Steve Tanzer's Best

Best Reds
	1995 Chateau Margaux Margaux Bordeaux Blend; Bordeaux;	$495.00
	"Excellent deep ruby color. Very complex aromas of blackcurrant, wild plum, violets, minerals, tar and smoky oak. Dense and supple, with great sweetness of fruit. Doesn't have quite the sheer power of the '96, but the flavors build and build. Substantial tannins are chewier than those of the '96 but hit the palate later. 1986 was the vintage with the highest level of polyphenols ever recorded at this estate, but '95 was the runner-up, according to Pontallier." -- Steve Tanzer (94 points)
	2000 Quinta do Vesuvio Vintage Port Port Blend; Portugal;	$64.95
	" Saturated ruby-purple. Superripe, primal aromas of black raspberry, maple syrup and dark chocolate; very sweet but also highly aromatic. Lush, chewy, very sweet and rich, with outstanding depth of black fruit and spice flavor. Hugely rich and ripe but not over the top. Serious, ripe tannins are currently covered by baby fat, making this very broad, thick, slightly spirity wine deceptively approachable now." -- Steve Tanzer (92 points)
	2003 L'Aventure Cote a Cote Estate Paso Robles Rhone Blend; Central Coast;	$69.99
	"($75; one-third each grenache, syrah and mourvedre) Black ruby. Knockout nose combines black cherry, blackberry and minerals, with a lovely spicy lift to the fruit; not at all roasted. Silky on entry, then compellingly sweet and aromatic in the mouth, with slightly high-toned kirsch and dark chocolateflavors perked up by a floral nuance. There's a lovely light touch to this rather powerful wine." -- Steve Tanzer (92 points)
	2002 Saintsbury Pinot Noir Brown Ranch Carneros Pinot Noir; Other California;	$49.95
	"($60) Full, deep red. Deep but wound-up aromas of wild cherry, mocha and spices, lifted by rose petal and mint. Then dense, sappy and bright but dry in the mouth, with very intense, primary flavors of dark raspberry and spices. Juicy, structured pinot, finishing firmly tannic, pure and very long." -- Steve Tanzer (92 points)
	2002 Beringer Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon; Napa;	$95.00
	"Deep bright ruby. Musky aromas of wild berries, licorice, espresso and game. Fat, large-scaled and sweet; not as shapely today as the 2001 owing to its impressive layer of baby fat. The ripeness here verges on exotic, in the style of the year. Finishes with big, rich tannins and superb length. Also tasted: 2001 Pinot Noir Stanley Ranch Los Corners*." -- Steve Tanzer (91 points)
	2003 Clarendon Hills Merlot Brookman Clarendon Merlot; McLaren Vale;	$67.00
	"($65) Deep red. Aromas of ripe cherry, mocha and roasted coffee. Quite sweet and round in the mouth, showing a sweet, deep cherry flavor complemented by dark chocolate. Here there are none of the green edges found in so much New World merlot. Intense, structured and long, finishing with faintly dusty tannins and a subtle raw meat note coming up with air." -- Steve Tanzer (90 points)
Best Whites
	1998 Kistler Vineyards Chardonnay Dutton Ranch Russian River Valley Chardonnay; Sonoma;	$89.00
	"Musky aromas of apricot and green apple, plus a cyanic hint of apple pit. Intensely flavored but tightly wound, with flavors of apple, minerals, and spice brightened by firm acids. Pour this somewhat unforthcoming wine into a decanter if you plan to serve it now. Finishes long, ripe and firm." -- Steve Tanzer (92 points)
	2003 Martinelli Vineyards Chardonnay Martinelli Road Russian River Valley Chardonnay; Sonoma;	$39.99
	"($40; from Dijon Clone 95, planted in the early '90s at the foot of Jackass Hill; aged in all new oak) Leesy aromas of pear and apple. Broad on entry, then ripe, lush and deep in the middle palate, with concentrated flavors of grapefruit, pineapple and minerals and a steeliness that contributes to the wine's life in the mouth. Very persistent, mounting finish." -- Steve Tanzer (91 points)