Alphonse Mellot has been running the domaine of his eponymous father and grandfather for 17 years (since he was 20). The 2005 Sancerre Rouge La Moussiere boasts a deep, healthy, black-rimmed hue and a nose of black cherry, cinnamon, nutmeg, and a hint of leather. Juicy, deep black cherry fruit on the palate leads to a palate-staining, spicy, bright, sappy, intensely black cherry, chalk, and cherry pit finish, revealing a faint astringency for which one can forgive this wine for the purity of its fruit. Various importers including Domaine Select, New York, NY; tel. (212) 279-0799 and Elite Wines, Lorton, VA; tel. (703) 339-8150