Made it up to the expo Sunday. Was at the event by noon. The wine expo is actually two events, the main event in the convention center and a smaller, more eclectic “Grand Cru” tasting at the Seaport Hotel across the street. The grand cru event didn’t start until 1:00 so me and my wingman spent an hour in the main hall looking for some good juice. These type of consumer events can be a drinking zoo but they let members of the trade in a couple of hours before they open to the public so at noon the crowd was restrained

Thomas George Estates Pinot Noir,  09 Russian River PN, 09 Cresta Ridge PN, both very nice wines, the Cresta Ridge with more complexity.

Ladera Napa Valley

07 Cab, 07 Lone Canyon Cab, 07 Howell Mtn Cab

Tasty Napa Cabs with the Lone Canyon as my favorite.

Grand Cru Lounge

After an hour in the main hall we made our way to the grand cru lounge in the hotel across the street. Where the main hall was one huge event space, the lounge was more intimate with harbor views, a live jazz band and some outstanding wines, and people who payed extra to drink good wine.  We decided to start at the California table. A bucket full of Chardonnay from Flowers, Cakebread, HdV, Littorai, Farniente and Charles Heitz. My favorite white was:

2008 Cakebread Reserve Chardonnay…. Creamy vanilla with good acidty on the finish, a good one to drink on its own.

At the Cabernet table they poured Duckhorn, Beringer Private Reserve, Silver Oaks Alexaner Valley,  Darioush, and Heitz Bella Oaks. My favorite red was:

2007 Beringer Private Reserve

Classic Bordeaux nose of green olives. tight fruit but not overwhelming, great acid/tannin on the finish. Taste like what a good Bordeaux would taste from a hot vintage where the grapes got really ripe.

I told a few people at the event this was my favorite and they made a face. I guess assumed that all Beringer made were jug wines, they need to work on their PR.

Merry Edwards Winery poured a couple of Pinots from Russian River, the 09 Klopp Ranch and the 09 Meredith Estate. Very well made and balanced

The most unusual wine I had that day was the Triumvir Vineyards 08 Russian River Pinot Noir. On the nose I was getting pencil shavings and mushrooms and not the usual Cali black cherry and cola. Smelled and tasted very rustic. If I didn’t know it was a Cali wine I would have guessed it was something from southern Italy, I’m not sure if I loved it or hated it.

Burgundy  After the Cali table I headed to Burgundy, They poured sixteen white and red Burgundys from Joseph Drouhin, Lucian Boillot, Joseph Voillot, Bouchard and Louis Latour. I tried all sixteen and there wasn’t a clunker on the table. Very nice. I particually enjoyed these whites: Louis Latour’s 08 & 09 Chassagne Montrachet Marquis de Laguiche 1er Cru, 09 Puligny Montrachet “Les Tuffieres” 1er Cru and the 09 Corton Charlemagne.

My favorite white Burgundy of the night was the 08 J. Drouhin “Clos des Mouches” 1er Cru. Very tasty. Some of the reds I enjoyed were Drouhin’s 09 Savigny Les Beune “Clos de Godeaux” 1er Cru, and the 08 Chambole Musiigny. My favorite red Burgundy of the night was the 09 J. Drouhin “Clos des Mouches” The flies win.

There wasn’t much from Italy at the event but what I enjoyed was the  05 Terrasole Pinino “pinone” Brunello di Montalcino Reserva. Very rich, silky fruit more Cali than Italy.