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In the July 31, 2008 Issue:




Previous issue: June 30, 2008

 

Cover Story

The Passing of a Wine Legend Robert Mondavi was one of the most influential and admired winemakers in California history

  • WineSpectator.com:  To read more about Robert Mondavi or to share your thoughts about his contributions to the world of wine, please visit the collection of articles and blogs included as links in our online tribute.

Features

Tasting Reports

User’s Guide to California Chardonnay The evolution of styles continues as winemakers explore this versatile grape

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

Mixed Reviews for 2006 Chardonnay   Despite challenging conditions, the vintage still offers plenty of flavorful wines

10 New Faces

Washington Goes From Strength to Strength   The state’s red wines motor on, as new appellations make an impact on the wine scene

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

Menu

Wine Country Picnic   Great summer dishes that are easy to prepare, pack and present away from home

Dining

Palazzo’s Big Guns   Superstar chefs open four new Las Vegas restaurants under one roof

  • WineSpectator.com:  Get information on nearly 4,000 restaurants with award-winning wine lists. Our complete Dining Guide is online in our redesigned Restaurant Search database—now with photos and member ratings.

Wine

Wine Spectator’s 2008 Grand Tour   Tastings in the Big Apple and Sin City feature more than 200 wineries

Departments

This Issue

This Issue Marvin R. Shanken

Upfront

  

United States threatens to block Brunello imports; women wine drinkers less likely to suffer dementia; Australia grapples with a calamitous year; 2008 Southern Hemisphere Harvest; GrapeVine

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

Tastes

  

Daniel Boulud’s take on pork; Beijing hot spots; rye whiskey; chocolate and peanut butter

  • WineSpectator.com:  Members can use our Recipe Search to find a variety of other meal ideas.

Savvy Shopper

The Savvy Shopper   California Chardonnay, Washington, the Languedoc and more

Columns

James Laube   A visionary and mentor

Matt Kramer   What made Mondavi different

James Suckling   A toast to Bob

Harvey Steiman   Doing the twist, Australia style

Letters

Letters

Collecting

  

Fake Burgundies are pulled from auction sale; some younger Champagnes are being sold at good prices; High Museum auction brings in more than $1.5 million; Houston Rodeo auction ropes in big bids

  • WineSpectator.com:  Manage your cellar: Our improved Personal Wine List allows members to organize the bottles in their collection in a personal database. The new My Cellar companion tool tracks the value of your individual collectibles and of your cellar's total worth.

Wine Talk

Wine Talk   PlumpJack’s Gillian Ballance

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.


ADVANCE RATINGS:  Get the scoop on the hottest collectibles and best values from our editors' latest tastings.

  • Our weekly Insider newsletter brings you highly rated, small production wines before they sell out.
  • The Advance newsletter gives you sneak peeks at top picks from upcoming issues of the magazine.
  • Our online Tasting Highlights show-cases noteworthy regions and producers.

WINE COUNTRY TRAVEL TIPS:  Planning a summer trip to your favorite wine region? Use our handy Hotel Search and Winery Search tools—now with reviews, photos and maps—to find the best accommodations and nearby wineries.

RECIPE SEARCH:  Find hundreds of delicious recipes—searchable by ingredient, food type or matching wine type—plus complete menus and wine-pairing advice.


2008 VIDEO CONTEST:  Creative with a video camera? Submit your wine videos to Wine Spectator's second annual video contest and you could win great prizes. We are looking for short, original videos that are educational and entertaining. Our editors will select the best entries, and the finalists will be posted on WineSpectator.com, where viewers will vote to choose the winner. The deadline for entering is Aug. 18, 2008. Here are the complete rules and technical information, and last year's finalists.

VIDEOS:  We now have hundreds of videos on our Web site:

  • Honoring Robert Mondavi:  Our tribute video includes a 1999 interview in which Mondavi explains his philosophy and recounts his first trip to Europe, plus rare photos that trace his life in wine.
  • California Chardonnay:  The Golden State produces a range of Chardonnay styles, and senior editor James Laube discusses two that are stylistic opposites—one aged in oak and the other "naked."
  • California Whites:  Branch out beyond Chardonnay with tasting coordinator MaryAnn Worobiec as she tastes some of the state's lesser-known white varietals, including Viognier.
  • Old-vine Zinfandel:  California winemakers are showing that Zinfandel can be structured and rewarding. Associate editor Tim Fish meets winemaker Al Perry among the ancient vines that produce grapes for Robert Biale's Monte Rosso Zinfandel.
  • Washington Chardonnay:  Learn about the state's bright, refreshing Chardonnays as editor at large Harvey Steiman tastes a pair from the 2006 vintage, the Columbia Crest Horse Heaven Hills and Three Rivers Columbia Valley.

SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE HARVEST REPORT  Get an early look at the 2008 vintage in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and South America.

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