"dick neidich" > wrote in message
nk.net...
> Any one else have experience with the 98 DDO-Laurene?

No, but I did recently taste the 2001 ($55US). It was served in a flight
alongside a couple of 2002 Jadot Burgundies [Beaune Bressandes, Côte de
Beaune (40US) & Gevrey-Chambertin, Estournelles Saint-Jacques, Côte de Nuits
($75US)]. I thought the Burgundies were overpriced for the quality
(especially the Gevrey). There was also the 2003 Argyle, Willamette, OR
($20US) and 1999 Husch Knoll Vyd. ($31US) in the flight. Anyway, the
Drouhin was the best of the American wines IMO, and perhaps a bit better
than the Burgundies, but at $55 it was no bargain.

In the next flight was all California Pinot Noirs. These were from Gary
Farrell, Williams Selyem, Domaine Carneros and Saintsbury. Collectively,
they were a _big_ step up from the first flight, as were the wines in the
next flight (Sanford, Hartley-Ostini and Morgan).

All in all, I found the Drouhin to be a solid wine among the entire lot, but
not worth the price. The best QPR (and my top wine of the night) was the
2002 Williams Selyem Russian River Valley for a _mere_ $39US. Also
excellent were the 2001 Saintsbury "Reserve" and the 2002 Sanford "La
Rinconada" (both $50US).

Tom S