2005 Didier Dagueneau, Blanc Fumé de Pouilly
Mention the name Didier Dagueneau to Bear and watch him wax rhapsodic — big time. And he’s got plenty of company. Dagueneau is considered the finest producer of Pouilly Fumé in the Loire and he continues to raise the bar with each new vintage. The fact that he is an outspoken, iconoclastic madman, just adds to his mystique but his passion is all about producing wines of purity, depth and complexity that are a true expression of the terroir. This is Sauvignon Blanc like you’ve never had it before. It’s $60 and we have a bit left. We even have a tiny amount of the 2004 on hand, if you want to explore his wines even further. Give this one a few years and then prepare yourself for a very special treat.

2004, Yann Chave, Crozes Hermitage
We were lucky to get our hands on some of this outstanding Rhône red. It’s 100% Syrah, from the northern Rhône and could be mistaken for an Hermitage on the nose, but will only set you back $29.50, if you can find it. We have a tiny bit left. Yann Chave is one of those winemakers who begins his wines in the vineyards. He uses only organic fertilizers and carefully oversees the process every step of the way. The result is wines of exceptional balance and structure. Remarkably, his wines have remained under the radar over the years and the prices relatively low. But that is sure to change soon, given the consistently beautiful wines he produces year after year. Hold this one for 5-8 years, then enjoy it with steak, pork, lamb or just about anything.