2007 Bird, Sauvignon Blanc (New Zealand)

1. A straight forward white with enough acid to enjoy with food.  We often use it to make and then drink with risotto.  We used it for a shrimp and fresh corn risotto, and the wine offset the sweetness very nicely.
   

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2005 Jade Mountain Grenache, Mt. Veeder, Napa (Calif.)

1. This grenache is made in a very Californian style.  14% alcohol usually implies very ripe grapes, and this was indeed the case with this bottling.  Very ripe fruit, mostly blackberries and cherries, with hints of cinnamon. 
   

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1999 Dom. Robert Chevillon Nuits St.-Georges, A.C. (Burgundy, Fr.)

1. Chevillon is one of our favorite producers from the Bourgogne region.  This was not a single vineyard, but an appellation controllée.  We decanted the wine over 2 hours before we drank it, and that was not long enough.  The initial aromas were characteristic cherry, but without much depth.  Over the next 1-2 hours, the wine opened up significantly, showing off the distinct cherry and currant flavors mixed with coffee and chocolate.  The gaminess we associate with his single vineyard bottlings was missing.