Previous issue: Nov. 15, 2007

 

Cover Story

Bull Market for Wine New bidders and a global love of wine have energized wine auctions, but can the boom times survive economic uncertainty?

• WineSpectator.com:  Get an edge on other bidders. Follow the latest auction trends. In the online Collecting section, our Auction Price database tracks performance for more than 15,600 cellar-worthy wines, while Auction Highlights shows the results of major sales, including which collectibles are selling for above-average prices and which are relative bargains.

Auction Index

Regional Analyses

Bordeaux

California Cabernet

Burgundy

The Rhône

Italy

Collectors' Roundtable   Four auction insiders discuss the current wine market

• WineSpectator.com BONUS VIDEOS:  Meet the people who drive the auction market. Wine Spectator's auction correspondent Peter D. Meltzer was on hand to capture the insights shared at our collectors' roundtable.

Features

Tasting Reports

The Rhône's Best The 2005 vintage delivers high quality reds and whites in both the Northern and Southern Rhône

• WineSpectator.com BONUS VIDEOS:  Discover why Châteauneuf-du-Pape is so ageworthy and food-friendly, as James Molesworth compares a young wine with a mature vintage, then tests if they match with beef short ribs at New York's Tribeca Grill.

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

California Merlot   The very good 2004 vintage suggests that this varietal is on the upswing

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

Marilyn Merlot   A straightforward red wine with a catchy name builds an avid following

Entertaining

Classic Pairings   Traditional holiday matches are called upon to prove that they deserve their timeless status

Travel

Enjoying Aspen   This nature lovers' destination in the Rockies also treats visitors to stellar wining and dining

• WineSpectator.com:  To find other great wine-and-food destinations around the world, visit our Dining & Travel section, and use the Hotel, Winery and Restaurant Search tools.

People

Rhône Quest in California   Winemaker John Alban pursues distinctive Rhône varietals in the Golden State

A Tuscan Ambition   Swiss businessman Thomas Bär finds a new calling in Chianti

Departments

This Issue Marvin R. Shanken

Upfront

  

Fraud concerns in the auction market; U.S. wine-consumption is on the rise; Seattle suburb builds a winery village; alcohol linked to higher risk of breast cancer, study finds; GrapeVine

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

Tastes

  

Cooking with chestnuts; an exceptional set of cheese knives; Armagnac's appeal; pail in comparison; tea time

• WineSpectator.com:  Try an herbed pancetta-and-chestnut dressing with this year's turkey. Search through hundreds of dishes by food type, matching wine or ingredient using our Recipe Search.

Columns

James Laube   The role of reserve

• WineSpectator.com:  In recent blog posts, James Laube wonders whether a 100-point rating is a curse or a blessing, introduces a flashy new Pinot Noir and questions why California wineries aren't producing more values.

Matt Kramer   Recovering Beaujolais

Collecting

  

One cellar, two temperatures; Collecting Q&A

• WineSpectator.com:  Free newsletter: Our biweekly Collecting & Auctions e-mail provides ratings of collectible wines, answers to your collecting questions, auction news and more.

Wine Talk

Wine Talk   Volvo CEO Anne Belec

The Buying Guide

View a list of all tasting notes from this issue. Or for more than 199,000 tasting notes, use WineSpectator.com's Wine Ratings Search, where you can sort by region, variety, vintage, price, score and tasting date.

COLLECTING & AUCTIONS  Build your cellar through smart bidding. Our tools can help you find the good investments and values: The Auction Price Database tracks the performance of more than 15,600 collectible wines. The Auction Highlights section analyzes results from the latest major sales, including lots that sold for above- or below-average prices. The Auction Calendar keeps you informed about upcoming sales. GUEST BLOGGERS:  From famous chefs to top winemakers to rock stars, our guest bloggers have offered a wide range of perspectives on wine. Now meet Richard Betts, who oversees Montagna at the Little Nell's Wine Spectator Grand Award-winning wine list and makes his own Betts & Scholl wines.

TOP 100 COUNTDOWN  On Nov. 12, we'll begin unveiling the Top 10 wines of 2007, followed by the complete Top 100 list. The names of the wines will be available to all our readers, but you must be a subscriber to get the full tasting notes. Visit our Web site for a full schedule of the countdown and don't miss out on this exciting event. BEAUJOLAIS NOUVEAU  Join us Nov. 15 for our annual tasting of these fresh, fruity, bargain-priced reds. Find out which of the 2007 releases are crowd-pleasers and which ones you should pass up. VIDEOS:  We now have more than 175 videos, including ones on: Collecting roundtable: Watch and learn from the people who drive the wine auction market. Châteauneuf-du-Pape: Discover why these southern French wines are so age-worthy and food-friendly. Oyster pairing: Find the perfect wine to match with this popular shellfish. Tuscany: Take a peek at the 2007 Brunello harvest at Casanova di Neri. Bordeaux: Meet the château owners behind some of the world's most collectible reds. TURKEY TIPS  Get fresh ideas for your Thanksgiving meal plus recommended wine matches for the bird and all its trimmings.