Clos Sainte Pauline 2000  $14
We are thrilled that we found this! It represents both an excellent French red from the Coteaux du Languedoc, and also a superb example of what mature wine provides in all of its velvet complexity. If you have never had a bottle with this much age on it, prepare yourself for a treat! A couple of notes on that point: first, this is a mature, unfiltered wine; there is a lot of fine sediment in the bottle. Therefore, stand it upright for about an hour, and when pouring, pour slowly. If you wish to decant, do so carefully. Having said this, there is nothing at all wrong with sediment in your glass! Second, the aromas and flavors will be quite different from newer wines - spend some time with the nose, and be sure to let this wine evolve for a few hours, tasting it throughout the time it is open. The nose sports inky plum, cedar, cassis, and spice notes - these notes carry through in the central beam of black plum and cedar spice, finely decorated with leather and hints of coffee. The texture will make anyone swoon - silky smooth and just a touch of mineral quality. We freely admit it's hard not to drink it all down quickly; but try to let this wine sit in the glass for a bit. You will be amazed with the way it changes. For pairing, we have an interesting suggestion: rather than recommending a meal, we're advocating for a time of day. Try opening this in the middle of dinner, but save some to enjoy after the meal. Drinking this on a May evening the sun sets and the cool of twilight just starts to settle in will be an unforgettable experience. It's in fairly good supply, and we're keeping some around the shop.

Granbazan Albariño "Ambar"  $22
When it's a warm day, there is nothing like enjoying a fine Albariño from the Rias Baxias, a region in the Northwest corner of Spain. It's an area with blustery weather evened out with a number of warm days; meanwhile, the air is always fed by the sea breeze, bringing salt spray and drying conditions quite far inland in some cases. The results seem to match precisely with the aromas in the wine: attractive apple and citrus notes, wet stone, and a hint of sea air. The flavors are somehow crisp, dry, and round at the same time: lush fruit, herbs, and mouthwatering acidity carry through to the clean finish.
Pairing suggestions: it may seem like hyperbole to use the phrase "absolutely perfect," but it applies here - absolutely perfect with a seafood sauté, especially one generously seasoned with garlic and herbs. The acidity in the wine will also hold up well to any number of medium spicy dishes.