Prior Topics and Wine Lists:  Tasting & Talking Wine with Tom Simoneau

Mendocino—The New Napa? (October 2008)

Roederer Estate 25th Anniversary Brut, Non-vintage, Anderson Valley ($22)

2006 McFadden Pinot Gris, Potter Valley ($16)

2007 Esterlina Dry Riesling, Cole Ranch ($19)

2007 Monte Volpe Tocai Friulano, Ukiah Valley ($15)

2004 Bink Pinot Noir, Weir Vineyard, Yorkville Highlands ($40)

2004 Williams Selyem Pinot Noir, Ferrington Vineyard, Anderson Valley ($69)

2005 Golden Eye 2005 Pinot Noir, Anderson Valley ($55)

2006 Enotria Dolcetto, Ukiah Valley ($17)

2005 Parducci True Grit Petite Sirah, Mendocino County ($30)

2005 Carol Shelton Wild Thing, Old Vine Zinfandel, Cox Vineyard, Mendocino County ($28)

2005 McNab Ridge Zinfandel, Cononiah Vineyard, Ukiah Valley ($22)

2005 Paul Dolan Vineyards Deep Red, Dark Horse Vineyards, Mendocino County ($40)

2005 Topel Winery Meritage, Redwood Valley ($32)

To Oak or Not To Oak (November 2008)

2002 Iron Horse Vineyards Blanc de Blanc, Green Valley of Russian River Vineyards ($38)

2007 Ehlers Estate Sauvignon Blanc, St. Helena, Napa Valley ($25)

2006 Iron Horse Vineyards Unoaked Chardonnay, Green Valley of Russian River Valley ($26)

2007 Fetzer Vineyards Valley Oaks Chardonnay, California ($9)

2006 ZD Chardonnay, California ($28)

2006 Sonoma Cutrer Chardonnay, Russian River Ranches ($22)

2006 Sonoma Cutrer Chardonnay (with Stelvin Closure), Russian River Ranches ($22)

2006 J Wine Company Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley ($38)

2005 McMannis Family Vineyards Syrah, California ($12)

2004 Silver Oak Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley ($70)

2005 Simoneau Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley ($50)

2005 Pedroncelli Zinfandel, Mother Clone, Dry Creek Valley ($14)

2006 Mazzocco Zinfandel, Maple Vineyard, Dry Creek Valley ($40)

Sonoma vs. Napa (August 2008)

2004 Sonoma Cutrer Chardonnay, The Cutrer, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County ($36)

2006 Far Niente Chardonnay, Napa Valley  ($56)

2005 Buena Vista Pinot Noir, Carneros, Sonoma County ($25)

2006 Beringer Pinot Noir, Napa Valley ($20)

2006 Dry Creek Vineyards Heritage Zinfandel, Sonoma County ($17)

2006 Girard Old Vine Zinfandel, Sonoma County ($24)

2005 Geyser Peak Merlot, Alexander Valley, Sonoma County ($18)

2004 Duckhorn Merlot, Three Palms Vineyard , Napa Valley ($85)

2004 Chateau St. Jean Cinq Cepages Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County ($75)

2004 Opus One Red Wine, Napa Valley ($180)

2005 Sbragia Family Cabernet Sauvignon, Andolsen Vineyard, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County ($35)

2006 Sbragia Family Cabernet Sauvignon, Cimarossa Vineyards, Howell Mountain, Napa Valley ($75)

Cool Climate vs. Warm Climate (July 2008)

2007 Hanna Sauvignon Blanc, Russian River Valley ($18)

2007 Quivira Sauvignon Blanc, Dry Creek Valley ($18)

2006 Patz & Hall Chardonnay, Hyde Vineyard, Carneros ($55)

2004 Chateau St. Jean Chardonnay, Robert Young Vineyard, Alexander Valley ($25)

2006 Sonoma Coast Vineyards Pinot Noir, Peterson Vineyard, Sonoma Coast ($70)

2006 Alexander Valley Vineyards Pinot Noir, Alexander Valley ($25)

2005 Gloria Ferrer Merlot, Carneros ($19)

2005 Clos du Bois Merlot, Alexander Valley ($20)

2005 Longboard Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Rochioli Vineyard, Russian River Valley ($50)

2005 Rodney Strong Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley ($50)

2005 Kosta Browne Syrah, Amber Ridge Vineyard, Russian River Valley ($48)

2005 Rosenblum Cellars Syrah, Abba Vineyard, Lodi ($25)

"The Nose" (June 2008)

2006 ZMOR Gewurztraminer, Russian River Valley ($35)

2006 Wattle Creek Viognier, Alexander Valley ($30)

2007 Seghesio Arneis, Russian River Valley ($20)

2006 Matua Paretai Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand ($17)

2006 Iron Horse Unoaked Chardonnay, Green Valley, Russian River Valley ($26)

2005 Robert Young Estate Chardonnay, Alexander Valley ($39)

2005 Merry Edwards Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast ($33)

2005 Durbanville Hills Pinotage, South Africa ($13)

2004 Russian Hill Syrah, Ellen's Block, Russian River Valley ($30)

2005 Russian Hill Syrah, Top Block, Russian River Valley ($32)

2006 Edmeades Zinfandel, Shamrock Vineyard, Mendocino County ($29)

2003 Anakota Cabernet Sauvignon, Helena Montana ($80)

All About the Russian River (March 2008)

2005 Fog Crest Chardonnay

2006 La Crema Pinot Noir Rosé, Russian River Valley  ($45)

2005 Iron Horse Wedding Cuvee Sparkling Wine ($31)

2006 J Pinot Gris ($20)

2006 Arrowood Gewurztraminer ($20)

2006 Girard Chardonnay ($24)

2006 Du Nah Chardonnay, De Dee's Estate Vineyard ($42)

2005 Davenport & Company Pinot Noir ($35)

2006 Windsor Sonoma Pinot Noir ($30)

2005 Acorn Sangiovese, Alegria Vineyards ($26)

2005 Holdredge Syrah ($30)

2006 Passalaqua Zinfandel ($27)

2004 Woodenhead Zinfandel, Martinelli Road Vineyard, Old Vine ($40)

Elegant Pinot Noir (March 2007)
2005 King Estate Domaine Oregon Pinot Gris ($25)

2005 La Crema Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley  ($34)

2005 La Crema Pinot Noir, Los Carneros ($34)

2005 La Crema Pinot Noir, Anderson Valley ($34)

2005 W. H. Smith Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast ($30)

2005 Williams Selyem Pinot Noir, Central Coast  ($31)

2004 Esterlina Pinot Noir, Esterlina Estate Vineyard, Anderson Valley ($40)

2004 Gloria Ferrer Estate Pinot Noir, Carneros  ($28)

2005 Benziger Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast  ($25)

2004 Tandem Pinot Noir, Sangiacomo Vineyards, Sonoma County  ($48)

2005 De Loach Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley  ($45)

2004 Kosta Browne Pinot Noir, Amber Ridge Vineyard, Russian River Valley  ($52)

2004 Merry Edwards Pinot Noir, Klopp Ranch, Russian River Valley  ($51)

Luxury Wines for Valentines (February 2007)

G.H. Mumm Brut Rose

1998 Perrier Jouet Fleur de Champagne

2005 Merry Edwards Sauvignon Blanc

2004 Beringer Private Reserve Napa Valley Chardonnay

2004 Robert Rue Reserve Zinfandel, Russian River Valley, Century Old Vines

2004 Mara Reserve Zinfandel, Russian River Valley

2003 Twomey Merlot, Napa Valley

2002 Silver Oak Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

2003 Opus One, Napa Valley

2002 Grgich Hills Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley

2003 Inniskillin Vidal Icewine, Niagara Peninsula, Canada

2003 Prager Royal Escort Napa Valley Vintage Port