Nearly 4,000 wine lovers tasted more than 200 wines.
Wine Spectator's 2008 Grand Tour
Tastings in New York and Las Vegas feature more than 200 wineries
Thomas Matthews
Posted: Thursday, May 08, 2008
So many wines; so little time. That was the refrain from the nearly 4,000 wine lovers who attended Wine Spectator's 2008 Grand Tours in New York and Las Vegas in late April and early May.
More than 200 wineries from 15 countries offered their top wines at the tastings. Among them were all five first-growths from Bordeaux; top super Tuscans including Fattoria Le Pupille Maremma Toscana Saffredi 2004 (97 points on Wine Spectator's 100-point scale); hot American Pinot Noirs such as Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Russian River Valley Amber Ridge Vineyard 2005 (95); stars of Spain, including Bodegas Emilio Moro Ribera del Duero Malleolus de Sanchomartin 2005 (96); and the highest-rated Chilean wines ever, Concha y Toro Cabernet Sauvignon Puente Alto Don Melchor 2005 and Casa Lapostolle Clos Apalta Colchagua Valley 2005 (both 96).
The difficult U.S. economy didn't seem to affect attendance, despite the $200 ticket price. Though hotel occupancy in Las Vegas is down for the year, more people attended the tasting, held at the Venetian, than in 2007, including wine lovers who had traveled from San Francisco, Houston and Atlanta. Chefs and sommeliers also joined the crowds, including Guy Savoy, whose restaurants in Paris and at Caesars Palace have earned a total of five Michelin stars. He was spotted sipping Château Latour 2001 (95) and chatting with owner Florence Rogers-Pinault.
Next year's Grand Tour will return to New York (at the Marriott Marquis) and Las Vegas (at the Venetian), and add Atlantic City (at the Borgata) to the itinerary. Dates will be announced soon.
—Photographs by Ilona Lieberman and Camilla Sjodin
 Emilia Nardi of Silvio Nardi. |
 South African vintner Jean Engelbrecht. |
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 Frédéric Engerer pours Château Latour. |
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 Dan Kosta of Kosta Browne. |
 Dianna Lee of Novy Family. |
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 Robin Shay of Feudi di San Gregorio talks to Paul Pontallier of Château Margaux. |
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 Paolo Damilano of Damilano. |
 Grace and Ken Evenstad of Domaine Serene. |
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 On the floor at the Grand Tasting. |
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