The 2005 Cairanne shows even greater fruit, fuller body, more depth, richness than the 2004, with plenty of tapenade and black cherry liqueur notes intermixed with spice and new saddle leather. It should drink well for 5-6 years. These are the personal selections of Burgundy wine broker Alain Corcia. All of the wines are blends from top estates put together by Corcia, an accomplished taster as well as blender, and then aged either in foudres or in smaller barriques and bottled with very little clarification. Since he has a distribution system that directly imports from him without any middle men, prices are modest. An Alain Corcia Selection, various American importers, including Premier Wines, CA; tel. (510) 237-6284, and Calvert Woodley Wines, Washington, DC; tel. (202) 966-4400

The 2004 Cairanne exhibits deep, sweet black cherry fruit intermixed with hints of dried herbs, some resiny notes, and sandy, loamy soil undertones. It is rich, medium-bodied, but packed with fruit and character. These are the personal selections of Burgundy wine broker Alain Corcia. All of the wines are blends from top estates put together by Corcia, an accomplished taster as well as blender, and then aged either in foudres or in smaller barriques and bottled with very little clarification. Since he has a distribution system that directly imports from him without any middle men, prices are modest. An Alain Corcia Selection, various American importers, including Premier Wines, CA; tel. (510) 237-6284, and Calvert Woodley Wines, Washington, DC; tel. (202) 966-4400