See below for what happened.........

WORLD PINOT NOIRS

Aperitif Wine

2005 Beaujolais Nouveau

The Wines

2002 Spy Valley, Marlborough, New Zealand

2002 Erath, Willamette Valley, Oregon

2000 Benziger, Sonoma, California

2003 Clos Du Bois, Sonoma, California

2003 Vincent Girardin, St. Vincent, Bourgogne France

2003 Vincent Girardin, Emotions, Bourgogne, France

Cheese and bread will accompany the wines. Coffee and Dessert will follow the tasting. Please bring your own glasses.

No smoking or strong fragrances--please. Attendees recognize they will consume alcohol and assume responsibility of having done so.

Attendance will be limited to the first 40.  Reservation deadline is Monday, November 14, 2005.

Members  $22.00            Guests   $24.00

What Happened.........

This tasting was organized by Chris and Sharon Arnold and Frank and Jackie Carson who narrowed down a lot of candidate wines.  It was enjoyed by 28 people.

Chris and Frank presented the wines in pairs, providing much information on the regions, how the wines were made, and the winemakers’ taste descriptions. They noted the increased popularity of New Zealand pinot noirs, the greater emphasis from California, and the differences in wine character of the four regions represented. Frank also discussed the well regarded Vincent Girardin winery in the Burgundy region.

Bread and cheeses were served with the wines.  The cheeses were six month aged Gouda from Holland, and Basque du Laits and Compte`from France.

The favorite wine, by a significant margin, was Vincent Girardin Emotions.  Also well regarded were the Spy Valley, the Erath and the St. Vincent, about equally.

There were home baked cookies, by Jackie Carson, and coffee at the end.