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

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

All About Alexander Valley (October 2006)

2005 Rodney Strong Estate Sauvignon Blanc, Charlotte’s Home, Sonoma County  $14

2005 Wattle Creek Viognier, Alexander Valley $28

2003 Murphy-Goode "The Deuce" Reserve Fumé, Alexander Valley  $22

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

2004 Robert Young Estate Winery Chardonnay, Alexander Valley  $37

2005 Alexander Valley Vineyards Pinot Noir, Wetzel Family Estate, Alexander Valley  $22

2004 Seghesio Zinfandel, Home Ranch, Alexander Valley  $36

2003 Chateau Souverain Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley  $22

2002 Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley  $50

2003 Rezonja Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon, Sky Pine Vineyards, Alexander Valley  $32

2002 Robert Young Estate Winery Scion, Alexander Valley  $54

2002 Alexander Valley Vineyards Cyrus, Alexander Valley  $50

2003 Murphy-Goode "All In" Alexander Valley Claret  $45

Exploring ABD (Anything But Chardonnay)  (September 2006)

2005 Kendall-Jackson Riesling, Vintner’s Reserve, California  $10

2003 Windsor Vineyards, Chardonnay, Simoneau Ranch, Alexander Valley $18

2004 Gary Farrell Chardonnay, Vineyard Selection No Oak, Russian River Valley   $28

2004 Gary Farrell Chardonnay, Westside Farms, Russian River Valley   $38

2004 Ferrari-Carano Chardonnay Reserve, 66% Napa – 34% Sonoma  $42

2005 Matanzas Creek Chardonnay, 60% Carneros – 40% Bennett Valley   $30

2003 Ramey Chardonnay, Hyde Vineyard, Napa – Carneros  $58

2005 Patianna Sauvignon Blanc, Mendocino, Estate Organic Vineyards  $18

2005 Grgich Hills Estate Fume Blanc, Napa Valley   $25

2002 Chalk Hill Estate Pinot Gris, Russian River Valley   $40

2005 Valley of the Moon Pinot Blanc, Sonoma County  $16

2005 Preston of Dry Creek Rousanne, Dry Creek Valley, Organic  $25

2005 Wattle Creek Viognier, Alexander Valley $31

Old Vines vs. New Vines? (July 2006)

2005 J Pinot Gris Russian River Valley Middle-aged vines $18

2004 Dry Creek Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc (5-6 year old vines)  $25

2003 Robert Mondavi Winery I Block Fume Blanc, To Kalon Vineyard (61 year old vines $65

2004 Buena Vista Carneros Estate Chardonnay (5, 6 & 7 year old vines)  $19

2003 Russian Hill Chardonnay, Russian River Valley, Gail Ann’s Vineyard (30 year old vines) $28

2004 Kosta Browne Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, Koplen Vineyard (5 year old vines  $52

2004 Kosta Browne Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, Cohn Vineyard (40 year old vines) $52

2005 Marcucci Farms Zinfandel Block 1922, Russian River Valley (83 year old vines)

2005 Marcucci Farms Zinfandel Block 1966, Russian River Valley (39 year old vines)

2005 Marcucci FarmsZinfandel Block 2000, Russian River Valley (5 year old vines)

2005 Marcucci Farms Zinfandel Blend, Russian River Valley

2003 Murphy-Goode Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley, Adams Knoll (4-5 year old vines)  $35

2002 Simi Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley (30 year old vines)  $65

Are you Now Drinking More Pinot Noir? (June 2006)

2004 TAZ Pinot Gris, Santa Barbara County  $15

2005 Muir-Hanna Vineyards AlpenGlow Napa Valley Rosé of Pinot  $15

2003 Penfolds Koonunga Hill Shiraz, South Eastern Australia  $12

2003 Ferrari-Carano Merlot, Sonoma County  $25

2004 Sebastiani Barbera, Sonoma Valley  $24

2003 Rodney Strong Knotty Vines Zinfandel, Sonoma County  $19

2003 Reverie Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley Diamond Mountain District  $75

2003 Stags' Leap Petite Syrah, Napa Valley  $38

2004 Roessler BlueJay Pinot Noir, Anderson Valley  $26

2004 Lucia Pinot Noir, Garys' Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands  $45

2004 Williams Selyem Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley  $42

2004 Merry Edwards Pinot Noir, Olivet Lane, Russian River Valley  $57

2004 Kosta Browne Pinot Noir, Kanzler Vineyard, Sonoma Coast  $52

2004 Bouchaine Pinot Noir, Carneros, Napa Valley  $40

What is it about Elevation? (March 2006)

2002 Rodney Strong Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley, Alexander's Crown, 400-500 feet ($30)

2002 Windsor Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley, Simoneau Ranch, 181 feet ($26)

2002 Murphy-Goode Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley, Adams Knoll, 250 feet ($35)

2002 Jordan Winery Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley, 300-400 feet ($48)

2003 Hawkeye Mountain (Kendall-Jackson), Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley, 900-2200 feet ($50)

2001 Robert Young Estate Winery Scion (Cabernet Sauvignon), Alexander Valley, 400 feet ($50)

2002 Rodney Strong Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley, Alden Vineyards, 1200 feet ($30)

2003 Rezonja Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley, Sky Pine Vineyard, 2000 feet ($32)

2003 Sebastiani Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma Valley, Cherryblock, sea level ($75)

2003 Mayo Family Winery Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, Julie’s Block, “Napa River Ranch”, sea level ($36)

2003 Mayo Family Winery Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, Random Ridge Vineyard, 2400 feet ($45)

2001 Mount Veeder Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, Napa Valley, 1000-1600 feet ($80)

2001 Hanna Winery Noir (Meritage Blend), Sonoma Valley, Bismark Ranch, 1400-2600 feet ($50)

Sparkling Wines of France and California (February 2006)

Trevisiol Prosecco di Valdobbiadene Non-Vintage Extra Dry, Veneto, Italy ($16)

2005 J Base Wine/Brut, Russian River Valley, California (na)

2000 J Brut, Russian River Valley, California ($30)

G.H. Mumm Brut Grand Cru Non-Vintage, Reims, France ($60)

G.H. Mumm Cordon Rouge Brut Non-Vintage, Reims, France ($43)

Gloria Ferrer Sonoma Brut Non-Vintage, Sonoma, California ($18)

Gloria Ferrer Sonoma Brut Non-Vintage 1.5 liter, Sonoma, California ($35)

Domaine Carneros 2002 Brut, Carneros, Napa Valley, California ($25)

Domaine Carneros 1999 La Reve Blanc de Blanc Brut, Carneros, Napa Valley, California ($59)

Perrier Jouet Grand Brut Non-Vintage, Epernay, France ($49)

Perrier Jouet 1998 Fleur de Champagne Brut, Epernay, France ($130)

Schramsberg 2003 Brut Rose, Calistoga, California ($39)

Schug 2002 Brut Rouge de Noir, Carneros, California ($25)

Alfred Rothschilde et Cie Brut Grande Reserve Non-Vintage ($25)

Baron de Schiele Cremant d'Alsace Non-Vintage ($10)

Dissecting Bordeaux (January 2006)

2001 Domaine Conte Cabernet Merlot, Rapel Valley, Chile  ($18)

2002 Twomey Cellars Merlot, Napa Valley ($65)

2003 Alexander Valley Vineyards Cabernet Franc ($25)

2002 Chateau St. Jean Estate Malbec  ($50)

2002 Murphy-Goode Petite Verdot ($32)

2001 Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa ($100)

2002 Chateau St. Jean Cinq Cepages ($75)

2001 Beringer Merlot, Howell Mountain ($75)

2002 Chateau St. Jean Cabernet Franc, Sonoma Valley ($50)

2003 Bodegas Salentein Malbec, Alto Valley de Uco-Tunuyan-Mendoza  ($18)

2000 La Fleur de Quinault Saint-Emilion, Bordeaux ($44)

2003 Benziger Family Winery Sonoma Red, Sonoma Mountain  ($49)

2002 Geyser Peak Winery Reserve Meritage, Alexander Valley ($49)

Syrah & Shiraz (November 2005)

2003 Simoneau Vineyards Syrah, Mendocino County, Opatz Vineyard (yes, this is Tom's)

2002 Chateau Souverain Syrah, Alexander Valley ($20)

2003 Wolf Blass Shiraz, Yellow Label, South Australia ($12)

2002 Gravity Hills Killer Climb Syrah, Paso Robles ($45)

2001 Beringer Syrah, Spring Mountain District, Marston Vineyards, Napa Valley ($35)

2002 Penfolds Shiraz, Bin 28, South Australia, Kalimna ($22)

2003 Forefathers Shiraz, McLaren Vale, Australia ($24)

2003 TAZ Vineyards Syrah, Santa Barbara County ($25)

2003 Tablas Creek Vineyard Syrahm Paso Robles, Estate Grown ($35)

2001 Domaine de Rouïere, Vin de Pays des Coteaux de Fontcaude, Petit Montimbert, France ($25)

2000 Rosemount Estate Flagship Balmoral Syrah, McLaren Vale, Australia ($50)

2001 Jade Mountain Syrah, Paras Vineyard, Mount Veeder, Napa Valley ($50)

2002 Unti Vineyards Syrah, Dry Creek Valley ($24)

Zinfandel (October 2005)

2004 Pedroncelli Zinfandel Rose, Sonoma County ($9)

2003 Sebastiani “Old Vine” Zinfandel, Sonoma Valley ($24)

2002 Dry Creek Vineyard, Old Vine Zinfandel, Sonoma County ($25)

2003 Rosenblum Cellars, Rockpile Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley ($21)

2002 Williams Selyem, Zinfandel, Forchini Vineyard, Russian River Valley ($42)

2003 Carol Shelton, Wild Thing, Old Vines Zinfandel, Mendocino County ($28)

2002 Martin Family Vineyards, Red Rooster Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley ($25)

2002 Bella Vineyards, Zinfandel, Big River Ranch, Alexander Valley ($34)

2002 Mayo Family Winery, Zinfandel, Ricci Vineyard, Reserve Old Vines, Russian River Valley ($40)

2002 Passalacqua, Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley ($29)

2003 Wilson Winery, Estate Zinfandel, Sawyer Vineyard, Dry Creek Valley ($30)   (2005 Harvest Fair Sweepstakes Winner)

2002 Grgich Hills, Zinfandel, Napa Valley ($28)

2003 Ravenswood Winery, Old Hill Zinfandel, Sonoma Valley ($60)

Cabernet Sauvignon (August 2005)

2001 Opus One ($135)

2001 Silver Oak, Alexander Valley ($65)

2001 Beringer Vineyards Private Reserve, Napa Valley ($100)

2001 Chateau St. Jean Cinq Cépages, Sonoma County ($75)

2001 Rodney Strong Alexander's Crown, Alexander Valley ($30)

2001 Sequoia Grove Reserve, Rutherford ($55)

2001 Robert Young Scion, Alexander Valley ($52)

2001 Louis Martini, Monte Rosso, Sonoma Valley  ($50)

2002 Duckhorn Vineyards, Napa Valley ($60)

2002 Benziger Family Winery, Sonoma Mountain Red, Sonoma Valley ($45)

2002 Staglin Family Vineyard, Estate, Rutherford ($125)

2001 Simi Reserve, Alexander Valley ($60)

Pinot Noir (June 2005)

NV Blanc de Noirs, Gloria Ferrer, Sonoma County Sparkling Wine ($18)

2003 Pinot Blanc, Valley of the Moon, Sonoma County ($17)

2003 Pinot Gris, MacMurray Ranch, Russian River Valley ($20)

2003 Pinot Noir, Williams Selyem, Russian River Valley ($42)

2001 Pinot Noir, Sanford, Santa Barbara County, Santa Rita Hills ($26)

2000 Pinot Noir, Gloria Ferrer, Carneros, Jose S. Ferrer Selection ($35)

2002 Pinot Noir, Archery Summit, Oregon, Premier Cuvee ($37)

2003 Pinot Noir, Kosta Browne, Santa Lucia Highlands ($38)

2002 Pinot Noir, Alexander Valley Vineyards, Estate, Alexander Valley ($20)

2002 Pinot Noir, Merry Edwards, Windsor Gardens, Russian River Valley ($54)

2002 Pinot Noir, OROGENY, Sonoma County Green Valley

1999 Pinot Noir, Marcassin, Marcassin Vineyard, Sonoma Coast ($90)

2002 Red Burgundy Wine, Domaine Anne Gros, VOSNE-ROMANEE, LES BARREAUX ($77)

2002 Pinot Noir, Acacia, Beckstoffer, Las Amigas Vineyard ($60)

2001 Pinot Noir, Beaux Freres, The Beaux Freres Vineyard, Willamette Valley, Oregon ($58)

2003 Pinot Noir, Argyle, Willamette Valley, Oregon ($19)

2002 Pinot Noir, Martin Family Vineyards, Russian River Valley ($16)

2001 Pinot Noir, Mahoney Vineyard, Carneros ($25)