Château de la Grave "Bel Air," Côtes de Bourg, 2005 ($15.99) - The epitome of the "fairytale" castle, Chateau de la Grave also makes darned good wine at a darned good price. Built in 1740, this small, turreted château has been in the family of current owners Philippe and Valérie Bassereau for 105 years. Two wines are produced from different parts of the estate. The "Bel Air" is a great value. It definitely shows its oak treatment, but there is also lovely, balancing fruit. It is softer, more approachable than the "Charactere," which we also carry.

Taylor-Fladgate First Estate Reserve, NV ($19.99)  - This is a superb, non-dated Port for everyday drinking. It is far superior to basic ruby ports and nearly has the richness of an LBV, but it is totally soft, smooth, and ready to drink now. No aging or decanting is required. Its rich, jammy, black fruit. mellow oak, and full body make it an excellent partner for rich, highly flavored cheeses as well as intense desserts which can easily overwhelm lighter wines.

François Crochet Sancerre Rouge "Réserve de Marcigoué," 2006 ($27.99) – Yes, Virginia, there is a red Sancerre! In fact, Sancerre was known primarily for red wine made from Pinot Noir until the late 19th century. After the devastation of phylloxera, the majority of its vineyards were replanted with Sauvignon Blanc, but even today Pinot Noir accounts for about 20% of production. No other varietals are allowed in the 14 villages permitted to use the Sancerre AOC. Most of the Pinot Noir goes into rosé or light reds similar to Beaujolais, but a few producers go for a more serious Burgundian style. Even those producers donft always succeed, but François Crochet has been making terrific wines in most vintages. This amazingly good wine exceeds the quality and depth of fruit available from Burgundy at this price. Fragrant and ripe red-berry fruit on the nose is followed by copious amounts of wild strawberry and violet character on the palate. Deep in color, the wine is subtle, complex, and lengthy. The grapes were hand-harvested from vines with an average age of 35 years grown on chalky clay soil. The wine was aged in a combination of 228 liter and 500 liter oak barrels for 14 months after which it was bottled unfined and unfiltered. Only 250 cases were made. A winner!

Pull 80 Pinot Noir, Oregon, 2008 ($17.99) - This fine value is made by a highly respected McMinnville winery that wishes to remain anonymous. Ten percent of the grapes come from just outside the Willamette, so it carries the Oregon designation. Aged for ten months in used wood, it shows nice cherry and spice character, slightly dark fruit, and good length. The label is a tribute to Patrick Edward Crowley, the President of the New York Central Railroad from 1924-1931. His reputation for demanding a hard day's work and maximum efficiency led his friends and colleagues to coin his initials into the nickname gPull Eighty Cars.h In the early 1900s most locomotives typically pulled only thirty cars. Crowley demanded that all his locomotives over-deliver the norms for his day. This Pinot Noir does the same.

Cambria Pinot Noir "Benchbreak Vineyard," Santa Maria Valley, 2006 ($29.99) - The maritime influences that funnel in from the ocean make Santa Maria Valley the coolest part of California - perfect for Pinot Noir. The low-yielding Bench Break Vineyard is a small, distinct area of the family-owned Cambria estate. Sitting at the highest elevation on the western side of the property, this site has the shallowest soil on the estate, which restricts vine vigor and yields fruit with concentrated flavors. This wine is dark, exotic, and voluptuous with good minerality. Wine Enthusiast 92: "Bring on the grilled salmon, ahi tuna, pork chops, and smoked country ham. This gorgeous Pinot will let them shine in a supportive way, not overwhelm them. Dry, crisp, and elegantly silky, it shows complex flavors of cherry, cola, rhubarb, licorice, and beef jerky that finish in a swirl of dusty spice."

Coudoulet de Beaucastel, Côtes du Rhône Rouge, 2007 ($29.99) - One of the great Rhône values, this wine is made from grapes grown on the wrong side of the highway and are thus not allowed to use the Châteauneuf du Pape designation. The grapes are treated and the wine is made in the same way as Beaucastel's $100 Châteauneuf. We still have some of the 2004 and 2005 Coudoulet at the same price; they are drinking beautifully. Robert Parker 92: "The blockbuster 2007 Côtes du Rhône Coudoulet, always one of the best bargains from the south, may be the finest Coudoulet ever produced. A blend of 30% Mourvèdre, 30% Grenache, and the rest Syrah, Cinsault, and a few other authorized varietals, it is incredibly opulent and rich with sensational notes of black currants, licorice, smoked herbs, and meat juices, a full-bodied mouthfeel, savory tannins, and good acidity as well as length. This outstanding wine can be drunk now or cellared for 10-15 years. One of the great estates of the Rhône Valley, Chateau Beaucastel has been run by several generations of the Perrin family beginning with the late Jacques Perrin (who died in 1978), then the brothers Jean-Pierre and Francois, and now their sons Thomas, Marc, Pierre, and Mathieu. Beaucastel has nearly 200 acres in vine in Châteauneuf du Pape, and they have branched out with an impressive operation under the Perrin et Fils label, purchasing grapes and acquiring land (in Vinsobres and Gigondas, for example). Their goal is to become the most recognized name for high quality wines in the southern Rhône."