2024 TASTINGS:
April - Brunello di Montalcino Brawl NEW
March - Ridge Vineyards Sampler
February - Châteauneuf Shootout #4
January - War of the Central Coast Pinot Noirs #3
2023 TASTINGS:
December - World of Syrah #2
November - Cheese Pairing Challege
October - Rosso di Montalcino Throwdown #2
September - no tasting
August - Mâconnais Matchup #2
July - no tasting
June - World of Pinot Gris #2
April - Types of Tempranillo
March - Sonoma Cabernet Clash #2
February - Douro Reds Battle
January - no tasting
2022 TASTINGS:
December - no tasting
November - Versions of Nebbiolo
October - no tasting
September - (mini) Pairings Battle
August - California Sauvignon Blanc Clash
July - Spanish White Battle #2
June - French Rosé Battle #3
April - Versions of Sangiovese
March - no tasting
February - no tasting
January - no tasting
2021 TASTINGS:
December - Washington Syrah Showdown #2
November - What's In My Glass? (USA Edition)
October - Barbaresco Battle #2
September - White Bordeaux Bash #3
August - Sancerre Showdown #3
June - Chablis Shakedown #3
May - Wines of Campania
April - no tasting
March - no tasting
February - no tasting
January - no tasting
2020 TASTINGS:
December - no tasting
November - Barolo Battle #3
October - Gigondas and Vacqueyras #2
September - no tasting
August - no tasting
July - no tasting
June - Napa Chardonnay Challenge
May - no tasting
April - Quarantine Tasting
March - Saint Emilion Slugfest #2
February - Chianti Classico Challenge #2
January - Fondue Challenge
2019 TASTINGS:
December - World of Bubbly#2
November - Malbec Mayhem #3
October - Burgundy v. California Pinot Noir
September - Amarone Assault #3
August - Pinot Grigio Battle
July - no tasting
April - Red Burgundy Battle #2
March - Petite Sirah Showdown #3
February - no tasting
January - Chateauneuf Shootout #3
2018 TASTINGS:
November - What's In My Glass? (The Reds)
October - Barbera Battle #2
September - Oregon Pinot Gris Battle #2
August - no tasting
June - World of Chardonnay #2
April - Ribera del Duero Battle
February - McLaren Vale Shiraz Showdown #2
January - no tasting
2017 TASTINGS:
December - Triple Challenge
November - War of the Central Coast Pinot Noirs #2
October - no tasting
September - Sonoma Chardonnay Showdown
August - Spanish White Battle
June - World of Sauvignon Blanc #2
May - no tasting
April - South African Free-For-All #2
March - Cru Beaujolais Battle #2
February - Old v. New #2
January - Battle Rioja #2
2016 TASTINGS:
December - Washington Merlot Melee #2
November - Dinner at Ali & Andy's
October - no tasting
September - Sicilian Showdown #2
July - Dinner at Ali & Andy's
April - Clash of the Priorat Reds #3
March - Barbaresco Battle
February - no tasting
January - Old v. New
2015 TASTINGS:
December - Zinfandel Battle #2
November - New Zealand Scuffle #4
October - Barossa Valley Blowout #3
September - Greek Sampler #2
August - World of Pinot Gris
July - Mid-Year Sampler
June - Sancerre Showdown #2
May - no tasting
April - Rosso di Montalcino Throwdown
March - Battle of the Portuguese Reds #2
February - Barolo Battle #2
January - no tasting
2014 TASTINGS:
December - World of Bubbly
November - California Syrah Challenge #2
October - Montsant Battle
September - no tasting
August - Dinner at Ali & Andy's
June - New Zealand Scuffle #3
May - Dinner at Ali & Andy's
April - Gigondas and Vacqueyras
March - Ali's Birthday Dinner
January - Chelsea Birthday Dinner
2013 TASTINGS:
December - Petite Sirah Showdown #2
November - Carménère Challenge #2
October - Dinner at Ali & Andy's
September - Oregon Pinot Noir Quarrel #2
August - Double Celebration Dinner
June - White Bordeaux Bash #2
April - Dinner at Ali & Andy's
March - no tasting
February - Chianti Sub-Zone Challenge
January - no tasting
2012 TASTINGS:
December - Napa Valley Brawl #3
November - Dinner at David & Kristin's
October - no tasting
September - Greek Sampler
August - no tasting
July - World of Chardonnay
June - Dinner at Ali & Andy's
May - World of Pinot Noir
April - Amarone Assault #2
March - Cellar Sampler
February - no tasting
January - Clash of the Priorat Reds #2
2011 TASTINGS:
December - no tasting
November - 2006 Brunello di Montalcino
September - Dinner at Ali & Andy's
August - no tasting
June - Dinner at Kristin & David's
May - World of Syrah
April - Grenache Skirmish #2
March - no tasting
February - Chilean Cabernet Challenge #2
January - Chateauneuf Shootout #2
2010 TASTINGS:
December - Dinner at Ali & Andy's
November - World Of Merlots
October - War of the Central Coast Pinot Noirs
September - Chablis Shakedown #2
August - World Of Sauvignon Blanc
July - Domestic Bubbly Battle
June - Dinner at Ali & Andy's
May - no tasting
April - Barossa Valley Blowout #2
March - Malbec Mayhem #2
February - Dinner at Ali & Andy's
January - Barolo Battle
2009 TASTINGS:
December - no tasting
November - The World Of Cabernets
October - The d'Arenberg Tasting
September - Battle of the Unusual Italian Whites
July - Albariño Scuffle
June - Mâconnais Showdown
May - Cru Beaujolais Battle
April - no tasting
March - Barbera Battle
February - Washington Syrah Showdown
January - Sonoma Cabernet Clash
2008 TASTINGS:
December - Carmenere Challenge
November - Clash of the Priorat Reds
October - The Yalumba Tasting
September - Battle of the Cotes du Rhone Reds
August - no tasting
June - Oregon Pinot Gris Battle
February - Washington Cabernet Clash
January - no tasting
2007 TASTINGS:
December - Battle of the Portuguese Reds
November - California Syrah Challenge
October - New Zealand Scuffle, Part 2
September - Rosé Battle
August - no tasting
July - no tasting
May - Sicilian Showdown
April - Napa Valley Brawl, Part 2
March - Petite Sirah Showdown
February - Battle Rioja
January - Cellar Inventory Reduction
2006 TASTINGS:
December - Oregon Pinot Noir Quarrel
November - Australian Cabernet Crackdown
October - Chianti Classico Challenge
September - Côte-Rôtie Ruckus
August - Sancerre Showdown
July - Battle of the Rosé Bubbly
June - no tasting
May - South African Free-for-all and Spanish Reds
April - Washington Merlot Melee
March - Chilean Cabernet Challenge
February - Chateauneuf Shootout
January - Zinfandel Battle
2005 TASTINGS:
December - Grenache Skirmish
November - Napa Valley Brawl
October - St. Emilion Slugfest
September - White Bordeaux Bash
August - Sarah's Surprise Birthday Dinner
July - Hefeweizen Face-Off
June - New Zealand Scuffle
May - The $7 Or Under Showdown
April - Red Burgundy Battle
March - Amarone Assault
February - Meeting of the Ports
January - Barossa Valley Blowout
2004 TASTINGS:
December - Prosecco Pandemonium
November - Malbec Mayhem
October - Battle of the Barolos and Barbarescos
September - Cellar Inventory Reduction
August - no tasting
July - Champagne Shakedown
June - Chablis Shakedown
May - Spanish Showdown
April - War of the Pinot Noirs
February - Battle of the Italian Merlots
TASTING GUIDELINES:
MONTHLY BLIND TASTINGS
Click on the links below to view tasting notes from David's monthly theme-based wine gathering.
- David sends out an e-mail describing the category of wine to bring. Bringing a bottle from a different category is highly discouraged. David is happy to answer any questions about what to bring.
- Unless otherwise specified, bottles can come from any vintage or price range.
- Each taster should shop for their own bottle separately, and keep its identity hidden. Tasters should write their initials on the back label of the bottle.
- Tasters should try to bring their bottle of wine in a plain brown paper bag. Plain bags are also available at the tasting (we have plenty).
- Tasters should refrain from wearing strong perfumes or colognes.
- When tasters arrive, each is responsible for opening their own bottle of wine, and taking off all of the foil. If a bottle is screwcapped, just the top cap portion should be removed.
- There are a total of six tasters, each provided with six numbered glasses. David is responsible for numbering the bagged wine. All wines are tasted without knowing the identity of each glass.
- Usually, we award points to our favorite 4 wines. Each taster should think about his or her first, second, and third favorite glass, and usually a fourth.
- David hosts these tastings for many reasons, and we always have a good time, with plenty of conversation, food, and just plain fun. Primarily, he does this for the wine. Taster's focus on the wine is very appreciated.
- Tasters are encouraged to take a taxi, Uber, public transportation, or have a designated driver, if possible.
- This is a great deal of fun.
