went to a small tasting last night at Lovell's Restaurant. Here are some quick notes and ratings:

2001 Luna Pinot Grigio Lemon. More body than an Italian PG. Pleasant. Good balance. 86P.

2001 Rochioli Sauvignon Blanc Cat's pee, sewage nose. Like drinking grapefruit juice. 78P.

2000 Tablas Creek Clos Blanc Blend of Rousanne, Viognier, Marsanne, and Grenache Blanc. Interesting peppermint lifesaver/basil nose. Lemony fruit, with a snappy smoky finish. 88P.

1999 Talbott Sleepy Hollow Vyd. Chardonnay Fresh field pea flavors and aromas. Clean citrus up front. Nice dollop of integrated oak. 87P.

1999 Flowers Sonoma Coast Chardonnay Reminiscent of a burnt biscuit. Light bodied. Not good. 80P.

1999 Domaine Drouhin Pinot Noir (ORE)Sweet cherry nose. Light raspberry fruit. Not very complex. 87P.

2000 Rochioli Pinot Noir RRV Rustic aromas of baked rhubarb pie and cola. Loaded with sticky dark fruit. A terrific layered finish, like stepping down a ladder. 91P.

2000 MacMurray RRV Pinot Noir Smelled like an old sweatshirt that you haven't worn in two years but find at the bottom of your drawer. Lively in the mouth, but fruit is lacking. Shoe polish notes. Sour. 79P.

2000 Fife Mendocino Uplands Zin Maraschino cherry flavors. Light-bodied and pleasant. 87P.

2000 Biale Monte Rosso Zin I'd best describe the nose as chlorinated blueberry. Tons of fruit. Lots of tannins. Hot finish. Probably very very good in 12 months. 90+P.

1998 Ch. Potelle Zin From Mt. Veeder. Clean raspberry nose. Syrupy boysenberry flavors, almost sweet. Very dense thick chewy texture. 90P.

1999 Woodward Canyon Artist Series Cab Sauvignon From Walla Walla. Pretty straightforward. Light bodied. Not very interesting. 85P.

1999 White Cottage Howell Mtn Cab Sauvignon Smooth as glass. Chocolately cab with seemless integration of tannins and fruit. Very good. 91P.

2000 Viader I know this is a board favorite, but I've had it twice now and find it to be rather round and simple. Picked up some violets and pepper on the nose. Some banana and blackberry flavors. Not very impressive, especially right after the White Cottage. 87P.

1999 Guigal CdP A friend opened this WOTY at the end of the tasting. We immediately realized it was a bad idea. Ferocious tannins with no decanting. Yes, I found some zippy black pepper on the nose and some pretty lavender and strawberry flavors, but the finsh turned my tongue into sandpaper in seconds. Tough to rate under these circumstances. Maybe an 89-91 pointer???

Taylor Fladgate 20-yr old Tawny Port Walnuts. Leather. Smoke. 89P

1992 Warre's LBV Port Too sweet for my taste. 86P.

2000 Graham's Port Clean fresh nose. Concentrated blueberry flavors for a half-second, then a brutal rush of tannin closes it off. Flashes of brilliance. 92P.

Cheers,

Otis

The 1999 DDO will be great in about 5-10 years. Give it time.