The 2008 Pinot Noir Vigne La Tour is an incredibly beautiful mid-weight wine with juicy varietal fruit, expressive aromatics and remarkable textural beauty at this price point. Simply put, I doubt there are many Pinots – from any region – that offers this level of quality for the money. This is gorgeous juice! Anticipated maturity: 2009-2015. From top to bottom this is a superb set of wines from Les Cretes that form essential drinking for readers who want to learn more about the wines of Valle d’Aosta. Importer: Domaine Select, New York, NY; tel. (212) 279-0799

The estate’s 2006 Pinot Noir Vigne La Tour is a delicate, perfumed wine. Open aromatics lead to a pretty expression of roses, candied fruit and sweet spices that accompany the wine from start to finish. The tannins remain fine, but also well integrated. This is one of the handful of Italian Pinot Noirs that delivers tons of varietal character. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2012. Importer: Domaine Select, New York, NY; tel. (212) 279-0799

The 2005 Pinot Noir Vigne La Tour reveals seductive Chambolle-like aromatics and sweet focused Pinot fruit with notable purity and clarity of expression in a weightless style. It is not an especially concentrated wine, and I am not sure how it will age, but it is a beautiful Pinot Noir today. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2012. Les Cretes is undoubtedly the best-known estate in the Valle d’Aosta. Proprietor Costantino Charrere makes a wide range of wines from both indigenous and international varieties.Importer: Domaine Select, New York, NY; tel. (212) 279-0799