Happy Two-Weeks-Into-The-New-Year to all our friends and Wine Lovers!

Welcome to the triumphant return of Carpe Vinum’s Friday Flights program. It’s been a long time, and we’re finally prepared to kick these things off again. With any luck, we’ll witness the trumphant return of my organizational skills, which are busy thawing out after last week’s snow-and-freeze slip-n-slide debacle, and untangling after all the nuptual hubbub.

So in a salute to 6 whole months in business, we are presenting the theme of this week’s tasting:

The Carpe Vinum Best of (the Second Half of) 2003!

These are a handful of the winners of past tastings, bestsellers, and personal favorites.
In lieu of anything else interesting to say, and in attempting to figure out my first year’s taxes, here’s the lineup for this week, in categories!

So Friday, January 16th, between 4:30 and 9:00 PM it’s:

The Carpe Vinum Best of (the Second Half of) 2003!

**Best Inexpensive Goat-Themed Wine**
Charles Back 2002 Goats Do Roam, Paarl, South Africa
**Best Spanish Red**
Marcelino Diaz 2000 Puerta Palma, Ribera Del Guadiana, Spain
**Best Cotes du Rhone**
Chateau du Trignon 2001 Cotes du Rhone, France
**Best Bordeaux-Style Blend**
Cuneo 2000 Bordeaux-Style, Oregon
**Best Italian Red**
Firriato 2001 Chiaramonte Nero d’Avola, Sicily, Italy

And the Extra 2:
**Best Oregon Syrah**
Mystic 2000 Syrah, Columbia Valley, Oregon
**Best. . .Well, Perhaps Just the Best**
Owen Roe 2002 Abbot’s Table, Oregon/Washington

A good deal at $10 for the first 5, and $6 for the Extra 2 Premium Pours.
Hope to see you here!
Seize the Wine!
M

Next week is Petite Syrah!