[Wine publications]

You're quite welcome, Ms. Wugmeister.

Mr. Ron Johnson, I hastily disagreed with you on a position that you obviously did not take. My apologies.

[Rose]

My view towards Rose is that no matter how hard we try to like them, and work them into our warm weather drinking, they're one dimensional wines, and offer just basic refreshment with no "wow" at all...

[Wine publications]

Nina,

As you know, I continue to recommend solid basic wine primers over magazines. There is no substitute if you desire a strong foundation in wine - regions, vinification methods, varietals, etc...

The Wine Handbook, if it is still in print, by Serena Sutcliffe, M.W., was one of the first I read.

I'm getting to this post late, but I disagree with you, Ron Johnson, that Parker is a waste of money. He may not provide the most wine education per dollar spent, but he has an exceptional palate. You may recall that when the 1983 Bordeaux were still in the barrel, he called the Phelan Segur right on, and said that there was a problem with the wine and that it would be flawed. He was correct.

[chateau musar]

Chateau Musar can be a wonderful wine. Its a shame more shops don't carry it. One would expect that, though, given the very provincial palates of most consumers...another truly great red is the 1996 Kefraya Comte M from Lebanon. This wine can be found on sale at approximately $19.99 per bottle. Its normally $42/btl. Here is what Robert Parker said about the wine when he reviewed it in October of 1997:

"Chateau Kefraya's - remember the name - 1996 Comte de M is scheduled to be released next year. Even allowing for some of the fabulous old vintages of Lebanon's most renowned wine, Chateau Musar (two great examples are the 1969 and 1970), Kefraya's Comte de M should provide further proof that Lebanon has selected viticultural sites that can turn out world-class wine. While the Comte de M is no bargain at $50, it is indeed an exceptional product. This cuvee, a selection of the finest lots, is made from a 20-year old vineyard situated south of the Bekka Valley, and just west of Mount Barouk. A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon (from yields of 28 hectoliters per hectare), 20% Syrah (32 hectoliters per hectare), and 20% Mourvedre (32 hectoliters per hectare), from a non-irrigated vineyard that was manually harvested, this wine, which I tasted three times earlier this year in Bordeaux and once again in September, exhibits an opaque purple color, and a sweet nose of cedar, blackberries, and cassis, with nicely integrated smoky, toasty oak. The wine is full-bodied and rich, with adequate acidity, and ripe tannin. It possesses layers of concentration, and should prove uncommonly long-lived - up to 20 years. The architect behind the wine is none other than Jean-Michel Fernandez, the man behind the renaissance at Chateau Citran in the Medoc. I wish this wine sold for less money, but it has been made with no compromises, and will be bottled without any fining or filtration, in order, as Fernandez says, "to guard the maximum of purity and authenticity of Chateau Kefraya." In addition to the lofty price, production of Chateau Kefraya's Comte de M is limited to just over 1,600 cases."

Enjoy!

[Istanbul]

Greetings all,

I am off to Turkey at the end of the month, and would welcome any restaurant/food recommendations in Istanbul, and the other important cities in Turkey. I will also be traveling along the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts, and to Ankara as well.

Any help would be appreciated.