Previous issue: Nov. 30, 2007

 

Cover Story

Italy’s Golden Vintage A decade after the harvest, 1997 remains the modern gold standard for Italian wine, proving its mettle in a retrospective tasting and standing as a testament that vino Italiano is truly world-class

• WineSpectator.com BONUS VIDEOS:  European bureau chief James Suckling discusses Italy’s watershed 1997 vintage with some of the region's top producers, including Antinori, Frescobaldi, Gaja and Giacosa.

• WineSpectator.com:  An alphabetical chart and tasting notes of all wines tasted for this report.

Top Chart

Reflections on 1997   Seven top Italian producers look back on the landmark vintage

Features

Tasting Reports

Piedmont Surprises Despite low expectations, 2003 Barolos set a positive tone for this year’s releases

• WineSpectator.com BONUS VIDEOS:  Join senior editor James Suckling as he tastes a pair of top 2003 Barolos and describes the types of wine this unusually hot vintage produced.

• WineSpectator.com:  An alphabetical chart of all wines tasted for this report.

Success in Spain   The 2004 and 2005 vintages suggest quality is rising across the country’s wine regions

• WineSpectator.com BONUS VIDEOS:  Vintner Miguel Torres Jr. discusses Spain's revolutionary new wines with executive editor Thomas Matthews. They taste two bottlings-Celeste from Ribera del Duero and Salmos from Priorat-that exemplify the country's new style.

• WineSpectator.com:  An alphabetical chart of all wines tasted for this report.

Malbec Laps the Field   Diversity struggles to keep step with quality as this red grape continues to dominate the Argentine wine scene

• WineSpectator.com BONUS VIDEOS:  What’s hot in Argentina? Join senior editor James Molesworth as he discusses top producers and regions. (Hint: It’s not just Mendoza anymore.) He also tastes and describes three great picks.

• WineSpectator.com:  An alphabetical chart of all wines tasted for this report.

Riesling on the Rise   Australia offers flavorful whites, with Chardonnay increasingly challenged by Riesling for top honors

• WineSpectator.com:  An alphabetical chart of all wines tasted for this report.

Dining

Mario Batali Goes West   The celebrity chef expands his dining empire with new restaurants in Los Angeles and Las Vegas

• WineSpectator.com:  Learn to cook with Mario Batali. Find out how to make ragù Bolognese from the star chef, who sticks close to his Italian roots in the kitchen. Then join Batali and restaurant partner Joseph Bastianich as they taste two Sangioveses to find which pairs best with the dish.

The Joy of Pairing   Three California chefs reveal how they make that magical wine-and-food match

Gifts

’Tis the Season   What do you get the wine lover who has it all? We have some suggestions

People

Challenging Tradition   Bernard Magrez both inspires and draws ire as a modern-style winemaker in Bordeaux

Making Wine Against the Odds   Ulises Valdez left his Mexican village for a job in Sonoma, and found his life’s work in the vineyards

Departments

This Issue Marvin R. Shanken

Upfront

  

Ohio residents lose direct-shipping rights; Mario Batali and Gwyneth Paltrow star in a new cooking show; wine may help Alzheimer’s patients live longer; the first Wine Spectator Video Contest winner; Château Pétrus winemaker Jean-Claude Berrouet retires; Italian finds success with Pinot Noir in Argentina; GrapeVine

• WineSpectator.com  Keep up with breaking news as well as the people, places and happenings that wine lovers are talking about.

Tastes

  

The latest espresso makers; dressing up box wine; unusual chocolate flavors; Los Angeles hot spot: Craft

• WineSpectator.com:  Learn more about coffee—its origins, how it's made and the different types—and coffeemakers in our Encyclopedia of Food.

Columns

James Laube   Tasting blind

• WineSpectator.com:  In recent blog posts, James Laube discusses Wine Spectator’s blind-tasting methodology, sifts through old gems in a California grower’s cellar and says a fond farewell to the woman behind Napa’s famed Eisele vineyard.

Matt Kramer   Achieving greatness

Bruce Sanderson   Food-friendly Champagne

James Molesworth   White Châteauneuf-du-Pape’s allure

Collecting

  

Fall auctions off to a strong start; 1997 Italian wines offer bargains

• WineSpectator.com:  Follow the latest auction trends. Our Auction Price Database tracks performance for more than 15,600 cellar-worthy wines, while our Auction Highlights show the results from the latest major sales.

Wine Talk

Wine Talk   Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber

The Buying Guide

View a list of all tasting notes from this issue. Or for more than 196,000 tasting notes, use WineSpectator.com's Wine Ratings Search, where you can sort by region, variety, vintage, price, score and tasting date.

NEW-TRADING POST  Find special wine offers, including great values and hard-to-find collectibles, from a select group of premier retailers. Search by wine or winery or sort by specific criteria. Our retailers' offers change frequently, so check in often for the best deals. RHÔNE BLOG  Senior editor James Molesworth will be blogging during his trip through the Northern Rhône Valley, where he'll be tasting the last of the bottled 2005s. He'll also get a first look at the 2006 vintage and a sneak peek at the just-fermented 2007s. Get the scoop on the wines to look for. WINERY SEARCH  Plan your tour through wine country using our recently revamped Winery Search tool-now with reviews, photos and interactive maps. Search by region to find out which wineries are near you, and get information on hours of operation, tours and tasting fees.

TOP 100 COUNTDOWN:  On Nov. 12, we'll begin unveiling the Top 10 wines of 2007, culminating in the Wine of the Year on Nov. 16. The complete Top 100 list will follow on Nov. 19. The names of the wines will be available to all our readers, but you must be a subscriber to get the tasting notes. Don't miss out on this exciting event! TAKE THE CHALLENGE  We're putting your wine knowledge to the test with our fun new wine quiz. See how well you do against other readers. VIDEOS:  We now have more than 175 videos, including ones on: Argentina: Get the scoop on three hot picks, plus top producers and regions. 2003 Barolo: Learn about a pair of the best wines from this unusually hot vintage in Piedmont. Spain: Discover the country's revolutionary new wines with vintner Miguel Torres Jr. Italy: Find out why 1997 was a watershed year for the country from producers such as Antinori, Frescobaldi and Gaja. TURKEY TIPS  Get seasonal recipes and fresh ideas for your holiday meal, plus recommended wine matches for the bird and all its trimmings.