I have attended more wine dinners here in the United States and in Europe than I really care to remember. Some have been exceptional; some have been pretty dismal; most have been forgettable.

The Rivetti dinner at Bluehour on the 14th was as good as it can get. If you weren't there, you not only missed some of the most brilliant wines in the world and some of the finest food available on the West Coast, you missed two other things: The extraordinarily engaging, dynamic Giorgio Rivetti, who was charming, informative and showed more intelligence and passion for wine in his little finger than any 50 wine writers combined. The other thing that you missed was the opportunity to share great food and wine with the most engaging, warm, intelligent group of wine enthusiasts that I have had the pleasure to meet since I moved to Portland ten years ago. Everyone that was at this dinner was a pleasure to be around. It was a great night!

I want to thank everyone involved in organizing this event and turning it into such a successful and enjoyable evening. Thank you to everyone at Domaine Selections for making Giorgio's wines available here in Portland. Thanks to E & R Wine Shop for helping to promote the dinner. Thanks to Giorgio for being devoted to producing wines of such depth, quality and precision and for making a stop in Portland out of his busy schedule. And thank you to Chef Kenny Giambalvo and his kitchen staff, the staff of Bluehour, and Bruce Carey. The room was a delight, the service was exceptional and the food showed that same passion that we could hear in Giorgio Rivetti's voice as he spoke about his wine.

Below are some brief tasting notes for the La Spinetta wines currently available on the Guy du Vin website.

2000 Chardonnay "Lidia" Showed a lovely woodiness with notes of almond in the nose. The palate showed almond, plant, grapefruit peel and apple. Very broad on the palate with well integrated wood. Soft & Luscious Whites -- $29 each

1999 Barbaresco Vürsù Gallina Powerful aromas of currant, red raspberry and vanilla. Fat and extracted, flavors of morello cherry and black plum coat the palate while smoke, roses and mint add complexity. Full-bodied with solid tannins and acidity laying the foundation. Still young, this wine has yet to evolve much and will provide pleasure for years as its personality develops. Dry & Earthy Middle Weight Reds -- $110 each

1999 Barbaresco Vürsù Starderi A stand-out. Enticing whiffs of balsam and dried flowers on the nose. Layers of dark berries, licorice and toasted nuts play on the palate. Great structure provided by high, balanced acidity. Excellent persistence on the finish. Dry & Earthy Middle Weight Reds -- $110 each

2000 Pin Monferrato Rosso Exotic and intense. Luxuriously textured with black plum, black currant and black cherry. Smoke and spice reveal the influence of new barrique. Bold, rich tannins on the palate with a healthy swathing of alcohol. Full, Rich & Sturdy Reds -- $48 each

2002 Moscato d'Asti Bricco Quaglia Simply the best Moscato d'Asti that there is - bar none. What is there to think about. Just open it, drink it, enjoy it. The alcohol is so low, you can drink yourself sober! Sparkling Wines -- 3 bottles $45

Presale Wines:

2002 Barbera d' Asti, Ca di Pian Intense flavors of blue fruit and violets followed by red plum and tobacco on the palate. Almost heady acidity is balanced by generous alcohol and mild tannins. Slightly rustic. Dry & Earthy Middle Weight Reds -- $27 each

2001 Barbaresco Vigneto Gallina Closed in nose. Taut, herby spicy nose with some sweetness to it. The palate is rich and intense, displaying a massive concentration of tight-knit herbal fruit with a spicy edge. Bold and intense. Dry & Earthy Middle Weight Reds -- $110 each

2001 Barbaresco Vigneto Starderi High-toned nose of dried herbs and mint accompanying red fruit. Juicy and abundant blackberry and raspberry on the palate. Thick and concentrated - still needs time to mellow out. Shows best of the three right now. Dry & Earthy Middle Weight Reds -- $110 each

2001 Barbaresco Vigneto Valeirano Purity of fruit combined with coffee, chocolate, earth and violets completely overpower the oak. Complex and impeccably balanced with a long, fine finish. A great Barbaresco offering great longevity. Dry & Earthy Middle Weight Reds -- $110 each

2000 Barolo Vigneto Campe Very nice rich nose - deeper, darker and sweeter than the Barbarescos. A great first effort that will age well. Deep and rich with touches of cinnamon and brown spice. Dry & Earthy Middle Weight Reds -- $117 each