Tasting Titbits, Random Thoughts & Buying Tips:

1) 2009 is a special vintage for California North Coast Chardonnay. Most of them are not released yet, but the ones that I have tried, like Hartford Four Hearts, are sooo good. Quality is very high across the board.

2) 2006 Brunello di Montalcino is the 'real deal'. Most retailers have already offered most of them on pre-arrival basis. Look out for producers like Salvioni, Uccelliera, Il Poggione, and Siro Pacenti.

3) Tasted 2006 Boscarelli Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Nocio dei Boscarelli (100% Sangiovese) with owner Nicolo De Ferrari on Tuesday -Absolutely spectacular. My score 96+.

4) Met and tasted with W. Matthew Cain, founder of YB Wines (ybwines.com) today. His one liter box wines will be the next BIG social/environmental phenomenon. Impressive press coverage already: Oprah, Forbes, Wall Street Journal, MSNBC, NY Times, Food Network, abc News.....