Went to the Vinexpo yesterday courtesy of ttepper. Thanks, tt. Very fun, very interesting. I tasted about 25-30 wines. Here are a list of wines I thought were impressive yesterday.

Bodegas El Molar, Aravinas '99 Crianza
Casa Lapostolle Cuvee Alexander '00 Merlot
Casa Lapostolle Cuvee Alexander '00 Cabernet Sauv.
Casa Lapostolle '00 Apalta (The best of the 3-Merlot/Cab blend)
Marques de Marrieta '00 Neonato Rioja
Castillo Ygay '94 Reserva
Joseph Phelps '99 Ovation Chard
Joseph Pheleps '99 Insignia (though not as plush as I hoped)
Taylor Fladgate Quinta de Vargellas '88
Taylor Fladgate 20 yr Tawny (Excellent)
Sequoia Grove '99 Resevre Cabernet Sauv.

I took Tn's on some. I can give further details upon request.

jb

jb, on the Ovation- Buy? If so, drink when?

I don't know what the price is on that wine. IMO, 87-89pts and very tasty. I would say if it is in the $15-20 range, it is a buy. Drink by 2005.

jb

The '99 Ovation listed for $44 from the winery, and generally sells for $40 to $45.

Thanks. No buy.

jb

Board-O: For what it's worth, as a member of the Phelps Preferred Club, I had an opportunity to buy the '99 for $35 and change. I really enjoyed the wine when I tasted it, but even at the discount, I passed. At $30, I would have bitten.

Hope that helps.