Well, blogging has caused my podcast from being downloadable via iTunes. Sorry for that. I hope that I will be able to post a podcast-only feed for iTunes to draw from, but until then you will have to download manually or subscribe to the AAC feed. Since I am hacking my feed to populate the iTunes directory properly tonight, I will be recording my new show tomorrow night and posting then. Such is life on the edge of tech, I’m afraid…

UPDATE: Thanks to Derik over at d00dism for the tip on extending my RSS feed. Now the last 5 podcasts are available via iTunes including my most downloaded show focused on Malbec. Enjoy!

It seems that Apple has just released the new version of iTunes that natively supports podcasting. If you have just found the show on iTunes, welcome. You will find another 27 shows for download by clicking on the “Podcasts” link in the right menu and downloading each show to your computer. A new show will be posted later this evening, the first in a special 3-part series on the Napa Valley.

Cheers!

August Briggs, Pinot Meunier, Napa Valley 2003 – Salmon/ruby color, strawberry nose, raspberry and blueberry flavors and a good dose of acidity completes the package nicely. Score: 8.5/10

Ballentine Vineyards, Zinfandel Port, Napa Valley, Estate Grown 2003 ($25/375ml) - Deep garnet color, fresh boysenberry nose, intensely sweet boysenberry flavors but does not taste like 10% RS. Reminiscent of “late harvest” style Zin’s from the 1970’s. Only available at the winery or to wine club members. Score: 8.5/10

Arrived early this morning back home after 10 great days in California. I have a bunch of tasting notes to post and enough material for three shows which I will do this week.

DeSante, Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley 2004 ($20) - Light green/yellow color, grassy citrus aromas, strong lemon/lime flavors with a good dose of acidity. A nice food wine. Score: 8.5/10

On Monday, we had dinner at the Hitching Post II in Buellton, CA. Yes, this is the same place that was a key location in the movie “Sideways”. I stopped by not for the food, but for their wines that are only available at the restaurant or online. The food was surprisingly good (love the meat rub!) and the wines lived up to expecations:

Hartley Ostini-Hitching Post, Pinot Noir, “Highliner” 2003 ($40) their top of the line Pinot from the best lots. Dark ruby color, rasberry and spice nose with tight rasberry and black cherry flavors and some white pepper and oak. Opens up in the glass nicely after 15 minutes. Delicous now but better in a year or two. Score: 9/10

Hartley Ostini-Hitching Post, Pinot Noir, Santa Barbara Country 2003 ($24) Deepest garnet color (but the lighting was bad in the dining room), lean black cherry nose, very tight rasberry fruit. Needs some time in the cellar to show it’s best. Score: 8.5/10

I’ll be on vacation until June 27, but plan on posting updates during this time via my Dell Axim (like this test post). As long as I can find WiFi, I’ll be here…

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

I’m getting my remote setup tuned so I can continue to blog while on vacation in California from my new Pocket PC. Expect some photos from my travels and plenty of tasting notes… I’m also going to check out the recording functions, but no guarantees this will mean a mobile podcast or two.