New Zealand Trip: The highlight of this month was a trip to New Zealand, which included tasting 116 different wines.


2002 Pinot Bianco, Alois Lageder, Alto Adige

Nothing exciting here - not much intensity, depth or length. Moderate acidity, no noticeable wood. Basically a mild, generic wine without flaws. Close-out price $8; regular price $11.
Rating: Good

1998 Ferrari-Carano Syrah, TreMonte, Alexander Valley

Good cherry fruit, deep red color, some tannin, wood kept well in check. That all sounds promising, but the wine has a certain flatness to it, as if more flavor is trying to get out and cataste shorter than it should be. The taste does not linger but seems to fall off the table, leaving a slight tinge of bitter behind; little bouquet or complexity. Very dark, almost impenetrable, red color. Good accompaniment to left-over delicious chicken cacciatore. Close-out price $16; regular price $20.
Rating: Good

Red-tag close-out sales this month:

Whites:

2002

Pinot Bianco, Alois Lageder, Alto Adige, Italy

($8, orig. $11)

Reds:

1998

Husch Pinot Noir, Anderson Valley

( $12, orig. $17)