Here are my top twelve picks for the Pittsburgh Wine Festival (with comments and table numbers so you can find them!) Enjoy the Festival!!!
1999 Nicolas Feuillatte Champagne
Winery:Nicolas Feuillatte
Region:Champagne
Notes:Vintage Champagne is always worth trying and 1999 was known to be a great vintage. Table 150
2004 Louis Roederer Cristal Champagne
Winery:Louis Roederer
Region:Champagne
Notes:Cristal is the holy grail for many Champagne purchasers – worth trying for sure! Table 165
2006 Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello Santa Cruz Mountains Cabernet Sauvignon
Winery:Ridge Vineyards
Region:Santa Cruz Mountains
Varietal:Cabernet Sauvignon
Notes:Table 24
2007 Masi Agricola Costasera Amarone Della Valpolicella Classico Corvina
Winery:Masi Agricola
Region:Amarone Della Valpolicella Classico
Varietal:Corvina
Notes:Many Americans do not know this type of rich, flavorful Northern Italian wine – worth trying. Table 107
2008 Allegrini Palazzo Della Torre Valpolicella Classico Superiore Corvina
Winery:Allegrini
Region:Valpolicella Classico Superiore
Varietal:Corvina
Notes:Table 83
2008 Hall Wines Cabernet Sauvignon
Winery:Hall Wines
Varietal:Cabernet Sauvignon
Notes:Super Napa Cab from former Ambassador to Austria, Kathryn Hall. Table 47
2008 Leeuwin Estate Art Series Margaret River Chardonnay
Winery:Leeuwin Estate
Region:Margaret River
Varietal:Chardonnay
Notes:Arguably Australia’s benchmark Chardonnay. Table 125
2008 Penfolds Wines Kalimna Bin 28 South Australia Shiraz
Winery:Penfolds Wines
Region:South Australia
Varietal:Shiraz
Notes:Well-made Shiraz from Australia’s most famous winery – great to compare with the Dead Arm. Table 139
2009 Chateau Montelena Winery Napa Valley Chardonnay
Winery:Chateau Montelena Winery
Region:Napa Valley
Varietal:Chardonnay
Notes:The Chardonnay that won the white competition at the famous “Judgement of Paris.” Table 69
d’Arenberg Wines The Dead Arm Mclaren Vale Shiraz
Winery:d’Arenberg Wines
Region:Mclaren Vale
Varietal:Shiraz
Notes:Benchmark Australian Shiraz, smooth, deep, and savory from family owned winery. Table 98
Duckhorn Vineyards Napa Valley Merlot
Winery:Duckhorn Vineyards
Region:Napa Valley
Varietal:Merlot
Notes:Napa Merlot may be out of fashion, but Duckhorn makes fantastic Merlot that should never be out of fashion. Table 59
Quinta do Noval 20 Year Old Tawny Douro
Winery:Quinta do Noval
Region:Douro
Notes:Vintage Ports can be pretty rough when young, but the 20yr Ports are superbly approachable. Table 168
Jack Brice Wine 