Volume 32, Issue 12: October 2008
PINOT NOIR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Is the Pinot Noir bubble about to burst like the housing bubble, the stock market bubble and the Merlot bubble? There are those who claim that Pinot prices will go the way of all bubbles. But, we are not so sure. Pinot is still a bargain compared to Cabernet, and the price of Pinot grapes remains exceptionally high. CHARDONNAY SUBSCRIBERS ONLY The trend toward better balanced Chardonnays continues in this Issue, but we found a wine critic who disagrees--at least until we pointed out that his favorite Chardonnay from Paul Hobbs was not one of those lowered alcohol food wines that he claimed to love but a wine that was both rich and balanced at the same time. Best Buys SUBSCRIBERS ONLY In this edition of Best Buys, we turn our attention to Riesling, surely the finest value in the market place today. Recommendations for priceworthy Zinfandels and Sauvignon Blancs are also provided.				SUBSCRIBERS ONLY CONNOISSEURS' FORUMS with edtiors Charles Olken and Stephen Eliot. 2006 Talley Vineyards Pinot Noir Rincon Vineyard Arroyo Grande Valley Just as Talley's Rincon Chardonnay is the bright star of its clan, so too does Rincon Vineyard set the pace among the winery's fine Pinot Noirs. Deep and downright juicy with a wealth of ripe and fully extracted black cherry fruit, the wine is at once both weighty and silky in feel. It is enriched with just the right measure of oaky sweetness, and its very long and very generous finish is unstinting in fruit. There is so much to like now that keeping will come hard, but it has more than enough of the right stuff for improvement and is a sure bet to only get better with age. $58.00 Score: 95