B-21 on Facebook
Holiday tasting rings in the new – and old
Mr. B-Blog enjoying a glass of 2005 Sierra Salinas Mira
It’s been the big tasting of the year since the days when B-21 hid limited allocation bottles around the store during a Thanksgiving scavenger hunt.
The 2009 edition was as much fun, with 128 wines up for pouring and even more at four brilliant seminars. The challenge was picking the best of a remarkably rich selection. Not a dog in the bunch, and many had a classier pedigree than I do.
Listening to the buzz, I found two consistent trails, new and old.
Mike Mattiace and many others sent me to the Spanish table for Mira from Sierra Salinas, What a lush easy drink, two 93s from no less than Parker and B-21’s own Spain Advocate, Summer Martin ($18.99). Other fingers and signals pointed to the Southern Cone, where Argentina wowed me with two great Malbecs, Susana Balbo’s new 2007 Signature and the 2006 Tikal Patriota Altos de Mendoza.
I also hung out in the exclusive chill of Area 21, where the winemeisters revealed much wine lore in secret seminars that I will reveal in postings to come.
Want to see pictures from the Grand Holiday Tasting! Check out these smiles and purple teeth!
1 Comment to Holiday tasting rings in the new – and old
What a great shot. Was there a celebrity photographer there or something?
December 4, 2009