Wine Spectator's 10th Annual Grand Tour

This is the 10th annual Grand Tour for Wine Spectator and I've been lucky enough to attend the last 6, but this year it stops in Boston at the Marriott Copley Plaza instead of Marriott Marquis in New York. Its sold out and its a very manageable crowd event though are on one floor versus two in NY.

Here are the wines in tasting order and than a list of faves.
And what better way to start than a big Bordeaux from France and a big Napa Cap and we're off...
1) Chateau Margaux - 2004. WOW!
2) Robert Mondavi - Cab Sauv Reserve 2007 - Another WOW!
3) Rubicon Estate 2007 from Francis Ford - very nice
4) Chateau Mouton Rothschild Pauillac 2005 - it doesn't get any better.
5) Caymus Special Select 2008 - has 15% Merlot and very nice.
6) Chateau Pontet - Canet Pauillac 2008
7) Chateau Rolan de By - Medoc 2008 - I'm really developing a French palate in the last few years. This is amazing and its under $30 for a Wine Spectator Top 100 - Nice.
8) Chateau Smith-Haut-Lafitte - Peassac-Leognan 2008
9) Casa Lapostolle 2008 - Chile. Never know which wines from this company are the good ones.
10)Vina Cobos Malbec 2007 - This is Paul Hobbs from Mendoza, Argentina. And Paul never disappoints.
11) St. Clement Cab Sauv Oroppas 2007 - This blend is Sapporo spelled backwards. Very nice.
12) Chateau St. Jean - Cing Cepages 2007 - 1st Sonoma wine of the night.
13) Hall Exzellenz - Rutherford 2007 - Have loved Kathryn's cab, but this the 1st blend I've tasted from Hall and its amazing.
14) Chateau Palmer - Margaux 2004. Only a few bottles left and we get a taste. Get my travel agent on the phone going to France...
15) Joseph Phelps Insignia 2006 - My Absolute Fave - and stands up to everything tonight.
16) Chateau Giscours - Margaux 2005 - I have to travel to Margaux region of Bordeaux, becoming my favorite region.
17) Chateau Brance-Cantenac - Margaux 2003 - ready to book my flight to France.
18) Chateau du Tertre - Margaux 2005 - This was my other Value Deal of the night - amazing Margaux for under $50 and it has 20% Cab Franc -LOVE IT.
19) Kanonkop Paul Sauer 2005 - South African blend of 69% Cab, 9% Merlot and my fave 22% Cab Franc - had no idea they were making these great blends on that continent.
20) Chateaux Lynch-Bages - Pauillac 2005 - This may have to be the other region I visit in Bordeaux.
21) Sterling SVR Reserve -2007 - Back to Napa - holds up very well after all that French wine.
Food and water break -hydrate, hydrate
22) Signorello Estate Padrone - 2007 - Very nice Napa winery on Silverado Trail.
23) Beringer Private Reserve 2007 - last year they were pouring a '96. This wine is amazing and have to get more.
24) Provenance Cab Sauv Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard - 2007. Wine from some of the best terrior in Napa - many wineries have produced wines from this vineyard and they are all special.
25) Cliff Lede Poetry - Stags Leap District 2007 - 1st time I've had this wine and will make a point to visit this winery in Yountville. This was another WOW!
26) DeLille Cellars Chaleur Estate Red - Yakima 2007 - One of my favorite wineries in Washington, love thier D2 too.
27) Kosta Browne Pinot Noir - Russian River 2009 - this is huge Pinot.
28) Sokol Blosser Pinot Noir - Dundee Hills Oregon 2008 - had to compare these side by side. More floral than Kosta, but like both...would really depend on the food, choose this one for Alaskan Salmon.

29) Domaine Drouhin Pinot Noir - Dundee Hills Oregon 2007 - really starting to like these Oregon Pinots.

30) Maison Louis Latour -Chateau Corton Grancey 2008 - A Grand Cru Pinot Noir based wine.

few more whites and it clears the palate and helps with the purple teeth. :)

31) Gunderloch German Riesling - 2007 - Das Gut!

32) Domaine Chandon Brut - Napa/Sonoma Chardonnay Reserve - Only Chardonnay grapes in this Californian Sparkling Wine - this would be very refreshing on those hot summer days.

33) Roederer Estate Brut Rose' - Anderson Valley - very nice.
34) Gloria Ferrer Brut - Sonoma NV - great sparkler for the price.
35) Schramsberg J. Schram - North Coast 2003 - one of the best from California. Has beat the French in my side by side tastings.
36) Louis Roederer Brut Champagne Premier NV - Great Champagne and its great to try all of these side by side.

37) Chalk Hill Estate Chardonnay - Sonoma 2007. One of my favorite Chards from Sonoma.

38) Planeta Sicilia Cometa - 2008 Italy. 100% Fiano - deep straw color with open fruits like pear on the nose. Very nice.

39) Hess Collection Chardonnay - Napa Su'skol Vineyard 2008.

40) Dow Vintage Port - Quinta Senhora da Ribeira 2008.

And we're done - where are the sliders?

Some of the biggest wines of the night are highlighted - really loved Chateau Margaux, Insignia, Beringer Reserve, but was really impressed by two Bordeaux for price points under $30 Chateau Rollan de By and $50 dollars Chateau de Tertre. Hard to beat. Any time you get to taste this many wines side by side its a special day. And was happy I have a new wine buddy in training now.

Next Wine Spectator Event this October in New York. -Brian