A salty, pungent poke in the nose is administered from a glass of Bize’s 2005 Savigny-les-Beaune Aux Serpentieres. A vivid, bright, pure fresh red raspberry component is backed by salty minerality and fresh red meat. For all of its brash, invigorating brightness, this is silken-textured. Deeper toasted nut and wet stone flavors well-up as one works this wine around in the air, while its finish remains lean, long, lithe and penetrating. I would plan to enjoy it at 5-10 years of age. Malolactic fermentations took place without delay and Patrick Bize had bottled many of the wines already in November. A significant portion of whole clusters were included in most of the fermentations. Wines from this address seldom make concessions to early drinkability or cheap thrills, and the inherently concentrated, darkly toned 2005s are certainly no exception. A Becky Wassserman Selection (various importers), Le Serbet, Beaune; fax 011-33-3-80-24-29-70.