Medium red. Classic, pure aromas of minerals, white truffle, tobacco and damp earth, lifted by a floral nuance. Offers terrific energy and verve in the mouth, with its sweetness nicely leavened by sappy, harmonious acidity. Finishes very long and juicy, with wonderfully smooth, silky tannins and vibrant notes of fruits and minerals. Rated 92. ‑ Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar November/December 2004

Dark red. Ripe raspberry and strawberry scents are deep and expansive. Impressively sweet and lush, with supple tannins supporting powerful red berry flavors. Deepens with air, finishing on a ripe blackberry note, with good acid lift and excellent length. Very promising. Rated 92-95. ‑ Josh Raynolds, Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar January/February 2007

The home of André Brunel is also the site of the vineyard from which is produced his Côtes-du-Rhône Cuvée Sommelongue. The property is about 10 kilomètres north of Châteauneuf-du-Pape near the village of Orange. The name of the wine, Cuvée Sommelongue, refers to the long, thin 9-hectare parcel of vineyard from which the fruit is sourced. This contiguous piece of vineyard is is planted to about 90% Grenache, 5% Syrah and 5% Mourvèdre and is well exposed to the sun. The fruit is picked very late after achieving a high potential degree of natural alcohol, then destemmed and vinified completely in tank, read no interference of oak. Alluring aromas of ripe cherry and berry fruit with subtle hints of Provençal spice; juicy and just plain delectable on the tongue with supple textures and soft chalky tannins that well distribute bursting spicy berry flavors long to the finish. Cuvée Sommelongue is some kind of favorite among the myriad delicious southern Côtes-du-Rhône reds we are pleased to offer to our discerning clientèle. Regularly $13.75 the bottle, on sale now at:

Charvin made a fine 2004 Chateauneuf du Pape which is a blend of 82% Grenache, 8% Syrah, and the rest equal parts Mourvedre and Vaccarese. The wine is classic Chateauneuf, a naked expression of its site and varietals with beautifully pure black cherry fruit notes intermixed with licorice, some roasted herbs, and a hint of spice and roasted meats. With its wonderful intensity, beautiful purity, and loads of finesse and flavor, it’s a beauty that is drinking well and should continue to evolve for at least 10-12 years. Rated 90. ‑ Robert M. Parker, Jr.'s The Wine Advocate Issue 169 February 2007

Dark red. Explosively aromatic, assertive nose combines red and dark berries, exotic spices and a strong lavender note. Lush, creamy and sweet, but with good focus to the bright raspberry, blackberry and licorice flavors. Silky, focused and pure on the long, juicy finish. This very sexy wine will drink well young but is balanced to improve with cellaring. Rated 93. ‑ Josh Raynolds, Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar Issue 130 January/February 2007

Cool, rainy weather in early spring delayed budbreak, but clear skies by late March brought flowering and a good set by mid-May. Above average temperatures throughout the summer moved ripening along, and we started to sample for flavor in late August. Mild fall weather with occasional fog slowed maturation while allowing color and flavor to deepen. Harvesting began in mid-September and extended over twenty days as each of the thirty-three parcels ripened fully. The separate lots fermented on their natural yeasts, and were pressed at dryness (average seven days); once natural malolactic was underway, we began assembling the finest and most characteristic. Because of the zinfandel's unusually firm structure, we included very little petite sirah. As in most years, the 120-year-old carignane was an elegant, vibrant addition. This outstanding vintage aged fourteen months in air-dried american oak. Rich primary fruit gives the wine immediate appeal; it will develop greater complexity over the next ten years. - Ridge Vineyards' winemakers Eric Baugher and Paul Draper, December 2006, paraphrased from http://www.ridgewine.com/. Regularly $32.50 the bottle, on sale now at:

Medium red. Precise raspberry and redcurrant aromas complicated by assertive garrigue and mineral notes. Highly concentrated, very pure berry flavors are nicely framed by gentle acidity. Finishes silky and very long, with compelling sweetness. Daniel Brunier rates this wine alongside his 1978 and 1998 for sheer quality. Rated 93-96. ‑ Josh Raynolds, Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar Issue 130 January/February 2007

A beautiful wine is the 2005 Vieux Telegraphe Chateauneuf du Pape. A saturated dark ruby, it offers up notes of seaweed wrappers (nori) intermixed with truffle, black raspberry, cherry, and some black currant, pepper, and iodine. Fleshy, full-bodied, with good acidity, moderately high tannins, and a long, rich finish, this wine will require 2-4 years of bottle age then drink well for close to 20 years... Drink 2009-2027. Rated (92-94). ‑ Robert M. Parker, Jr.'s The Wine Advocate Issue 169 February 2007

Emeritus is the emerging Russian River Valley Pinot noir project of Brice Jones and team; Brice Cutrer Jones, that is, the eponymous founder of white wine powerhouse, Sonoma-Cutrer Vineyards. In 1999, Jones sold Sonoma-Cutrer to drinks giant Brown-Forman and, two months later, closed on the purchase of 115 acres just ten miles west. The home ranch of Emeritus Vineyards lies on both sides of the Gravenstein Highway along Sonoma County's Gold Ridge, a ten-mile-long, low ridge running from Sebastopol to Forestville in the heart of the Russian River Valley. The rolling hills slope to the southwest giving the vines optimum exposure to the sun allowing for fully ripened grapes with potential for seductive aromas, sensuous textures and vibrant flavors. Lovely ruby color right to the rim, deep pitched aromas suggest earth and spice, sandalwood, dried cherry and cranberry fruit; nice breadth on the tongue; soft and rich; warming, enveloping, invigorating, with all its delicious elements in tantalizing balance.

Right Bank consultant Stephane Derenoncourt was brought in as the lead consultant at this noble estate in Pessac-Leognan. As a result, the tannins are sweeter, the oak is more subtle and better integrated, and the wine is more textured and complex. An evolved, complex bouquet of black currants, forest floor, smoked herbs, and sweet cherries as well as currants emerges from the 2003. It displays supple tannin, medium to full body, beautiful purity, and a classic, elegant finish. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2019. Rated 90. ‑ Robert M. Parker, Jr.'s The Wine Advocate Issue 164 April 2006

An excellent wine that probably travels somewhat under the radar is Domaine de la Solitude’s inexpensive Cotes du Rhone, wine made from mostly Grenache with Syrah and Mourvedre. It is especially strong in 2005 with crunchy black cherry and raspberry fruit intermixed with some herbs, pepper, and garrigue. Spicy, round, and easy to appreciate, it should be drunk over the next several years. Rated 88. ‑ Robert M. Parker, Jr.'s The Wine Advocate Issue 169 February 2007

This historic property located in Sant’Angelo in Colle traces its roots back to the late 1800s. Today the wines are made by Fabrizio Bindocci, who cut his teeth working alongside Piero Talenti, one of the most famous figures in the world of Montalcino oenology. Although some small concessions are made to modern tastes the wines remain quite classic in their expression of Sangiovese. Il Poggione’s 2001 Brunello di Montalcino opens with a very distinctive nose redolent of scorched earth, tobacco and cherries initially showing a wilder side of Sangiovese in its hints of gaminess. It is full-bodied and structured on the palate, where it offers plenty of fruit, with considerable length as well as big, potent tannins. This backward, hulking Brunello is in need of considerable cellaring and is clearly built for the long haul. It is a wine of great personality and character. A recent bottle of the 1985 was also outstanding. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2023. Rated 93. ‑ Antonio Galloni, Robert M. Parker, Jr.'s The Wine Advocate Issue 168 December 2006

The profound 2005 Shiraz Amon Ra is fashioned from a dry grown, 100- to 110 year-old vineyard, and spends 14 months in a combination of 100% new French and American barrels as well as 300-liter hogsheads. A saturated purple color is followed by scents of creme de cassis, incense, licorice, black raspberries, graphite, and sweet wood. It unfolds beautifully on the palate to reveal terrific richness, full-bodied power, great definition, and lovely elegance. This exquisite Shiraz is still young, but it possesses a degree of accessibility. It should age for two decades. It is a superb example of cutting edge winemaking being utilized on ancient Shiraz vines in the Barossa. Drink 2006-2026. Rated 98. ‑ Robert M. Parker, Jr.'s The Wine Advocate Issue 167 October 2006

Riesling is, in our estimation, the royalty of aromatic white wine grapes. Trimbach produce their basic Alsace Riesling in a very French, read totally, almost austerely dry style; fleeting aromas suggestive of mineral, apricot flower, white peach, quince and lemon; vibrant and crisp, brisk even, on the tongue; strappingly textured; hyper-dry with clean, palate-stimulating acidity and delicate flavors a refreshing reprise of that first alluring whiff.

A sleeper of the vintage, the gorgeously plump 2003 Greysac may be even better than my score indicates. It reveals hints of sweet cherries, figs, plums, and smoky licorice along with supple tannin, a beautiful texture, medium body, and no hard edges. This luscious, tasty Medoc should drink well for 6-8 years. Rated 88. ‑ Robert M. Parker, Jr.'s The Wine Advocate Issue 164 April 2006

Ruby-red. Intense spice and floral notes lift the deep cassis, dark cherry and cured tobacco aromas. Wild, gamey and sweet, with deep flavors of blackberry and blackcurrant fruit, bitter licorice root and espresso framed by strong tannins. A solidly built if rather brooding La Chapelle that will require plenty of patience. Give this a decade in the cellar, at least. Rated 92. ‑ Josh Raynolds, Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar Issue 130 January/February 2007

Tightly wrapped citrus and mineral aromas, with mint and green cardamom. Lean, focused and pure, with a vibrant core of zesty acidity firming lemon and lime flavors. Zesty and clean, with admirable purity and a bright, mouthwatering finish. Rated 89. ‑ Josh Raynolds, Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar Issue 131 March/April 2007