Bizot’s 2005 Vosne-Romanee Vieilles Vignes – like his “regular” village wine, originating in two sites below the town – smells and tastes of blackberry and cassis tinged with black tea and star anise. This exhibits more stuffing than the “regular” bottling but similar admirable clarity of bright fresh fruit, which rides right over the wood. The finish is a bit awkwardly astringent though, again quite possibly due to recent sulfuring and bottling. Importer: Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant, Berkeley, CA; tel. (510) 524 1524