From a parcel in the village and one on the plateau above Malconsorts, the Clos Frantin 2006 Vosne-Romanee features ginger- and star anise-tinged plum in an attractively aromatic, sappy Pinot that preserves both riper and fresher fruit than prevailed among Bichot's Cote de Beaune offerings. This should offer at least 3-4 years of pleasure. The Albert Bichot firm incorporates no fewer than four separate domaines – the venerable Long-Depaquit in Chablis (about which, consult my reports in issues 186 and 179); Nuits-St.-Georges-based Domaine du Clos Frantin; Pommard-based Domaine du Pavillon; and the much smaller Domaine Adelie in Mercurey – each of which has its own press house, those in the Cote de Beaune and Cote de Nuits also processing purchased grapes. Alberic Bichot is articulate and enthusiastic when it comes to expounding his company's qualitative ambitions and the results showed amid the subset of both white and red wines I tasted, which, incidentally, are all matured in 350- rather than 225-liter barrels. Numerous importers, including Atherton Wine Imports, Menlo Park, CA, tel. (650) 328-6639 and Bayfield Importing, Long Island, NY (718) 482-0200