The Iron Chevsky Wine Blog

This is the top Bordeaux tasting of the year in the Bay Area, IMO, with tremendous number of top-growth Bordeaux on hand, with owners rather than importers/distributors, presenting their famed wines. Missing were the 1st growths and many 2nd growths, but what was there was highly pedigreed nonetheless. This year's tasting in San Francisco was perhaps the highest anticipated ever. Completely packed, the first looks at the much anticipated, highly hyped 2010 vintage drew a large crowd. On the heels of the 2009 -- the 100-point Parker "vintage of the century", the 2010 was one of those rare back-to-backs that could be even better. While the 2009 is considered riper, lusher, warmer, more "new worldly" and more "hedonistic", the 2010 was expected to impress with monumental depth of everything but in a more classic (non-jammy) and impeccably balanced style. And boy, did the 2010 deliver! To my palate, this was the greatest Bordeaux vintage I've tasted...

Here are my most memorable wines from across the globe from the 2012 W&S Top 100 Wineries of the Year grand tasting event in San Francisco's Metreon in October. Click on a photo to enlarge it. Enjoy!

Great Enoteca 100  Italian wine tasting as usual at Donato Enoteca on Dec 1. Absolutely incredible value, an event that I look forward to every year, previously announced here . I paid extra attention to 2008 Barolos that have been getting a fair share of critical acclaim lately and are just becoming available in the market. I was not disappointed. Renato Ratti Barolo "Marcenasco" 2008 was the wine of the tasting for me. Vietti's entry-level Barolo Castiglione was also very good. I found both of these wines deep, full, and revealing enough (beyond tannins) to appreciate them even now. Honorable mention goes to Donato's porchetta (shown on the plate in front of the Renato Ratti above) - the crispy skin is to die for. Another notable showing was by the  1995 Fattoria di Felsina Berardenga Chianti Classico Riserva "Rancia"  - somehow these venerable old bottles have shown up direct from the winery this year. The wine is tasting great right now, re...

The annual Enoteca 100 tasting is upon us again. Do not miss. You can get $10 off with a coupon code mentioned in the COST section below. I never used to love Italian food as much, until I started loving Italian wine. That love affair with vino drove me to explore and appreciate Italian cuisine, which in turn nudged me to explore even more of Italy's wine regions and varieties. No other place has helped open my eyes to all that more so than one of my favorite restaurants in the Bay Area - Donato Enoteca . Not only do they serve great food and wine all year around, they also feature some of my favorite winemaker dinners. And once a year, Donato Enoteca throw their annual Enoteca 100 Italian wine extravaganza. This year, it's on Saturday, December 1. I documented this event in the past -- highly recommended for sheer joy of living! Taste 100+ fine Italian Wines & Donato's Creations The WINE: Barolo, Barbaresco, Brunello, Franciacorta, Amarone, Valle d'Ao...

This time of year, top Italian restaurants are bringing in white truffles - a delicacy from Piedmonte (Northern Italy), which also happens to be the home of Barolo and Barbaresco wines. Last night at Donato Enoteca, it was absolutely phenomenal. I have vividly described the decadent experience at length a couple of years ago , and it continues to be special every single time. Man o man, that raviolo with runny egg yolk inside and white truffles on top - paired with Produttori del Barbaresco Moccagatta Riserva 2004 and Francesco Rinaldi Barolo Brunate 2004 (both wines beginning to approach their drinking window) - orgasmic !

Here is my feeling about few recent vintages from some of the tastings I've attended in the past few months. 2008 Bordeaux - This is the third time I am writing about 2008 Bordeaux. The previous article was here , when I was quite enthusiastic about the vintage. 2008's are a good value compared to 2009 and 2010, but in my latest tasting, the wines appeared lighter than 2005's and 2009's (I haven't tasted 2010 yet) and I recommend you taste before you buy. At yesterday's tasting at Beltramo's, three big names from the Left Bank seemed a bit light and thin (but still nice), especially when tasted next to the 2005 Palmer (which tasted like classic 2005, firm, dense, balanced). Even though the prices are attractive compared to 2009's and 2010's, I wouldn't buy any of the 2008's below (nor would I turn them down if someone offered them as a gift either :)). 2005 Palmer Margaux, $349.99 - good wine, full of stuffing (reminds me of borscht), ...

Earlier this year I was invited by the Millbrae Community TV to film an episode about pairing wine with Chinese food. The show aired in two parts during the Labor Day weekend on September 1 and 2, 2012. For the shoot, I had selected a sparkling Cremant de Bourgogne rosé (from Burgundy), a Gruner Veltliner (from Austria), a Cote du Rhone (from South of France), a Cru Beaujolais (France), and a German Riesling. Hope you enjoy this 10-min show.