Best Selections of Wine Trade Tastings
from various wine industry portfolio tastings during the year.

Consortium of Brunello di Montalcino - Benvenuto Brunello - NYC 2016
Best Picks: (Brunello di Montalcino) Banfi- Poggio all'Oro Riserva '10; Barbi- Riserva '10; Canalicchio di Sopra- 2011, Riserva '10; Capanna- 2011, Riserva '10; Caparzo- 2011, Riserva '10; Caprili- 2011, Riserva Adalberto '10; Carpineto 2011; Castelgiocondo- 2011; Col D'Orcia- Riserva Poggio al Vento '08; Collosorbo- Riserva '10; Il Palazzone- 2010; La Fiorita- Riserva '07; La Magia- 2011; Lisini- Riserva '09; Tassi di Franci Franca- Tassi '11, Franci Riserva '10; Tenuta Buon Tempo- 2011; Tenuta San Giorgio- Ugolforte '11; Uccelliera- 2011; Vini Italiani da Sogno- La Togata 2011.

APVSA Champagne Tasting, NYC
Best Picks: Gratiot Gérard- Cuvée Rosé Brut, Cuvée Millésimé '08, Cuvée Désiré '06; Serveaux Fils- Raisins Noirs, Les Meandres, Grand Vintage '08, Meunier d'Antan; E. Jamart & Cie- Réserve, Dulci; Mondet- Brut Intense, Brut Nature; Philippe Gamet- Cuvée 5000, Cuvée Caractères; Theirry Flateau- Symbiose '06; Poissinet- Carte d'Or Millésimé '08; Gaidoz Forget- Cuvée Réservée, Cuvée Bertille '07; Rémy Galichet- Brut Millésimé '09, Brut Zéro Millésimé L'Unique; Lecomte Père & Fils- Cuvée Darling, Amaryllis '10; Jean-Pierre Legret- Mineral Chardonnay.

Crush 9th Annual Champagne Gala, NYC
Best Picks: Krug Grande Cuvée NV, Krug Rosé NV, Krug Vintage 2003; Ruinart Rosé NV, Dom Ruinart 2004; Moët & Chandon Imperial NV, Moët & Chandon Imperial Rosé NV, Moët & Chandon Grand Vintage 2006; Taittinger Prestige Rosé, Taittinger Comtes de Champagne 2006, Taittinger Comtes de Champagne Rosé 2005; Bollinger NV Special Cuvée, Bollinger 2005 La Grande Annee, Bollinger 2002 RD; Roederer Rosé 2009, Roederer Cristal 2007; Gosset Rosé NV; Dom Pérignon 2006, Dom Pérignon Rosé 2004; Veuve Clicquot Rosé NV; Pol Roger 2004; Robert Moncuit Millesime 2008; Savart L'Ouverture BdN NV; Marie-Courtin Resonance NV 2011.

Grands Crus Classes of Saint-Emilion - 2015 U.S. Tasting Tour, NYC
Best Picks: Château Bellefont-Belcier 2010; Clos Saint Martin 2010; Clos des Jacobins 2010; Château de Ferrand 2010 & 2012; Château de Pressac 2010; Château Fombrauge 2010; Château Fonroque 2010 & 2012; Château Grand Pontet 2012; Château Gaudet 2010; Château Jean Faure 2010; Château La Marzelle 2010; Château Laroze 2010; Château Yon Figeac 2012.

Taste Ontario NYC 2015
Best Picks: (White) Bachelder- Wismer Vyd Wingfield Block Chardonnay '13 & Foxcroft Block Chard '13; Closson Chase- Chardonnay '13, Niagara The Brock Chard '13; Flat Rock Cellars- Nadja's Vyd Reisling '14; Hidden Bench Vineyards- Reisling '12 & Nuit Blanche Bordeaux-style Blend '11; Norman Hardie Winery- County Chardonnay '13; Tawse Winery- Estate Blend Chardonnay '11, So. Bay Vyd Chard '13 & Quarry Road Vyd Chard '11; Vineland Estates Winery- Dry Reisling '11 & Sparkling Reisling '08.
(Red) Bachelder- Pinot Noir '12; Closson Chase- Pinot Noir '09; Flat Rock Cellars- Estste Pinot Noir '12 & '13; Hidden Bench Vineyards- Locust Lane Pinot Noir '08; Norman Hardie Winery- Niagara Pinot Noir '12, County Pinot Noir '13.
(Rosé) Malivoire Wine Co.- Rosé '14.
(Icewine) Peller Estates Winery- Oak-Aged Vidal Icewine '14 & Reisling Icewine '14; Stratus- Reisling Icewine '13; Vineland Estates Winery- Cabernet Sauvignon Icewine '13.

Montecucco & Morellino di Scansano, Tuscan Wine Tasting - NYC 2015
Best Picks: (Montecucco) Basile- Adagio Riserva 2011 & Commandante '11; Campinuovi- Riserva '11; ColleMassari- Riserva '12; Il Boschetto- 2011, '12 & '13; Ribusieri - Le Maciole '12; San Gabriele Arcangelo- Pavone '13 & Cuccuvaia '09.
(Morellino di Scansano) Erik Banti- Carato '12 & Ripe More '12; Mantellassi- Mentore '14 & Le Sentinele Riserva '10; Vignaioli Morellino Scansano- Vigna Benefizio- 2014, Riserva '12 & Riserva '10; Massi Di Mandorlaia- I Massi '13, I Massi Riserva '12; Terre Di Fiori- 2014; Val Di Toro- 2013.

The Grandi Marchi Experience, NYC 2015
Best Picks: (White) Ca del Bosco- Cuvée Annamaria Clementi Franciacorta Riserva 2006; Gaja- Ca'Marcanda Vistamare Toscana 2014; Umani Ronchi- Vecchie Vigne Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico Superiore 2013.
(Red) Tenuta San Guido- Sassicaia 2012; Michele Chiarlo- Cerequio Barolo 2011; Pio Cesare- Barolo 2011; Ambrogio e Giovanni Folonari Tenute- Cabreo Il Borgo Toscana 2012; Antinori- Pian delle Vigne Brunello di Montalcino 2010; Argiolas- Turriga Isola dei Nuraghi 2011; Tasca d'Almerita- Rosso del Conte Contea di Sclafani 2011; Rivera- Il Falcone Castel del Monte Riserva 2009; Lungarotti- Torgiano Rosso Riserva Rubesco Vigna Monticchio 2008; Masi- Riserva di Costasera Amarone Classico 2009.
(Desert) Donnafugata- Ben Ryé Passito di Pantelleria 2008 Limited Edition.

Opici Fall Tasting 2015, NYC
Best Picks: (France) Château Haut Surget '12; Château Cormeil Figeac '09; Domaine Notre Dame de Cousignac- Châteauneuf-du-Pape '12; Roux- St. Aubin Les Cortons '13, Mersault Vielles Vignes '12 & Chassange-Montrachet '13.
(Italy) Viberti Barolo San Pietro Riserva '07; Ridolfi Brunello di Montalcino '09 & Riserva '07; Monterverro- Monteverro '11 & Terra di Monteverro '11; Cesari- Amarone Bosan '05; La Colombaia Amarone '11.
(California) Aloha Omega- Cabernet Sauvignon '10; The Debate- To Kalon Cab '10, Missouri Hopper Cab '10; Burgess Cellars- Cabernet Sauv '07, '03 & '98; Bennett Lane- Cabernet Sauv '09 & '06; Martin Ray- Stags Leap Cab Sauv '12, Synthesis Cab '12; Peju- Cab Sauv '12; Parallel Cab Sauv '10 & Fortune Teller Cab '10; Whitehall Lane Cab Reserve '10 & Cab Leonardini '12; Jamieson Ranch Napa Cab.
(Champagne/Sparkling) Collet- Brut NV, Millesime '04 & Esprit Couture NV.
(Spirits) Bunnahabain- 12 y.o. & 8 y.o. Single Malt Scotch; Ledaig 18 y.o. Single Malt Scotch; Tobermory 15 y.o. Single Malt Scotch; Deanston 18 yr Bourbon Cask Single Malt Scotch; Glencadam 15 y.o. Single Malt Scotch; Glen Moray 16 y.o. Single Malt Scotch; Masterson's 10yr Rye; Uncle Val's Restorative Gin; Bakon Vodka; Cedar Ridge- Malted Rye & Iowa Bourbon; Sobieski- Cytron Vodka & Vanilla Vodka; Tromba Tequila- Blanco, Reposado & Añejo; Iron Smoke Apple Wood Smoked Whiskey; Bib & Tucker Small Batch Bourbon; Bower Hill Barrel Res. Bourbon; Still the One- No. 4 Westchester Rye & 287 Single Malt; Valentine- Liberator Gin, Old Tom Gin & Vodka; Sacred Gin; Brockmans Gin; Kirk & Sweeney 12 yr Rum; James Oliver Rye; Camus Cognac- XO Borderies & Extra Elegance; Kelt Cognac- Commodore Tour Monde; Marie Brizard- Curacao Orange Liqueur & Anisette; Old Man Guavaberry Liqueur & 5yr Rum.

Domaine Select Merchants - Wine/Spirits Portfolio Tasting 2015, NYC
Best Picks: (Italy) Giacomo Borgogno- Barolo Cannubi '08; Poggio di Sotto- Brunello di Montalcino '09; Cupano- Brunello di Montalcino '09; Casa di Mirafiore- Barolo Paiagallo '09 & Barolo Riserva '05.
(France) Domaine Emmanuel Giboulot- Combe d'Eve '11; Nicolas Joly- Clos de la Bergerie '10 & '11.
(California) White Rock- Laureate Napa Cabernet Sauvignon '09; Jax Vineyard- Reserve Chardonnay '13.
(Champagne/Sparkling) Philippe Gonet- Blanc de Blancs 3210 NV, Blanc de Blancs Millesime '07 & Blanc de Blancs Belemnita '04; David LeClapart- L'artiste Blanc de Blancs '09; Dehours- Les Genevraux '06 & La Cotes en Bosses '05; Fleury- Millesime Extra Brut '02; Terrazze dell'Etna- Cuvee Brut '11.
(Spirits) Ron Diplomatico- Ambassador Selection, Single Vintage 2000 & Añejo; Excellia Tequila- Blanco, Reposado & Añejo; Gracias a Dios Mezcal- Joven Tobala 25 yo & Reposado; Usquaebach Blended Scotch Whisky- Reserve, 15 y.o. & The Old Rare; Varnelli- Amaro Sibilla & Dell'Erborista, Caffe Moka Liqueur, Punch; Lucano Amaro; Armagnac Castaréde- Reserve de la Familie 20 yo, VSOP, 1974 & 1984.

Wilson Daniels - Wholesale Portfolio Tasting 2015, NYC
Best Picks: (France) Domaine de la Romanée-Conti- Echézeaux Grand Cru '07 & Richebourg Grand Cru '07; Ch Clau de Nell- Cabernet Franc Anjou '11; Chêne Bleu- Rosé '14 & Abélard Vin du Pays Vaucluse '07; Maison Tardieu-Laurent- Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge Vieilles Vignes '12 & Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc Vieilles Vignes '12.
(Italy) Castello di Volpaia- Chianti Classico Riserva '11; Buglioni- Amarone '08; Insoglio- Coronato Bolgheri '08; Cogno- Ravera Barolo '11.
(California) Hyde de Villaine- Hyde Vineyard Napa Chardonnay '11 & '12; Arista- Ritchie Vineyard RRV Chardonnay '13, Pinot Noir RRV '13 & Ferrington VIneyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir '13; Grieve- Double Eagle Napa Red '12; Lewis Cellars- RRV Sonoma Chardonnay '14 & Napa Cabernet Sauvignon '13; Futo- SL Cabernet Sauvignon '12.
(Oregon/Willamette Valley) Ponzi- Chardonnay Reserve '13 & Pinot Noir Res '12; Bergstrom- Cumberland Reserve Pinot Noir '13; Big Table Farm- Pinot Noir '13.
(Champagne) Gosset- Grande Reserve Brut NV, Grand Millésime Brut '06 & Celebris Extra Brut '02.
(Dessert/Hungary) Royal Tokaji- Red Label Tokaj '08 & Essencia Tokaj '07.
(Spirits) LHeraud Cognac- Cuvée 10 & X.O. Charles VII; Baron Gaston Legrand- Bas Armagnac '85; Coppersea- NY Excelsior Bourbon & NY Green Malt Barley Whiskey; Sipsmith- London Dry Gin & V.J.O.P.

Savor Italy - Merano Wine Festival 2015, NYC
Best Picks: (Piemonte) Mirafiore- Paiagallo Barolo '10; Borgogno- Fossati Barolo '10.
(Toscana) Banfi- Poggio All'Oro '06, Brunello di Montalcino '10 & Summus "97.
(Sicily) Lamuri- Rosso del Conte '00 & d'Almerita Sicilia '13.
(Abruzzo) Di Sipio- Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Riserva '08.
(Veneto) Allegrini- Amarone '10; Sartori di Verone- Amarone '11 & Ferdi Bianco Veronese '13.
(Friuli) Bastianich- Adriatico Friulano Colli Orientali '13.
(Sparkling) Ferrari- Brut, Perlé & Riserva de Fondatore '01; Guido Berlucchi- Palazzo Lana Saten Franciacorta Riserva '06 & Franciacorta Rosé; Astoria- Millesimato Valdobbiandene Prosecco Superiore '14; Bellavista- Rosé Franciacorta '10, Pas Operé Franciacorta '07 & Cuvée Brut Franciacorta NV.

The House of Burgundy - 2015 Grand Annual Tasting, NYC
Best Picks: (Burgundy) Le Fieff de Montjeu- Pommard '13, Pommard 1er Cru '11; Philippe Chébon- Clos Vougeot '12.
(Bordeaux) Cadran de Fombrauge '09; Château Grillon Sauternes '11.
(Chablis) Domaine Michel Colbois- Chablis 1er Cru Côtes Juan.
(Rhône) Domaine de Fountain- Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge '12; La Font des Garriques- Vacqueras '12; Dom. St Jean D'Aumieres- Les Marnes Cab Sauv '14.
(Italy) Casa Sola- Chianti Classico Gran Selezione '10.
(California) Dreyer Sonoma- Solitude Chardonnay '13 & Cardonnay '13; Peter Paul- Russian River Valles Mill Station Road Pinot Noir '12, Giuliani Vineyards Cab Sauv '11, Mt. Veeder Cab Sauv '11.
(Spirits) Pancracio Chocolate Vodka; Dunc's Mill- Vermon White Rum & Backwoods Reserve Rum.

Martin Scott Wines "A Matter of Taste" - Grand Portfolio Tasting NYC
Best Picks: (Red/Tuscany) Poliziano- Vino Nobile di Montepulciano '12 & Selezione Asinone '11; Casanova Di Neri- Brunello di Montalcino '08 & '09; Avignonesi- Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Grandi Annate '11; Castello di Cacchiano- Chianti Classico Riserva '06; Ormanni- Chianti Classico Riserva '11; Bibi Graetz- Testamatta '12; Castello di Ama- Chianti Classico Gran Selezione- '10 & '11.
(Red/Piedmont) Elio Grasso- Barolo Gavarini Chiniera '11; G.D. Vajra- Barolo Bricco '10; Paolo Scavino- Barolo Bric del Fiasc '11, Barolo Bricco Ambrogio '11; Giovanni Rosso- Barolo Serralunga '10.
(Red/Veneto) Tenuta Sant'Antonio- Amarone '12.
(Red/Bordeaux) Château Batailley '11; Château de Lescours '10.
(Burgundy) Domaine Comte Armand- Pommard 1er Cru '11 & '13; Château de Puligny-Montrachet- Puligny-Montrachet '13; Domaine Michel Gros- Vosne-Romanee 1er Cru Clos des Reas '13.
(Red/Rhone) Domaine du Vieux Lazaret- Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge '12; Domaine Duclaux- Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge '09.
(Red/California) Eponymous- Cabernet Sauvignon Spring Mtn Distr '11; Snowden- Cabernet Sauvignon The Ranch Napa '12, Cab Sauv Brothers Vyd Napa '13; Cimarossa Vineyard- Cab Sauv rive di Ponente Howell Mtn '11 & '12; QTR- Cabernet Sauv Napa '12; Perfect Season- Cab Sauv St. Helena '12; Matthew Wallace Wines- Cab Sauv Napa '12; Barbour Vineyards- Cab Sauv Napa '12; Adler Deutsch Vineyard- Cab Sauv Napa '12; 2480- Cab Sauv Napa '12; Wren Hop Vineyards- Pinot Noir Demigods & Demons RRV '12; Handley Cellars- Pinot Noir Anderson Valley '11; Kinsella Estates- Cabernet Sauv Jersey Boys Vyd '12; Kamen Estate Wines- Cabernet Sauv Sonoma '12; Morgando Cellars- Pinot Noir Rita's Crown Sta. Rita Hills '13, Red Wine Sugarloaf Mtn Oakville '13.
(New Zealand) Felton Road- Pinot Noir Calvert '13; Babich- Sauvignon Blanc Block Vineyard '15.
(White/Rhone) Château de Tracy- Pouilly-Fume Haute Densite '12, Pouilly-Fume 101 Rangs '12.
(Friuli) Di Leonardo Vineyards- Pinot Grigio '14, Sauvignon '14.
(Portugal) Broadbent Madeira- 10 Yrs Old Malmsey NV, Colheita 1999; Ferreira- Vintage Port 2011.
(Spirits) Corsair- Triple Smoke Single Malt, Centennial Hopped Whiskey; Damoiseau Rhum- XO NV; T1 Tequila; Tequila Calle 23- Anejo; Mezcals de Leyenda; Breckenridge Distillery- Vodka & Bourbon; Smooth Ambler- Barrel Aged Gin & Revelation Rum; Balcones Distillery- Baby Blue & Texas Single Malt; Tamdhu Batch Strength Single Malt; Isle of Aran Single Malt Scotch; Kilchoman Single Malt Scotch.

Kobrand Tour d'Italia 2015- NYC
Best Picks: (Red/Tuscany) Biserno '10; Sette Ponti- vigne del Impero '12; Silvio Nardi- Brunello di Montalcino '10 & Manachiara Brunello di Montalcino '10; La Fuga- Brunello di Montalcino '10 & Vino Noblile di Montepulciano '12; Nozzole- Chianti Classico Riserva '11, Chianti Classico gran Selezione '12 & Il Pareto Toscana '11.
(Red/Veneto) Masi- Amarone '07, '08, '09 & '10, Campolongo di Torbe Amarone '07.
(Red/Piedmont) Michele Chiarlo- Cerequio Barolo '11 & Cannubi Barolo.
(Red/Bolgheri) Sassacaia 2012. (Red/Sicily) Feudo Macari- Nero d'Avola '12.
(Red/Sardinia) Barrua- Isola dei Nuraghi '12.
(White) Campo al Mare- Vermentino Bolgheri '13; Pighin- Pinot Grigio '13.

Peloton (Bonhomie/Encore Wine Imports/Indie Wineries/Massanois)- NYC
Best Picks: (Red/France) Domaine Huber Verdereau- Monthelle La Combe Danay '13; Château du Seuil- Graves Rouge '11; Domaine Notre Dame de Pallieres- Gigondas '12.
(Red/Italy) Rikka Sukula- Barolo Serralunga d'Alba Meriame '10; Poggia la Noce- Toscana Gigio '11; Vivani- Amarone '08; Ferdinando Principiano- Barolo di Serralunga '11; Fanti- Brunello di Montalcino '10; Pertimali- Livio Sassetti Brunello di Montalcino '09 & '10; Bruna Grimaldi- Barolo Badarina '10; Aldo Conterno- Barolo Colonnello '11.
(Red/California) Gregory James Winery- Pinot Noir Hawk Hill Vineyard '13; Dragonette Cellars- Pinot Noir '13; Storm Wines- Duvarita Vyd Pinot Noir '13; Y. Rousseau- Tannat '12; Dunstan- Pinot Noir Durell Vyr '12; Eric Demuth- Cab Sauv Clajeux Vyd '11; Tom Farella- Cab Sauv Napa '12; Arietta- Red H Block Hudson Vyds '07 & '12.
(Red/Washington) Abeja- Cabernet Sauvignon '12; Rotie Cellars- Southern Red '12; Sleight of Hand- Ilusionist Cab Sauv '12; Va Piano Vineyards- Cab Sauv '11.
(White/France) Domaine du Seuil- Graves Blanc '12, Bordeaux Blanc '13; Domaine L'Abbe Dine- Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc '14; Domaine Pithon-Paille- Anjou Blanc Coteau de Treilles '12.
(Champagne) Jean Velut Brut NV.