SORRY FOR THE SLOWNESS OF NOTES--professional obligations have made it difficult to churn out many notes at various times (along the lines of more work, less fun!), but look for new Wine Advocate reports on Portugal and Greece at the end of the year.

November/December, 2009 Tasting Notes
California/USA (except dessert/sparkling)
2000 Pinot Noir "Sonoma" (Kistler); 1999 "Tresor" (Ferrari-Carano); 1998 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve (Leonetti); 1998 "Chaleur" (DeLille); 1998 Cabernet Sauvignon (Quilceda Creek); 2007 The Illusionist (Sleight of Hand); 2007 "The Magician" Gewurztraminer (Sleight of Hand); 1977 Cabernet Sauvignon (Clos du Val); 1973 Cabernet Sauvignon "Cask D-3" (Inglenook); 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon (Maxwell Creek); 1980 Cabernet Sauvignon (Caymus)

Dessert/Sparkling
NV Moscatel Sherry (Pedro Romero); 2004 Brut Rosé "Grand Cellier Rubis" (Vilmart); NV  20 Years  Tawny Port (Sandeman)

Germany (except dessert/sparkling)

1995 Riesling Spatlese "Herrenberg" (Grunhaus-Von Schubert)

Italy
2006 Crognolo (Sette Ponti); 1997 Tassinaia (Castello del Terriccio); 2005 Campaccio (Terrabianca); 1997 Brunello di Montalcino (Ciacci Piccolomini); 1997 Brunello di Montalcino (Pertimali)

Rhone/South/SW France (except dessert/sparkling)

1999 Vin de Pays de l'Herault (Grange des Peres)

Spain (except dessert/sparkling)

2004 Idus de Vall Llach (Celler Vall Llach)

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September/October, 2009 Tasting Notes

Bordeaux (except dessert/sparkling)
1989 Chateau Le Gay

California/USA (except dessert/sparkling)

2007 Meritage "Crimson Topaz" (Clos LaChance); 2006 Merlot "Violet-Crowned" (Clos LaChance); 2006 Syrah "Black-Chinned" (Clos LaChance); 1999 Lytton Springs (Ridge); 2006 Tempranillo "Dunnigan Hills" (Matchbook); 2005 Pinot Noir "Occidental" (Rivers-Marie); 2006 Pinot Noir "Gowan Creek" (Goldeneye); 1989 Monte Bello (Ridge)

Dessert/Sparkling
2003 Coteaux du Layon "L'Anclaie Beaulieu" (Pierre Bise)

Germany (except dessert/sparkling)
1999 Riesling Spatlese “Graacher Domprobst” (W. Schaefer)

Rhone/South/SW France (except dessert/sparkling)

1995 Bandol "Cuvée Speciale, La Rose Folle" (Chateau Pradeaux)

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July/August, 2009 Tasting Notes

Alsace (except dessert/sparkling)
2004 Riesling "Steingrubler" (Barmes-Buecher); 2006 Riesling "Vignoble d'E" (Oestertag); 2005 Muscat "Cuvée Particuliere" (Bott Freres); 1994 Gewurztraminer "Clos Windsbuhl" (Zind-Humbrecht); 1994 Gewurztraminer "Wintzenheim" (Zind-Humbrecht); 2002 Gewurztraminer "Cuvée Theo" (Weinbach); 2005 Gewurztraminer "Furstentum" Vendange Tardive (Weinbach); 2002 Gewurztraminer "Furstentum Vielles Vignes" (Paul Blanck); 2002 Gewurztraminer "Furstentum Vielles Vignes" (Albert Mann); 2004 Gewurztraminer "Reserve Personnelle" (Bott Freres); 2003 Gewurztraminer "Sommerberg" (G. Weinzorn)

Argentina (except dessert/sparkling)
2005 Malbec "Catena Alta" (Bodega Catena Zapata); 2007 Gran Malbec (Bodega Flechas de Los Andes); 2006 Malbec Gran Reserva (Finca El Origen)

Austria (except dessert/sparkling)

2006 Riesling Reserve "Pfaffenberg" (Metternich & Salomon)

Bordeaux (except dessert/sparkling)
1993 Chateau Mouton-Rothschild; 1990 Les Forts de Latour; 2003 Chateau Malartic-Lagraviere; 2003 Chateau Pontet Canet; 1989 Chateau Pichon Lalande; 2005 Chateau Bellefont-Belcier

California/USA (except dessert/sparkling)

2007 Chardonnay "Biagini Vineyard" (Clos LaChance); 2007 Chardonnay "Liebeler Vineyard" (Clos LaChance); 2003 Pinot Noir "Kistler Vineyard" (Kistler); 2006 Pinot Noir "Russian River Valley" (Porter Creek); 2006 Pinot Noir "Biagini Vineyard" (Clos LaChance); 2002 "Blend 352" (Core); 2006 Syrah "Hopland" (Erle Family); 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon "Cellar Select" (Weinstock); 2007 Zinfandel "Old Vine Lodi" (Baron Herzog)

Dessert/Sparkling
2003 Sauternes (Chateau de Myrat); 2004 Riesling Eiswein (R. Muller); 2008 Chenin Blanc Late Harvest "Clarksburg" (Herzog); 2004 Port LBV (Porto Cordovero); 2006 Moscatel "Old Vines" Malaga (Jorge Ordonez); 2004 Esencia (Jorge Ordonez); 1990 Sainte Croix du Mont Reserve (Chateau de la Rame)

Germany (except dessert/sparkling)

2002 Riesling Spatlese "Abtsberg" (M. Grunhaus);2004 Riesling Auslese "Ockfener Bockstein" (St-Urbanshof); 2007 Gewurztraminer Kabinett "Durkheimer Nonnengarten" (Darting); 2005 Riesling Spatlese "Munsterer Dautenpflanzer" (Kruger-Rumpf)

Italy
2003 Oreno (Tenuta Sette Ponti); 1998 Montiano (Falesco); 2001 Brunello di Montalcino "Manachiara" (Nardi); 2005 Gewurztraminer "Lunare" (Kellerei Cantina Terlano)

Rhone/South/SW France (except dessert/sparkling)
1990 Gigondas (Montmirail)
 

Spain (except dessert/sparkling)

1996 Tinto (Clos Mogador); 2001 Reserva (Castillo Labastida); 2008 Moscatel Seco "Botani" (Jorge Ordonez); 2005 Les Terrasses (Alvaro Palacios); 2000 Numanthia; 2005 EL26 (Elvi)

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May/June, 2009 Tasting Notes

Austria (except dessert/sparkling)

2006 Riesling Reserve "Undhof Kogl" (Salomon); 2006 Gelber Muskateller (Nigl)

Bordeaux (except dessert/sparkling)
1986 Chateau Pavie; 1986 Chateau Troplong Mondot;1986 Chateau Canon La Gaffelière;1995 Chateau Laville Haut Brion Blanc;1986 Chateau Talbot; 1982 Chateau Ducru Beaucaillou; 1986 Chateau Poujeaux; 1996 Chateau Poujeaux; 1986 Mouton Baronne Philippe; 1983 Chateau L'Evangile; 1995 Chateau Trotanoy

Burgundy (except dessert/sparkling)
1988 Grands-Echezeaux (Mongeard-Mugneret); 1999 Clos de Vougeot (V. Girardin)

California/USA (except dessert/sparkling)

1986 Insignia (Phelps); 2008 Sauvignon Blanc "Hummingbird Series" (Clos LaChance); 2008 Chardonnay Unoaked "Hummingbird Series" (Clos LaChance); 2007 Pinot Noir "Santa Cruz Mountains" (Clos LaChance); 2001 Petite Sirah "Library" (Turley); 1996 Petite Sirah "Hayne Vineyard" (Turley); 2006 Petite Sirah (Girard); 1995 Petite Sirah (Navarro); 1999 Pinot Noir "Beaux Freres Vineyard" (Beaux Freres); 2006 Pinot Noir "Santa Cruz Mountains" (Heart O' The Mountain); 2007 "Le Proportion d'Orée" (Morlet); 2007 Chardonnay "Ritchie" (Aubert); 2008 Rosé "Victories" (Fleming Jenkins); 2006 Pinot Noir "Russian River" (Dehlinger)

Dessert/Sparkling
1995 Coteaux du Layon "La Clos de la Bergerie" (Domaine La Bergerie); 1977 Port (Dow)

Germany (except dessert/sparkling)
1964 Riesling Spatlese "Schwarzhofberger" (Egon Muller); 1989 Riesling Auslese "Lorenzhofer Maurerchen" (Karlsmuhle); 1996 Riesling Spatlese "Rudesheimer Berg Rotland" (Johannishof)

Rhone/South/SW France (except dessert/sparkling)
1993 Cotes de Provence (Domaine Ott); 2008 Bandol Rosé (Pradeaux)

South Africa (except dessert/sparkling)
2008 Chenin Blanc (Teddy Hall)

 

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March/April, 2009 Tasting Notes

Alsace (except dessert/sparkling)
1998 Riesling Vendange Tardive (Barmes-Buecher)

California/USA (except dessert/sparkling)

1997 Firebreak (Shafer); 2002 Firebreak (Shafer)

Dessert/Sparkling
2000 Champagne Brut (Cristal); 2000 "Nobleman" (Sine Qua Non); 2004 Rieslaner Beerenauslese “Durkheimer Nonnengarten” (Darting)

Germany (except dessert/sparkling)
2002 Riesling Spatlese "Roxheimer Berg" (Prinz zu Salm-Dalberg'sches); 2004 Riesling Spatlese "Abtsberg" (Maximin Grunhaus); 2007 Riesling Spatlese "Goldtropchen" (Reinhold Haart); 2005 Riesling Auslese "Zeltinger Sonnenuhr- Rotlay" (Selbach-Oster)
 

Italy
1990 Barbaresco "Sori Tildin" (Gaja); 1997 Barolo "Bric del Fiasc" (Scavino); 1989 Barolo "Cascina Francia"  (G. Conterno); 1997 Sancta Catharina (Dei); 2006 Rapace (Uccelliera)

Rhone/South/SW France (except dessert/sparkling)
1990 Gigondas (Font-Sane)
 

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January/February, 2009 Tasting Notes
Alsace (except dessert/sparkling)

2002 Riesling "Schlossberg" (Paul Blanck); 1990 Riesling "Frederic Emile" (Trimbach); 2004 Pinot Gris "Clos Windsbuhl" (Zind-Humbrecht)

Burgundy (except dessert/sparkling)
1996 Mazis-Chambertin "Cuvée A" (Dominique Laurent)
 

California/USA (except dessert/sparkling)
2000 Pinot Noir "Marcassin Vineyard" (Marcassin); 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon "Eisele" (Araujo); 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon "RBS Beckstoffer To-Kalon Vineyard" (Schrader); 2003 Cariad (Colgin); 2001 Pinot Noir “Cuvée Catherine" (Kistler); 2005 Pinot Noir "Special Reserve Edna Valley" (Herzog); 2003 Syrah Special Reserve Edna Valley" (Herzog); 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon "Special Reserve Napa Valley" (Herzog); 1992 Cabernet Sauvignon "Herb Lamb" (Colgin); 1994 Cabernet Sauvignon (Harlan); 1997 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate (Chateau Montelena); 1993 Cabernet Sauvignon "Eisele" (Araujo); 1998 Petite Sirah "Rattlesnake Acres" (Turley); 1998 Petite Sirah "Barcini Vineyard" (Behrens & Hitchcock); 2006 Grenache "Estate" (Clos LaChance); 2006 Syrah "Estate" (Clos LaChance); 2006 Lila's Cuvée (Clos LaChance)
 

Dessert/Sparkling
NV Port "40 Year" (Taylor Fladgate); 1998 Riesling Eiswein "Mussbacher Eselshaut" (Muller-Catoir)
 

Germany (except dessert/sparkling)
2005 Riesling Spatlese "Scharzhofberger" (Vereinigte Hospitien)

Rhone/South/SW France (except dessert/sparkling)
2000 Chateauneuf-du-Pape "Celestins" (Bonneau)
 

Spain (except dessert/sparkling)

2005 Peraj Ha'abib "Flor de Primavera" (Celler de Capçanes)

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