Dressner did cut a few corners this year, for example by refusing to hire staff for the tables and thereby forcing wine makers from small villages scattered throughout the Loire Valley to travel all the way to NYC to pour the wines themselves. loved the 2005, not as much the 2006, never saw the 2007, and now we have the 2008. MORE >>

Savio works with small growers who take care for their environment and who make wine naturally - relying mostly on indigenous yeasts, minimal sulfur, minimal cellar manipulation, and light or no filtration. The 2005 Wilfred Rousse Chinon Les Puys (about $30) was, to me, a classic. I asked Ariel, Savio Soares' wine rep. had a blast. MORE >>

want to give her great wines, wines that will improve with 19 years of cellaring. Many people consider these to be the finest Chenin Blancs from the Loire Valley and in the world. In contrast to the 2005 or 2002, it is not an exuberant wine, even after 3 days open. And happily, I can afford to buy and drink them. MORE >>

Moving to the Rhone valley in France I tried some wines from Eric Texier. wine I really loved and found quite unique was the 2005 Domaine de Roally Vire'-Clesse' from the Macconnais, France. Domaine Francois Pinon from the Loire Valley makes some demi-sec (semi sweet) wines from Chenin blanc. don't know. great wine. MORE >>

2005 was the vintage of the century in Bordeaux, the vintage of the millennium in Burgundy, the finest post-World War II vintage in the Rhône, and the greatest vintage in recent memory in the Loire. Isn't it tempting to check in on your 2005's? know you love Muscadet - what's your take on the 2005 vintage? MORE >>