak. (87 pts.)
* **2001 Grosset Riesling Polish Hill - Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley** The nose had peach, citrus, and stone. The palate was crisp and dry, and had citrus, peach, and stone. (87 pts.)
* **2007 Grosset Riesling Polish Hill - Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley** The nose had sweet tropical fruit, citrus, and stone. The palate was crisp, and had stone, and tropical fruit. (87 pts.)

2006 Lungarotti Torgiano Torre di Giano

**2006 Lungarotti Torgiano Torre di Giano (Italy, Umbria, Torgiano)** The nose had peach, citrus, floral tones, and a little bit of stone. The palate was crisp and clean, and had lemon, peach, stone, and a nice floral finish. (87 pts.)

2007 Dain Wines Pinot Noir Savage Juliet Riserva

**2007 Dain Wines Pinot Noir Savage Juliet Riserva (USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley)** The nose had loads of cherry and raspberry, and little earth and floral notes, and some spice and vanilla at the end. The palate was smooth and juicy, and had sour cherry, earth, raspberry, a tiny bit of pepper, and a good floral finish. (92 pts.)

Champagne and Cabernet

Here are the [wines](http://www.cellartracker.com/event.asp?iEvent=7573) I tasted today:

* **N.V. Jean Laurent Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut - France, Champagne** The nose had orange, stone, and yeast. The palate was crisp and clean, and had bread, minerals, and lemon. (93 pts.)
* **N.V. Gaston Chiquet Champagne Cuvée de Réserve - France, Champagne** The nose had mocha, butterscotch, minerals, and a little honey at the end. The palate was crisp and clean, and had stone, honey, yeast, coffee, and a toast finish. (92 pts.)
* **2006 Whip-Hand Cabernet Sauvignon Red Head Studios - Australia, McLaren Vale / Frankland River / Margaret River** The nose had blackberry, cedar, spice, and floral notes. The palate was smooth, and had blackberry, spice, floral notes, oak. It was very hot and tannic. (90 pts.)
* **N.V. Marc Hébrart Champagne Brut Reserve 1er Cru - France, Champagne** The nose had strawberry, bread, and stone. The palate was crisp, and had strawberry, minerals, and citrus finish. (89 pts.)
* **2006 Honig Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley** The nose had black cherry and plum, a bit of spice, vanilla, and some burnt oak at the end. The palate was a bit tannic, but had blackberry, chocolate, spice, and a cherry finish. (89 pts.)
* **1998 Vilmart Champagne Cuvée Creation - France, Champagne** The nose had pineapple, bread, citrus, and a bit of earth at the end. The palate was crisp and clean, and had mango, pineapple, yeast, and a good mushroom finish. (94 pts.)
* **2005 Ramey Cabernet Sauvignon Pedregal Vineyard - USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville** The nose toffee, chocolate, black currant, and cherry, with some floral notes at the end. THw palate was soft, and had black currant, raspberry, spice, and a coffee finish. (94 pts.)

2007 August West Pinot Noir Rosella's Vineyard

**2007 August West Pinot Noir Rosella's Vineyard (USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands)** The nose had cherry and raspberry, floral notes and spice, and a little mushroom at the end. The palate was soft, and had cherry, earth, raspberry, spice, and a good floral finish. (91 pts.)

2007 Radio-Coteau Pinot Noir Alberigi

**2007 Radio-Coteau Pinot Noir Alberigi (USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley)** The nose had raspberry and cherry, a bit of earth, some brown spice, and floral notes and vanilla at the end. The palate was smooth and juicy, and had mushroom, raspberry, cherry, vanilla, floral notes, and a nice spicy finish. (93 pts.)

The Real Problem With The Swine Flu Outbreak

This is what happens when politics and greed trump [science](http://www.wsws.org/articles/2009/may2009/pers-m04.shtml)

>The greatest obstacles to this are not technical ones, but rather the social contradictions of world capitalism: poverty and lack of medical facilities in large parts of the world, the political influence of major corporations, including the giant pharmaceutical firms, the division of the world into competing nation-states, and the reactionary agendas of bourgeois politicians.

More Of Obama's Change

[Obama administration indicates military commission trials to resume](http://www.wsws.org/articles/2009/may2009/mili-m04.shtml)

>In other words, the evidence which the government wishes to use against detainees is fatally tainted by the use of torture or by its hearsay character. Such “evidence” is disallowed in any civilian court that adheres to minimal principles of due process laid down by the US Constitution and by statute.

2007 Kutch Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

**2007 Kutch Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast (USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast)** The nose had cherry, cinnamon, mushroom, floral notes, and vanilla. The palate was velvety smooth, and had sour cherry, forest floor, spice, and a touch of oak on the finish. (90 pts.)

Spain vs. Latin America

Here are the [wines](http://www.cellartracker.com/event.asp?iEvent=7474) I tasted today:

* **2007 Bodegas Nekeas Vega Sindoa Grenache El Chaparral Old Vine - Spain, Navarra** The nose had flower pollen, raspberry, and stewed tomatoes. The palate had raspberry liqueur, stone, plum, and floral notes. (92 pts.)
* **2004 Odfjell Carménère Orzada - Chile, Central Valley, Maipo Valley** The nose had mint, clay, red berries, and plum. The palate was juicy, and had plum, earth, berry, and stone. (91 pts.)
* **2005 Viña Santa Rita Cabernet Sauvignon Medalla Real - Chile, Central Valley, Maipo Valley** The nose had tobacco, black currant, earth, and spice. The palate was rich, and had cedar, black currant, spice, earth, and vanilla. (91 pts.)
* **2007 Luca Malbec - Argentina, Mendoza, Valle de Uco** The nose had smoke, spice, and cherry. The palate was soft, and had cherry, smoke, spice, and floral notes. (90 pts.)
* **2007 Viña Cobos Malbec Felino - Argentina, Mendoza** The nose was a little tight, but I did get cherry and earth. The palate was rich, and had cherry, cedar, earth, raspberry, and black currant. (90 pts.)
* **2005 Bodegas Pintia (Vega-Sicilia) Toro Pintia - Spain, Castilla y León, Toro** The nose had pencil lead, grilled meat, spice, black currant, and cherry. The palate was soft, and had blackberry, spice, meat, graphite, and cherry. (94 pts.)
* **2005 Montes Alpha M - Chile, Central Valley, Rapel Valley, Colchagua Valley** The nose had grilled meat, tobacco, earth, black currant, and blackberry. The palate was soft and rich, and had tobacco, blackberry, meat, and black currant. (93 pts.)