Pinot Noir, Les Hexagonales, St. Pourcain, France, 2008 (plenty of Pinot for not a lot of buckage) 28.
Pinot Noir, Becker Estate, Pfalz, Germany, 2009 (Fantastic German Pinot? Who knew.) 40.
Pinot Nero, J. Hofstatter , 'Meczan', Alto Adige, Italy, 2009 (Silky/pretty Nero by one of the Italian greats) 44.
Pinot Noir, Au Bon Climat , Santa Barbara Co., CA 2009 (Jim Clendenen is one of Cali's coolest) 56.
Pinot Noir, Eyrie, Dundee Hills, Oregon, 2009 (Eyrie's Lett family are THE Oregon originals) 60.
Pinot Noir, Cristom, 'Jessie Vineyard', Eola-Amity Hills, Williamette Valley, OR, 2007 (Cristom crushes) 74.
Pinot Noir, Fiddlehead Cellars, 'Fiddlestix 728', Santa Rita Hills, CA, 2007 (Kathy Joseph's got your #) 64.
Pinot Noir, St. Innocent, 'Freedom Hill Vineyard', Willamette Valley, OR, 2008 (Breezy wine from a breexy site) 75
Pinot Noir, Meyer-Nakel , 'Blue Slate', Ahr, Germany, 2008 (Class, say it with me: " I-Love-This-Spatburgunder") 85.
Pinot Noir, Peay Vineyards, 'Pomarium Estate', Sonoma Coast, CA, 2008 (Andy Peay knows the coast) 108.
Pinot Noir, Alysian, 'Rochioli Vineyard-River Block', Russian River Valley, CA, 2008 (Gary Farrell's gorgeous new project) 135.
HALF-BOTTLE, Bergstrom , 'Cumberland Reserve', Willamette Valley, OR 2008 (driven like a wiry welterweight) 36.
Bourgogne, Chauvenet-Chopin, 2008 (awesome structure at this level; great producer) 40.
Bourgogne, Jacques Cacheux, 'Les Champs d'Argent', 2009 (wears Vosne pedigree on its sleeve) 52.
Fixin, Mongeard-Mugneret, 2008 (Vincent's wines smell like the ah-delicious soil) 68.
Marsannay, Joseph Roty, 'Clos de Jeu', 2007 (I love they way the '07s taste right now) 74.
Gevrey-Chambertin, Tortochot, 'Les Jeunes Rois', 2007 (Lean and elegant outlier for Gevrey) 70.
Nuits St. Georges, Jerome Chezeaux, , 2007 (crystalline and resonant--it goes SHONG) 85.
Morey-Saint-Denis 1er Cru, Herve and Annie Sigaut, 'Les Charrieres', 2008 (it looks you straight in the eye) 78.
Gevrey Chambertin, Chanson, 2007 (it's textbook Gevrey: deep black cherry and opulent brown clay) 99.
Chambolle-Musigny, J.J. Confuron, 2006 (Man, J.J.! Dynomite!) 125.
Gevrey-Chambertin, Domaine Ponsot, 'Cuvee de l'Abeille', 2008 (One can't say no to Ponsot) 135.
Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru, Thibeault Liger-Belair,'Les Saint Georges', 2008 (LSG is like NSG's Grand Cru!) 150.
Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru, Meo-Camuzet,, 2004 (Meo has one of the best plots in Vougeot) 250.
Mazis-Chambertin Grand Cru, Domaine Maume, 2000 (Ah to have very fine, old-style grand cru with age) 320.
HALF-BOTTLE, Ladoix Edmond Cornu, Villes Vignes, 2006 (just enough of Pierre's perfect pinto) 40.
Chassagne-Montrachet, Vincent & Sophie Morey, 2008 (Luminous and airy crunchberries) 56.
Santenay, Jean-Marc Morey, 'La Comme Dessus', 2007 (so, so pretty with just the tiniest hint of leather) 68.
Santenay 1er Cru, Jean-Claude Boisset, 'Clos Rousseau', 2006 (perfumed life by young stud Gregory Patriat)64.
Chassagne-Montrachet, Gabriel & Paul Jouard , Vielles Vignes, 2007 (old-vine velvet) 74.
Pommard, Jean-Jacques Girard, Vielles Vignes, 2009 (elegant wafting flowers and red, red dirt) 78.
Pernand-Vergelesses 1er Cru, Follin-Arbelet, 'En Caradeux', 2006 (yessss tough stuff from next to Corton) 89.
Pommard, Gabriel Billard, 2004 (Iron in the soil makes Pommard HARD--and great Pinot Noir for steak!) 105.
Volnay 1er Cru, Joesph Voillot,'Les Fremiets,' 2008 (Might be my wine of the year) 135.
Corton Grand Cru, Bertrand Ambroise,'Le Rognet', 2004 (this is Bert's signature wine; power in delicacy) 140.
Corton Grand Cru, Domaine de Montille,'Clos du Roi', 2007 (Etienne's wines always impress; grownup oomph) 225.
Juliénas, Henry Fessy, 2009 (Gamay showing off its good stuff--buxom but dainty too) 32.
Cote de Brouilly, Chateau Thivin, 2009 (Thivin is reliably awesome and the labels are super sweet) 44.
Morgon, Daniel Bouland, 'Corcelette', Vielles Vignes, 2010 (Bouland is one of Beaujolais' best) 48.
Bourgogne Pinot Noir, Le Jardin de Charlotte, 2007 (you won't find a better deal in Burgundy) 22.
Chianti, Poggio Vignoso, 2009 (the old-time recipe--sangiovese, canaiolo & malvasia) 28.
Chianti Classico, Castello di Cacchiano, 2005 (dried red flower petals over good old Tuscan dust) 40.
Sangiovese, Casanova di Neri, Montalcino, 2009 (modern breadth and classic uprightness) 44.
Sangiovese, Felsina, 'Fontalloro', 2005 (they're obsessed with Sangiovese and this is their ultimate expression) 85.
Brunello di Montalcino, Angelo Sassetti, 'Pertimali', 2004 (Oooh so pretty; big dirt and gorgeous cherry grace) 120.
Brunello di Montalcino, Il Poggione, 2005 (Poggione a perennial fave) 135.
Barbera D'Asti, Vietti, 'Tre Vigne', 2009 (I simply love this producer. Brilliant wines, great labels.) 36.
Barbaresco, Produttori del Barbaresco, 2007 (Produttori wines are real class acts) 58.
Barbaresco, Sottimano, 'Pajore', 2007 (a bruiser with panache--Sottimano is the real deal) 115.
Barolo, Fantino, 'Vigna dei Dardi', Riserva, Monforte d'Alba, 1999 (Great Riserva for under a bill!) 99.
Barolo, Bovio, 'Vigna Arborina', La Morra, 1995 ("Hey Giancarlo, what year you wanna open?") 105.
Barolo, Bovio, 'Rocchettevino', La Morra, 1998 ("Well-a the '98 she is molto espressivo") 105.
Barolo, Bovio, 'Vigna Gattera', La Morra, 1999 ("but the '99 is my bello bambino") 105.
Barolo, Bovio, 'Vigna Gattera', La Morra, 2001 (Giancarlo just closes his eyes and gestures...) 105.
Barolo, Bovio, 'Vigna Arborina', La Morra, 1993 ("and the 1993 she make-a me cry, I just cry") 125.
Montepulciano, Marchetti, Rosso Conero, Le Marche, 2008 (Maurizio's stuff is oh so good for the money) 32.
Cannonau, Argiolas, 'Costera', Sardinia, 2008 (essentially Mediterranean Grenache--grrreat food wine) 40.
Cerasuolo di Vittoria, COS, Sicily, 2008 (The boys at COS are bringing back the old ways) 60.
Vittoria Rosso, Occhipinti, 'SP68', Sicily, 2010 (young Arianna Occhipinti is a bronzed Sicilian badass) 56.
Refosco, Scarbolo, Friuli, Italy, 2006 (Valter is a whiz with this indigenous grape) 65.
Valpolicella, Giuseppe Quintarelli, 'Rosso Ca' del Merlo', Veneto, 2000 (Giuseppe is king of Veneto) 125.
Amarone, Tommaso Bussola, Veneto, Italy, 2008 (Tommaso is one of the few true artisans of Amarone) 135.
Cotes-du-Rhone Villages, Mas des Boislauzon, France, 2009 (brawny stuff from a producer that really delivers) 36.
Vacqueyras, Chateau du Trignon, France, 2007 (goodness gracious, such grand Grenache) 52.
Cotes du Ventoux, Chateau Unang, France, 2007 (uhh full-on delicious style of Grenache, Syrah, and Carignan) 65.
Gigondas, St. Cosme, France, 2009 (meaty Gigondas meets a monster vintage; result is manimalistic) 74.
Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Bois de Boursan, France, 2009 (Always a classic. Aromatic and graceful.) 82.
Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Le Vieux Donjon, France, 2008 (old-school and firing on all cylinders) 105.
NORTHERN RHONECrozes-Hermitage, M. Chapoutier, 'La Petite Ruche', 2008 (Michel's Syrah is stridin') 44.
St. Joseph, J.L. Chave, 'Offerus', 2007 (this is always one of the best deals in winedom) 56.
Hermitage, Bernard Faurie, 2006 (Surprisingly open for young Hermitage, it's super duper Syrah) 125.
Garnacha Tintorera, La Huella de Adaras, Almansa, Spain, 2008 (spicy, uplifting, and an awesome value) 22.
Ribera del Duero, Finca Villcreces'Pruno', Castilla y Leon, Spain, 2008 (right next door to Vega Sicilia!) 44.,
Rioja, El Brozal, Bodegas Indiano, Spain, 2009 (old-school single-vineyard Rioja) 52.
Priorato, Mas d'en Compte, ,Porrera, Spain, 2007 (Porrera's higher elevation equals power and finesse) 56.
Rioja, R. Lopez de Heredia, 'Vina Tondonia', Reserva, Spain, 2000 (I'd like to introduce you to a classic) 78.
Rioja, R. Lopez de Heredia, 'Vina Tondonia', Gran Reserva, Spain, 1991 (We are sooo excited to have this) 135.
Syrah, Qupe, Central Coast, CA, 2009 (Bob Lundquist is a good dude and his wines totally rule) 36.
Zinfandel, Hendry, 'Blocks 7 &22', Napa Valley, CA, 2007 (Hooray for Hendry's responsible Zin) 52.
Cabernet Sauvignon Blend Hedges,Red Mountain, WA 2008 (hooray for Hedges family, striving for a sense of place) 48.
Cabernet Sauvignon Blend, Robert Sinskey, 'POV', Carneros, CA 2008 (more deep and wily stuff from our pal Rob) 52.
Cabernet Franc, Cornerstone Cellars, 'Stepping Stone', Napa Valley, CA, 2008 (new descriptor for you: 'varietally correct') 65.
Cabernet Sauvignon, Tom Eddy, Napa Valley, CA 2004 (big Tom says, "No wine before its time!") 90.
Cabernet Sauvignon, Georg Rafael ,Napa Valley, CA 2001 (Cool boutique cab with some ago) 99.
Cabernet Sauvignon, Georg Rafael, Napa Valley, CA, 2005 (a window into old-style Mt. Veeder) 99.
Cabernet Sauvignon, Corison, Napa Valley, CA 2006 (the experts freaked out over Cathy's '06) 130.
Cahors, Clos la Coutale, 2009 (this is mostly Malbec, a condition that seems to say 'Buy me like crazy') 36.
Saint-Emilion, Chateau Simard, 1999 (elegant red flowers and soft leather; classic Emilion finesse) 56.
Pomerol, Chateau Gombaude-Guillot, 2000 (What they said about 2000 is totally true) 75.
Margaux, Chateau Moulin de Tricot, 2006 (deep chocolate and pencil-lead biceps) 82.
Pauillac, Chateau Bellegrave, Bordeaux, 2000 (neighbor to Latour and Lynch-Bages! Also, 2000!) 90.
Saint-Emilion, Chateau L'Ermitage, Grand Cru, Bordeaux, 2001 (Get this before it's gone!) 125.
Saint-Julien, Chateau Branaire-Ducru, 2004 (c'est si so cru classay) 165.
Malbec, Aguaribay,Mendoza, Argentina, 2007 (a product of the Rothschilds; fleshy & fantastic) 22.
Cabernet Sauvignon, Ben Marco, Mendoza, Argentina, 2008 (more wonderful stuff from Susana Balbo), 44.
Malbec, Luigi Bosca, 'Lujan de Cuyo' D.O.C., Mendoza, Argentina, 2008 (Single-vineyard purity), 56.