Mark Sommelier

Pardon the stupid question, but why does the #1 wine of the year not have the highest score?

With the turkey tonight we drank 2 bottles of delicious Eitelsbacher Karthauserhofberg Riesling Kabinettt Halbtrocken 2001 and a half bottle of Arbois Vin de Paille, Domaine Rolet 1999 with the pies. The Mosel wine surprised everyone with its balance, delicious fruit and dryness. The Jura is unusual and was enjoyed by all.

I recommend Banyuls, Brachetto, Black Muscat (like Ca'Togni), Vintage Port or 10 year old Tawny Port, Vin Santo, St. John Commanderia, Amarone Recioto, late harvest Zinfandel. But never, never, never Sauternes.

I'm bringing Eitelsbacher Karthauserhofberg Kabinett Halbtrocken for dinner, and Arbois Domaine Rolet, Vin de Pailles for dessert.

Enough suspense, already!! I didn't get mine yet. Who won? ( and then, who cares??)

That's the Hotel Monaco you're talking about, right? Poste is there too. I like Klimton hotels too. Kimpton. Monaco. Kimpton. Monaco. Repeat after me... I like Klingon Hotels, too.

Oddly enough, large format bottles from California producers usually cost more than the equal number of 750 ml. bottles. They charge you for the glass.

Only if you want to have the sauce on the side or substitute brocolli for mashed potatoes. If so, heaven help you. God forbid you should ask for the chafafa on the side.

That's the least of my worries. This is where we re-run the Pootato thread.

Stephen, Indeed there are many restaurant to recommend to you. The 2 best hotels in town seem to be the 4 Seasons in Georgetown and the Willard Intercontinental at 14th and Pennsylvania Ave. Close to the 4 Seasons, of course, is Citronelle. The best Philly Cheese Steak in Washington is available right across the street at George's Townhouse on the corner of 28th and M. The Willard is in the "Quarter". There are plenty of restaurants to visit. Go To Oceanaire at 12th and F for a grand cold seafood platter. Go to Tosca for the lobster risotto. Chinatown is not far away, go to Big Wong for live lobsters, live shrimp, live Dungeness crabs, live razor clams, live bass. Go to Bobby Van's for the 48 oz. Porterhouse steak. Go to Zaytinya for the dill shrimp, the lobster, the lamb shank, the pita. Avoid Red Sage.

Just a question. Doesn't the name "Greenwood" give anyone pause?

Rocks, You said in part: "and I think that, yes, I ordered in the correct sequence: foie gras, queso fundido, crab fritters." Any dolt knows that the queso fudido is the first course to have with the cocktails/wine. '97 Pesquera Reserva at $49 is an incredible bargain, also. Must be a closeout. Foie is always the middle course in America. Crab Fritters were also a poor choice, as the Fish Tacos are far superior. Also, pardon me for being pedantic, the quote was "He will break you like a stick". Bisous,

With all the incredibly delicious 2002 German rieslings that have come on the market recently, I don't think there is a choice. Start with Kabinett and finish with Auslese. Them's my advices.

Tommy Dear, What if people don't like zin and gewurz?

Can't wait till Huet releases the 2002 Vouvray sec. This should be one for the ages.

For me, there are 2 kinds of wines. The wines you like, and the wines you DON'T.

Craig, One question you asked was: "So, why does a magazine like The Wine Spectator prefer a vintage like 2000 while the producers prefer 1999 and 2001? The answer may lie in the three wines above. " No, the answer lies in how much wine these guys have to sell before the 2000 vintage has been sold. Wine Spectator takes advertising dollars. How partial do you think they are with Banfi and Gallo?

Clos du Roy is a fairly common name. There is also a wonderful Sancerre by the same name made by Lucien Crochet. Roy , of course means king (pronounced "rwah").

Years ago there was a Chinese carryout in Rehoboth called: WONTON DESIRE

Never seen this domaine. '78 was an excellent year, though. I tasted a '78 Beaucastel not too long ago and found it robust and quite pleasant.

So far, the 2002 prices are in line with a great vintage - slightly higher than 2001. Much of this can be explained by the weak American dollar at the moment. At the Vente de Vin last week at the Clos de Vougeot, prices were up 21% from 2002, so these wines will be more expensive due not only to the exchange rate, but the small harvest as well. What I tasted from 2003 was very promising in the hands of these winemakers. There is some doubt if the vintage will be uniformly excellent.

I agree, the 2000 is utterly delicious and full of character. The 2001 has just been released and is cut from the same mold. This is one of my favorite CNDPs.

Having owned a restaurant myself in Montgomery County once, I can tell you that the county itself is partly responsible for the awfulness of the dining scene. The county liquor control board almost guarentees a crappy winelist. Restaurants run out of wine on their lists because the county only delivers once a week. New taxes and license fees show up in the mail almost daily. The crowning touch to make business more difficult to do in Bethesda is the smoking ban.

Rocks, Next time you go, ask if you can have the steak without all the salt and see what happens.

This vintage didn't taste like banana-ade like the last several vintages. It actually had some substance. This is the "California" vintage of Beaujolais. As far as $6.49 a bottle is concerned, this is disturbing. Costco has to buy from the distributor. The distributor marks up the wine from the supplier, who has also marked up the wine. The bottle costs 75¢, the cork costs 10¢, the label costs 25¢, the capsule 5¢. Working backwards, the distributor paid $4, the supplier paid $2,deduct the $1.15 for the packaging, the wine itself is WORTH PENNIES. A palliative, not a ponderable.