Here are the sommeliers' selections:
Bonnie Graves
(Spago Beverly Hills)
2000 Château Beau Séjour-Bécot Saint-Emilion, $55
Soft, round Merlot-based Bordeaux
Bruno Paillard Première Cuvée Champagne (non-vintage) $28
Clean, creamy, bracing bubbly from fine small producer
1999 Chateau Ste. Michelle Reserve Syrah, $22
Big, elegant red from Washington state
1999 Ravenswood Zinfandel "Monte Rosso," $23
Classic, jammy Zin from Sonoma
1996 Marchesi di Barolo Barolo "Cannubi," $28
Unusually affordable, old-style Barolo
1997 Acinum Amarone Classico, $29
Big, intense companion to roasted meats
1995 Château Rieussec Sauternes, $37
Rich dessert wine, redolent of apricots, honey
1997 Marcel Deiss Riesling "Engelgarten," $23
Alsace white with mineral, white peach, floral qualities
1999 Grant Burge Holy Trinity Shiraz, $24
Gorgeous Rhône-style blend from Australia
1999 Petaluma Piccadilly Valley Chardonnay, $25
Elegant, complex, Burgundy-style Aussie
Patti Röckenwagner (Röckenwagner)
German wines:
2001 Dr. Loosen Riesling (Mosel), $10
Bright, lively, with juicy fruit; a good aperitif
2001 Robert Weil Riesling Halbtrocken (Rheingau), $18
Delicious half-dry wine from top estate
2001 Moenchof Riesling Spätlese "Uerziger Wuerzgarten" (Mosel), $20
Spicy, minerally, with hint of candied pears
2002 Franz Künstler Riesling Spätlese "Hochheimer Kirchenstück" (Rheingau), $28
Concentrated and highly-extracted with lots of fruit
2001 Pfeffingen Scheurebe Auslese "Ungsteiner Herrenberg" (Pfalz), $24 (half bottle)
Sweet, spicy wine with honey and mango aromas
Austrian wines:
2001 Domaene Wachau Riesling Federspiel (Wachau), $10
Excellent entry-level dry Riesling
2001 Domaene Wachau Riesling Smaragd (Wachau), $25
Big, dry, with excellent structure
2001 Bruendlmayer Riesling "Langenloiser" (Kamptal), $17
Good value from a high-end producer
2001 Hirsch Grüner Veltliner "Kammner Heiligenstein" (Kamptal), $12
Elegant, fresh, a little peppery
2001 Jamek Grüner Veltliner "Ried Achleite" (Wachau), $20
Distinctive minerality; versatile food wine
2001 Nigel Grüner Veltliner Smaragd "Alte Reben" (Kremstal), $25
Lush stone-fruit elements; creamy texture
2001 Alzinger Grüner Veltliner Smaragd "Weingarten" (Wachau), $29
Elegant; layers of spice, rhubarb, lime
2000 Bruendlmayer Sekt, $29
Creamy, delicate sparkling wine from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
2001 Kracher Beerenauslese Cuvée, $27 (half bottle)
Rich, affordable offering from the godfather of Austrian dessert wines
Christophe Rolland (Bastide)
Mumm de Cramant Champagne (non-vintage), $32 (two bottles)
Light, traditionally made Champagne
1999 Domaine Emilian Gillet Macon Quintaine, $25 (two bottles)
Ripe, simple version of great white Burgundy
1997 Domaine Ostertag Muenchberg Riesling, $39
Dry, minerally, citrusy white from Alsace
1995 Montus Madiran, $19 (two bottles)
Dense, tannic, full-bodied red
1999 Louis Jadot Château de Jacques Moulin-à-Vent, $20
Dark, Burgundy-like Beaujolais
2000 Château Lafleur de Bouard Lalande-de-Pomerol, $33
Deep, soft, smoky Merlot blend from Bordeaux
2000 Nicolas Joly Savennières "Becherelles," $33
Dry, ripe, fruity Loire Valley white
1998 Château La Rame Sainte-Croix-du-Mont, $23
Sweet Semillion-Sauvignon Blanc blend
David Rosoff (Opaline)
2002 Moenchof "Estate" Riesling, $12 (four bottles)
Off-dry, with tremendous acidity and minerality
2001 François Chidaine Montlouis "Clos du Breuil," $12 (four bottles)
Complex, dry Chenin Blanc
2002 Château de Revelette Coteaux d'Aix en Provence Rose, $12 (four bottles)
Strawberry and orange rind flavors; dry, food-friendly
2001 Domaine Lafond Côtes-du-Rhône "Roc-Epine," $10 (four bottles)
Loads of Syrah pepper and Grenache red fruit
1999 Prager Riesling Smaragd "Achtleiten," $40
Clean, powerful, brilliant dry Austrian white
2000 Ghislaine Barthod Chambolle-Musigny, $38
Sensual, light, beautiful red Burgundy
1997 Marcarini Barolo "La Serra," $45
Dry, ripe, earthy Nebbiolo
