Previous issue: Nov. 30, 2006

Cover Story

California's Hottest Red  Quality continues to climb as dedicated vintners push the frontiers of Pinot Noir terroir. We present an inside look at one of the Golden State's most exciting varietals  James Laube

• 30 Producers to Watch  A look at the wineries that best capture the essence of this great grape  James Laube, MaryAnn Bovio, Tim Fish and Daniel Sogg

• Making Pinot  The secret to Pinot's elegant power lies in ripe grapes and gentle winemaking  Daniel Sogg

• Wine Spectator Online   Bonus Video: Visit with some of California's top Pinot Noir producers during the 2005 harvest, including Helen Turley as she picks at Marcassin and Merry Edwards as the grapes come into the winery.

Features

Tasting Report

California Pinot  The 2004 vintage yielded phenomenal wines, with 11 bottlings rating 95 points or higher  James Laube

Spain  Now is a great time to explore Spanish wines, as good vintages and talented vintners bring this nation into a new era of quality  Thomas Matthews

Portugal  In the midst of a winemaking revolution, Portuguese winemakers excel with table wines in the Douro  Kim Marcus

• Wine Spectator Online   Bonus Video: Join managing editor Kim Marcus as he tastes some Portuguese reds that show why the Douro isn't just for Port anymore.

Travel

Valencia Shines  This quiet Spanish city on the Mediterranean coast finds a new energy with fine wine and cutting-edge cuisine  Bruce Schoenfeld

• Wine Spectator Online  If you're traveling to a wine region, check out our Web site's Wine Country Travel section, along with our searchable databases of hotels, wineries and award-winning restaurants.

Gifts

The Table Is Set  Three superstar chefs introduce dinnerware lines that bring the restaurant experience home  Robert Taylor

Wine

Jumilla's Visionaries  Passionate winemakers are producing robust reds in southeastern Spain  Bruce Schoenfeld

People

Bruno Is Bruno  Château Ducru-Beaucaillou's Bruno Borie respects family tradition but runs the Bordeaux second-growth his way  Bruce Schoenfeld

• Wine Spectator Online  Bonus Video: Get a look at Château Ducru-Beaucaillou (and its state-of-the-art kitchen) as Bruno Borie discusses what makes the estate special, the 2005 vintage and his passion for cooking.

Departments

This Issue  Marvin R. Shanken

Upfront  Sonoma follows Napa with new labeling law; studies suggest that drinkers are better thinkers; foie gras fight heats up in New Jersey; Champagne to get quick Paris connection; Irish entrepreneur creates one label for great wines from around the world; Italy's Friuli region loses Tocai name; GrapeVine

Tastes  Coffee with a conscience; a coaster for wine; high quality chocolate; a better grinder; the first taste of greatness

• Wine Spectator Online  For more on coffee, read Sam Gugino's other stories— on his trip to the source, a brief history of the beverage, the different types of beans, how to make the perfect cup and the best brewing machines. Visit our online Encyclopedia of Food.

• Wine Spectator Online  To learn more about chocolate—its origins, the different types and wines to pair with it—check out our online Encyclopedia of Food.

Columns

James Laube  Pursuing Pinot

• Wine Spectator Online  In his recent blog posts, James Laube has discussed his travels in Italy, hunting for top wines and stumbling across hard-to-find gems at retail.

Matt Kramer  Confessions of a Francoholic

Collecting  Christie's smashes a world record twice; V Foundation auction raises $3.4 million for cancer research; Copia's Edible Garden hosts "Rock Garden Roll"

• Wine Spectator Online  Subscribers to Wine Spectator Online can search the complete auction database for prices on collectibles, read analysis of the latest auction results and view a calendar of upcoming sales.

Wine Talk  Comedian and musician Dan Aykroyd  Laurie Woolever

The Buying Guide

For complete reviews of more than 165,000 wines, use Wine Spectator Online's Wine Ratings Search, where you can sort by region, variety, vintage, price, score and tasting date.

WINE GAMES  Test your knowledge with our new Name That Wine game; we randomly select four wines and mix up their tasting notes—you match them up. Or try What Am I Tasting?, where we give you a real tasting note and you deduce the varietal, appellation and age of the wine. BONUS VIDEO  Meet the winemakers featured in Wine Spectator's latest articles, including some of California's top Pinot Noir producers and Bruno Borie, owner of Bordeaux second-growth Ducru-Beaucaillou. And watch editor Kim Marcus talk about the wines of Portugal. You can also subscribe to Wine Spectator's weekly video Podcast on iTunes.

2005 RHÔNE CELLAR NOTES  Senior editor James Molesworth visits the Northern Rhône to get the scoop on upcoming wines. Look online for his trip blog, an early analysis of the 2005 vintage and his cellar notes from top domaines in Condrieu, Cornas, Côte-Rôtie, Crozes-Hermitage and Hermitage. GUEST BLOGGERS  Rocker and wine collector Steven Page of Barenaked Ladies talks about his wine and food indulgences while on tour, and Emeril's Las Vegas sommelier Kevin Vogt discusses food-and-wine pairings, the latest trends and his most amazing wine experiences. Also, as always, our senior editors are blogging about their latest tastings and dining experiences. HOLIDAY MEALS  Use our Recipe Search and Food Encyclopedia to get fresh ideas for your seasonal entertaining, as well as wine-matching recommendations. 'TIS THE SHOPPING SEASON  Looking for that perfect gift? Let our improved Wine Search assist you in finding recent top-scoring wines—by region, price and more—to give your favorite wine lover. Our database has more than 165,000 wine reviews, with scores, complete tasting notes and drink windows, plus auction prices for collectibles and readers' notes.