Wines to try before I get old.

Are you tired of seeing certain wines reviewed or being auctioned for exorbitant prices? Do you often wonder, “what’s the big fuss”? Would you like an opportunity to voice your opinion? If so, what would be the wines you choose? I made a list of my current picks of the moment, a winemakers dozen, if you will. These wines are Old World biased, but when you grow grapes in the same place for thousands of years it’s going to help the quality a bit.

1. Le Montrachet: The Chardonnay, a 20 acre vineyard with approx.18 growers and 26 producers, straddling the villages of Puligny and Chassagne in the Cote de Beaune of Burgundy. The vineyard practices and winemaking of the best producers are meticulous to a fault. The wines from the Le Montrachet vineyard are some of the most age worthy whites produced, 10 years being the absolute minimum, unfortunately most is drunk much too soon. Patience has its rewards, but with the 2005’s priced over $500, I’ll drink any vintage offered.

2. Domaine Romanee Conti: (DRC) Legendary Burgundy producer of some of the finest and some would rightfully argue, the finest Pinot Noir grown on the planet. While there are six different wines: Romanee-Conti, La Tache, Richebourg, Romanee-St-Vivant, Grand Echezeaux, and Echezeaux. The only one available to mere mortal’s price wise is Echezeaux. (’87 $700, ‘02 $900) To heck with the children’s tuition fund.

3. Chateau Petrus: Any discussion of the red wines of Bordeaux has to include Chateau Petrus. This estate is in the Pomerol region, located on the right bank of the Gironde River. A Merlot based wine of Mythic proportions; Zeus himself would find it hard to pay the going rate of $4900, a bottle!

4. Chateau d’Yquem: The most famous of all dessert wines, and once again from Bordeaux, in the southern region of Sauterne. Actually, I tried a 1989 last year, and immediately understood what all the interest is about. This has a perfect balance of sweetness and a structured acidity that so many dessert wines lack. This is liquid gold in a glass.

5. Jacques Perrin Grand Cuvee: The reserve wine from venerable Chateauneuf du Pape producer Chateau Beaucastel. Made only in the best vintages, this wine honors the founder’s love of Mouvedre even though Grenache is the predominant varietal in their regular bottling. While a crime to drink young, it would be worth the sentence. The 2001 is a bargain at $225 compared to $600 for the 2005.

6. Angelo Gaja: Consistently the best producer in Piedmont. Gaja has seven Nebbiolo based wines: Gromis Barolo, Barbaresco, and Conteisa are blends from different vineyards. Costa Russi, Sori Tildin, Sori San Lorenzo, and Sperss are from single vineyards, in the $400 range, and along with Conteisa are the most sought after Piedmontese wines. If it has Gaja on the label, I want to try it.

7. Quinta Do Noval National: A Port for the ages, unique in two ways: first, this Port comes from a single vineyard and secondly, it still has its original Vitis Vinifera rootstock, not grafted from pest resistant American Vitis Labrusca. Extremely low yields, hand picked, and crushed by foot, this wine will reward those willing to wait the usual 25 years before drinking. Always an auction house favorite, the current 2003 vintage is a mere $800.

8. Tokaji Essencia: An almost extinct wine, at least in the way it used to be made. If it were not for outside investors coming into a free Hungary, this dessert wine would be in name only. From the free run juice of shriveled grapes, minuscule quantities are produced. The original “Wine of Kings, King of Wines.”

9. Clarendon Hills Astralis: If I hear one more Sommelier say they just had a bottle, I’m going to scream. Try some of their other Syrah bottlings and you will have an idea why Astralis is sought after. Two ton yields, 70-year- old vines on their original rootstock, handpicked, natural yeasts, new oak, and a maturation to drink time of decades. Later 90’s vintages can be had for $250. Australian Syrah, Syrah, Syrah!

10. Shafer Sunspot: I was beginning to think this wine was Urban legend, but in fact it is the real thing. Named after a Utah Ski Run the Patriarch, John Shafer, took his children skiing on; this vineyard is the heart of their Hillside Select Cabernet. A single bottle will set you back $400, but a five case lot at the recent Napa Vintners Auction went for $62,000.

11./12. Marcassin: Estate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, the Queen bee of Napa wine makers, Helen Turley and husband John Wetlaufer craft some of the best Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in the world. I’ve had her brother’s Hayne vineyard Zinfandel and Petite Sirah, which she originally oversaw. If those two wines are any indication of what she can do with Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, I’ll sleep out overnight at the winery for a taste. Both are around $75-$100 if you’re fortunate enough to be on their mailing list, otherwise, you’ll pay $350-$400.