Among Chablis' Grand Crus, Les Clos is the undisputed king. Les Clos is as powerful and densely mineral as Chablis gets. It is Chablis at its most statuesque, dazzling and complex. All of its power and sea shell minerality are married to supreme elegance. 

The 2008 Loibenberg presents fireworks on this fine razor's edge. The Loibenberg is perhaps the most exotic, most lavish and generous site in the Wachau - the wines flaunt heady perfumes. It is a "Grand Cru" site if ever there was one, farmed by many of the greats of the Wachau (FX Pichler, Knoll, etc).

Writes Galloni: "It’s hard to know where to start with these new releases from Il Poggione, as every wine I tasted was strikingly beautiful... Il Poggione’s Brunello di Montalcino remains one of the most fairly priced, ageworthy wines on the planet."

Allemand occupies a fascinating position in the Northern Rhone. Recently, there's been much discussion about the loss of the Northern Rhône's old guard (Gentaz-Dervieux, Trollat, Verset, etc.) If there is an heir to the throne of Noël Verset, it is Theirry Allemand.

We've said it before, but it bears repeating: Conterno's epic Barolos are wines that transcend their category. Yes, they are among the greatest Barolos on the planet, but they are also among the greatest red wines on the planet.

Drouhin's 2010 Chambolle 1er Cru is a gorgeous and archetypal expression of Chambolle's femininity and grace. This is a wine that whispers and does so in a seductive way: A pitch-perfect expression of lace and silk, fresh red fruit, a perfume that is in equal parts fruit, flower, mineral, and earth.

The 1999 Comtes, now just entering that 10-year-old sweet spot, has been one of our favorite 1999ers, and for some time. We emailed about the wine last year (an offer which, by the way, sold out quickly). Still, what we wrote last year is just as true today, though in magnum expect everything to be more intense, more defined, more finessed.

These are also the most collectible and sought after bottles of wine in the world.

Fevre's 2010 1er Cru Vaulorent delivers a chiseled Chablis minerality with really impressive density and fine-ness. There are layers of flowers, smoke, stone fruits all backed up by a driving acid streak.

This is perhaps our favorite Pinot Noir currently being made in Germany. It's sort of that simple.

Paul Fürst has for many years been one of Germany's greatest practitioners of Pinot Noir and his Klingenberger is the quietest, the most understated and elegant in his stable.