February 2002 Issue

February Tastings • February Tasting Stats • Top Ten American Pinot Noir • Best Values • Pinot Noir • Australia • Argentina • Chile • Germany • American New Releases • Imported New Releases

In This Issue: • The Sake Compass: A Look at Regional Style What does location mean when it comes to sake? John Gauntner reports on Japan's top prefectures, and the singular styles they represent. • Pinot Noir Terroir • A Tightening Focus on Russian River Pinot Growers in the Russian River Valley are refining the character of their pinot noir, block by block and row by row. Rod Smith investigates. • The Rise of Oregon Single-Vineyard Pinot Noir After four great vintages in the Willamette Valley, a new model for Oregon pinot noir is taking shape. Patrick Comiskey reports. • The Wizards of Oz the British brat pack: The hottest culinary names these days hail from Down Under. Tara Q. Thomas selects a few top recipes to serve alongside the richest Barossa shiraz or Hunter Valley chards. • The Comeback Kid: Australian Grenache The vines are ancient, the wines hotly sought-after, and Max Allen has the names to know when it comes to Aussie Grenache. • Into the Heart of Carmen�re For years Chilean carmen�re mas- queraded as merlot, but no longer. Patricio Tapia looks into the distinctive South American personality of this long- lost Bordeaux variety.