’06 Gros Frere & Soeur HautesCotes-de-Nuits $25.97
Deep ruby in the glass with red cherry and warm earth tones off-set by a note of oak on the nose. The palate offers up nice red berry fruit flavors—cherry, strawberry, currant—followed by a deft note of spice. This is a pretty medium-bodied Pinot that is drinking beautifully right now, we do recommend decanting, and it should be served with veal chops, duck breast and roast chicken.

’05 Finca Villacreces Ribera del Duero $26.79
The 2005 Tinto is 86% Tempranillo, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 4% Merlot which went through malolactic fermentation in barrel and remained in French oak for another 16 months. Purple-colored, the aromatics reveal notes of mocha, coffee, smoke, violets, spice box, wild cherry, and blackberry. Smooth-textured, layered, and well-balanced, this superb effort will continue to evolve for several years and drink well through 2025.

’00 La Rioja Alta "Vina Ardanza" Rioja Reserva Red $28.99
"The 2000 Reserva Vina Ardanza has 25% Garnacha blended with the Tempranillo. Light to medium ruby, it delivers an enticing bouquet of cedar, spice box, leather, forest floor, black cherry, and blackberry. This leads to a ripe, moderately dense wine with complex flavors and excellent balance. Drink this tasty effort through 2015. La Rioja Alta continues to be one of the benchmarks for traditionally produced Rioja. What the wines may lack in power, they make up for in finesse and complexity." WA-90

’05 Louis Magnin "Grand Orgue" Chignin-Bergeron Roussanne $28.97
Vin de Savoie is the official wine of French winter sports. O.K. not the official, as in government regulated, but if there was a wine we associate with down-hill skiing at Chamonix, then this Vin de Savoie from Magnin-Bergeron is it. A rich nuttiness along with ripe peaches meets you at the nose, followed by a full body and medium acidity, making it one terrific cheese wine as well.