Just received this yesterday. I have enjoyed the threads discussing the recent WS issue (thanks GlennK!) so I thought I would start one.

At any rate, I read James Molesworth's report on the 2007 vintage and found it very enjoyable. A nice write-up without a lot of the superlative in the Parker report (not trying to rip Parker - it's just a little more balanced IMO). Very complimentary of the vintage overall.
There is also an ABCs of the Southern Rhone section, which would be nice for folks that don't follow the region closely.
Still working my way through it, but the Rhone stuff is a good read.
There are also some articles about Thanksgiving pairings and, gasp, California Merlot. Looks like a good issue.

Keeno: "gasp, California Merlot."
Haven't seen the issue yet, but, I have enjoyed Frog's Leap Merlot.

Got to try the 2006 Duckhorn Three Palms Merlot at work and it was great.

I was just joking. CA Merlot is probably something that a lot of folks dismiss, myself included. I like Merlot, so no bias against the grape on my part. Just seems like CA Merlot has had its ups and downs. I have not read the report just yet, but I am looking forward to seeing how the varietal has performed.

quote:

Originally posted by Keeno:
I was just joking. CA Merlot is probably something that a lot of folks dismiss, myself included. I like Merlot, so no bias against the grape on my part. Just seems like CA Merlot has had its ups and downs. I have not read the report just yet, but I am looking forward to seeing how the varietal has performed.

Keeno, FAR more downs than ups.

You know, it was a Merlot from Stags Leap quite a few years ago that encouraged me down this path. My first foray into $20 wine (probably equivalent to a $30-$40 bottle these days) which had a wonderful balance compared to the crap I'd been drinking.

Maybe I should hate Stags Leap for what they did to me.

Way to keep it going, Keeno.

This has been the CA Merlot story to me: As W+A pointed out far more down vintages than up ones. I don't think Carneros is a good place to grow merlot, but a lot comes from there. When CA produces a very good merlot, it is priced comparable to a cab of the same quality. Sorry, even money on the two wines, I choose the CA cab sav.

Is there some anti-Merlot bias in general or just in California?

Some of the most amazing wines out there are Italian Merlots (cf Tua Rita).

I just think that these guys have seen Sideways too many times....

In my Napa trip in July, I did not have a Merlot I didn't like.

Kapscandy, O'Shaughnessy, Shafer, Mondavi, even Darioush...all great.

Doesn't bother me. No shortage of good merlot up here!

A top California Merlot is the Kapcsandy Roberta's Reserve. They have had two releases (2005 & 2006) and both were my 97/99 pointers. I haven't tasted the 2007 Roberta's Reserve, but it has a 96/100 Wine Advocate rating, and will be released in the next few months.

Let's not forget the Rafanelli

quote:

Originally posted by ThistlinTom:
I just think that these guys have seen Sideways too many times....

Probably!