Filed under: Wine , Magazines , Raves & Reviews , Lists , New Zealand If you're sitting around trying to decide on a new wine to try tonight with you dinner, may we suggest a little something from New Zealand? Forbes picks 15 "Five Star" wines from the tiny country that served as backdrop to a giant movies about hobbits: Cable Station Pinot Noir, Marlborough 2004 ($18) - "bright, ripe...

Dinner with ten at Ralph and Kacoos - Its been voted best seafood in New Orleans - its large (seats 600) - its a chain (one of five) - its in the French Quarter - its a limited wine list - its a great wait-staff - its good for what it is - i.e.. - its just different...

A fun article  - An Amusing Wine - from the Times Picayune on naming and label graphics - all in the name of marketing - I'm a big fan of "the hand sell" - there are over 20,000 wine labels in the US alone - if you can get a ...

From a NY Times blog - (see full posting at bottom) - a New Orleans resident - wiped out by Katrina ... recommendation for the first night in post-Katrina New Orleans - Called The Pelican Club and asked ... Reds" - settled on - Matinborough Vineyard - Chardonnay - New Zealand - 2002 - mellow Oak - good ... back - Enjoy HBH New York Times - DIning - New Orleans - Comments - 08/23/06 - I...

... of pulling a chair up to your table – sitting down – and asking – “what’s new?? – it was as if you were in the dining room of his home – Last week – in New Orleans – I had a similar experience ... bones – Its that unexpcted familarity that turns dining on its ass in New Orleans - taking food ... . Charles Tavern) or at Upperline - which screams real New Orleans dining the moment you walk...

At a Black Tie dinner in DC - luck put a New Orleanian in the next seat - "How's the city ? - What restaurants have reopened ? - What restaurants  - off the beaten track - do you recommend ?" - "Alberta's - up on Magazine - its really small - only ten tables - - - worth it" - And it was - We ate – Crab Salad – lump crab meat – a green salad cube – lettuce - bacon – dressing...

Watch this Episode! 2004 Di Majo Norante Sangiovese Igt 2004 2004 Falesco Vitiano 2003 Castano Hecula 2002 Renard Tres Ninos 2002 Penfolds Cabernet Bin 707 Today Gary tackles 5 more 90+ scored wines and we await to see how they scored. From the value driven Falesco Vitiano to the classic Penfolds 707 these 5 wines hit a wide range of flavors and complexities. Oh and don...

Watch this Episode! Man Vintners Sauvignon Blanc 2005 Giesen Sauv Blanc Manta Sauv Blanc Markham Sauvignon Blanc Today Gary tastes and reviews four New World Sauvignon Blancs. See what Gary thinks of these four white wines. Of course more viewer comments and questions. Watch for the blast from the past at the end...

... are at Episode 80 already, unreal! Today Gary does a mixed bag of 4 wines that he had to taste anyway! Watch as Gary tastes these 4 wines and please add your thoughts and question and answer the question of the day. Gary tastes a Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand, a Chardonnay from California and a Cabernet...