2002 Central Coast Calera Pinot Noir

"It's such an odd smell. Its different." "Something before, and I tried to cook Josephine and it had all of happiness a lovely mothers day". "Well, no wonder there are people frozen in their Welsh bog. I think it'll be allright as long as you issue a gas mask with simple instructions."

2005 King Estate Pinot Gris

The pre-wedding taste selection party. Nice, very smooth and light. Stayed right on the mark through two weeks of tasting. Mixed in between G&Ts and a nice merlot over veg chili. Won the first prize to be served - send me 14 bottles por favour!

2004 Acacia Carneros Pinot Noir

Won the red wine contest for best to be served at the Wedding. Lin: "thumbs up; smooth clear after taste". At least it had a cork so no controversy.

2005 Villa Maria Sauvignon Blanc (Marlborough) NZ

A slammer of a wine; perfect with cajun shrimp and grouper. However, there were compaints about the screwtop cap! "Very fruity - not very buttery, it is crisp, a smoky".

Monkey Bay Pinot Grigio

Rotgut swill, but above average cost.

AD&JB's Mini-Pinot Noir Wine Festival

Beautiful VBeach Sunday afternoon, the wine expertly presented. Fortified by a warm-up Dark and Stormy we enjoyed a refreshing swim and then we moved to the deck table by the pool. This is what a mini-wine festival should be. The drama and suspense of four well-cloaked bottles of PNoir complete with blind tasting notes:

#1 2005 Buffalo Grove Anderson Valley

Light and watery, very soft and inoffensive. Finally, afer many a sip, a "sweetness"comes through, "I walked in on her and she said 'Poof'". "Take a guess at the year", "Not long ago!". "An acidic aftertaste reminds me of burnt toast". "Slightly bitter aftertaste". "Light then smoky, a little harsh afterwards". "A completely different wine when cooled a bit."

#2 2004 Edgewood Estate Edna Valley

"I've got to get rid of No. 1 first" (where was this going) , "I thought No. 1 wasn't great, but No. 2 shows just how wrong you can be!! Sunburnt taste. Tongue Drying. If you were to go to Egypt a kiss a dummy this is the shape your lips would take" "No, its a mummy" "We're only having sippies" "Yuk". "Fruity aroma; bitter aftertaste, even stronger than #1, lip puckering".

2004 Farallon Central Coast

"The best so far. Smooth even and balanced. Everyone's angel". "A perky little offering". "Very light, very mellow. An enjoyable wine". "What u taste is what u get. Not bad at all".

2004 Chateau de Phillipe Le Hardi

"More bitter, but not as strong as No.s 1 & 2. Light". "Light, quite nice, but tastes of shrimp." "Flat, metallic. A bit of a stinger at the end. Straw in the mouth. "Light, quite interesting. I like it, I really do. Really."

And so, this delightful afternoon came to an end with the Farallon in the lead but Edna Valley on his heels. Looking forward round two during the now aptly named Operation "Le Nozze Di Figaro".

Adio!

2003 Penfolds Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet

This fine offering was unveiled at Keena's 56th birthday party at the B-well Salt Ponds resort. Locked away til the last minute, Teeth finally opened the Penfolds to the delight of the wild boar sauce eating crowd. We sat downstairs for hours in the back garden with the rest of the "B" List crowd suffering shunning catcalls from the upper deck (including the Queen's haughty wave). Eventually the Bratty distro to the poor was held accompanied by the vino de Oz. There were a few dissenting opinions from Stag One re "kangaroo droppings" and "platypus spittle", but, in the end, the Koonunga won the day. Teeth upended and finished the bottle senza bichiere. Comments? Something from AD about "monumental" or maybe "memorable". Future solo skydiver Josephine advised "It smells like red wine". As cell phone numbers were excitedly exchanged, we toasted sunset sitting astride our new Coleman folding captain's chairs. The evening closed as the disastrous events of the previous Labor Day were revisted, and all agreed that 2006 was a vast improvement being as how no one got lost beside the porta-potties.

2004 Lindemans Bin 55 Shiraz Cabernet

Pre-launch night before Operation Annapolitan Pirates. Dinner at the Guad followed by Eddie Sal's Elvis Show. Let's just say his idea of the King's scarf was a stretch of TP. Ohhhh Nooo. Then back to mi casa for some Lindemans. This prompted a session of side by side feet comparison and then showing of the boys in the bath picture. Next thing we know Lin was clawing the air mouth open. Was this a Mac impression or a subtle statement of appreciation? "Its good for the loosening of lips and the sinking of ships" , "there will be payback for this weekend". The Lindy was no earth-shatterer, but decent and reliable. Luckily this bottle came just before one of the Black Swan's was cracked open which quickly re-earned the BSOD designation based just on the comparison.