What Would Mikey Drink

Dark, sappy and thick, this drinks more like a Californian pinot than a burgundy, which is due to the hot 2003 vintage. I would like to drink it against an 03 Kistler Pinot (Kistler Vineyard). Jill says it smells like fleshy chanterelle mushrooms. It is lush in its full palate, with spicy cherries, charred bacon, [...]

Syrah from Tuscany. At first, it is spicy, searingly tanninc, and hard as granite. After an hour in the decanter, it is beginning to open, and while very tight and young, its full of promise. There’s spicy red pepper flakes, black berries and dark cherries, in this full bodied, inky black wine. It is not [...]

Lean and sleek, and a lighter wine than the kistler we just drank. Very complex, with nutty, stinky cheese, brine, and salt, and a lingering after taste. Strange and interesting. More strange than great. Retail about $80, grade: B. www.whatwouldmikeydrink.com

Jill and I drank this at the last night of San Domenico in NY. After 20 years on Central Park South, they will be moving to a new, as yet undisclosed location. I’m pictured with Piero, the excellent wine director. At first, the wine locks and plays with the priscuitto. There’s game in the huge [...]

Here’s a pretty pinot for under $30, an increasing rarity. It is lightly colored, with compelling woodsy, spicy aromas. Then there’s slightly green strawberries, portobella mushrooms and cherry cola wrapped into a medium bodied frame. There’s some astringency in the finish but overall a very nice showing. Retail $25, grade: A- This is another good [...]

Lightly colored for a California pinot. Looks more a Burgundy. Muted aromas with some forrest floor. Fairly lean, astringent and under ripe (like I am sucking a lemon), although I get some pretty floral strawberries, raspberries and pomegranate. Solid, easy to drink wine, but not a good value. I would like this at under $20 [...]

I bought this wine from a passionate and distinctive wine store, specializing in small production Napa wine. It is worth a special trip to visit the Napa Valley Wine Exchange in San Francisco. I spent an enjoyable 30 minutes picking out this bottle. Despite assurances from an incredibly knowledgeable salesperson, I am not blown away [...]