1. Moccagatta 2001 Barbaresco, Bric Balin, Piedmont $55 - 926 points
The culmination of a 6-year hot streak in Piedmont intersected by the rising fortunes of Moccagatta. Powerful perfume. The fruit tannins are a gut-check. Revisit in ten years. Importer: Marc de Grazia

2. Schäfer-Fröhlich 2002 Riesling Spätlese, Bockenauer Felseneck, Nahe $25 - 943 points
Granite and slate flavors are now beginning to really pop in this apple syrup-flavored white. Importer: Rudi Wiest

3. Concannon 2001 Petite Sirah, Central Coast $10 - 656 points
The Wine Group LLC  bought this 40-year, Petite Sirah specialist label only two years ago. Black, nectary... I've never seen a queue in February for cases of wine before, and all for the same one at that.

4. Dugat-Py 2001 Gevrey-Chambertin, Lavaux St. Jacques, Cotes de Nuits
~$200+ - 1000 points
A window into the soul. Licorice, matted, pulpy berries and incense.
Importer: Weygandt/Metzler

5. Del Maguey 2003 Tobala, Oaxaca $140 - 989 points Mezcal
Harvested on horseback, from wild maguey plants - at peak ripeness - which grow only in oak shade. Un-aged, vat-strength, truffly, pulpy nuts flavors combined with curls of flowers, chocolate and fruits.

6. Southampton Publick House, Cuvée des Fleurs, Saison, Long Island $10 - 977 points
...bitter almonds, cakes, cinnamon, nutmeg, astringent spices, tobacco, chalk and preserved fruits...

7. Walter Hansel 2002 Estate Chardonnay, Russian River Valley $38 - 920 points
Tutored by Tom Rochioli, Steve H. bottles uninterrupted sun and earth. Gorgeous.

8. Domaine le Sang des Cailloux 2001 Vacqueyras Cuvée de Lopy $60 - 985 points
Robert Jones MW shared one of these with us - "bury this one in the ground and forget about it for decades," he said. Perhaps he was responding to the hurricane of flavor and sludgy, black texture. Importer: Kermit Lynch

9. Domaine Tempier 2001 Bandol, Cuvée Speciale, Provence $40 - 961 points
Sappy vanilla husks, balsam breezes and red berry paste. Importer: Kermit Lynch

10. Dunn 2000 Cabernet Sauvignon, Howell Mountain, Napa Valley $100 - 962 points
It's about time we had an earlier-drinking rendition of this wine - it's the Burgundy of Cabs (that's a good thing.)

11. Ployez-Jacquemart NV Brut (magenta/rust-colored chalk in the punt,) Ludes $38 - 856 points
Laser-intense acidity crackles the tip of the tongue. Fierce, chalky grip closes it. Inside? White fruit and biscuits. Importer: Weygandt/Metzler

12. Domaine la Boede 2001 Les Gres, Languedoc $20 - 883 points
Surly tar and black soil flavors coexist with red berry syrup and spice. Dark and chewy. Importer: Eagle Eye Imports

13. Clos Triguedina 2000 Cahors, Prince Probus $40 - 900 points
The immense, ripe, fruit tannins are a gut-check. Oily, purple, pure fruit promises even greater things down the road. Importer: Eagle Eye Imports

14. Uerige Sticke 2004 Altbier, Düsseldorf $4 - 842 points
This is a chiseled, dry beer in spite of the evidence of serious malt content. On the palate it stings lightly with Champagne fizz then weighs down the mid-palate with velvety textured, earthy tannins before finishing on a hard, clean, peppery note of raw iron. Perfect to drink while listening to Coltrane, John or Alice. 

15. Léal Vineyards 2002 Chardonnay $25 - 902 points
Winemaker/BMX-enthusiast Griff doesn't formulate wine, he tastes it - every step of the way. Brilliant wines emerge from this young estate.

16. Corino 2001 Barbera d'Alba, Pozzo, Piedmont $35 - 899 points
Super tightly packed, polished tannins, vanilla, roasted berries and chocolate. Importer: Vias Imports

17. Dugat-Py 2001 Evocelles $120 - 998 points
Innocent, saturated red and blue fruit flavors along with licorice notes offer quite childlike pleasures for such a seriously good red. Importer: Weygandt/Metzler

18. Rene Leclerc 2002 Gevry-Chambertin 1er Cru Combes aux Moines, Cotes de Nuits $45 - 851 points
More sensible acidity than Leclerc's 2002 Grand Cru Griottes-Chambertin, yet still loaded with piles and piles of red berries and pie spices. Importer: Steven Grant

19. Commanderie de la Bargemonne 2003 Rosé, Coteau d'Aix en Provence
$14 - 701 points
Lip-smacking aspirin-like acidity is due to an appropriate amount of Cinsault... or is it Carignan? Perfect with serious seafood dinner - not to mention with sandwiches on the patio. Importer: Hand Picked Selections

20. Culraithin 2002 Syrah, Paarl $36 - 802 points
16% alc. Syrah without a trace of candy flavor. Brooding, intense licorice, chewing tobacco, currants and coffee flavor. Importer: Vinnovative Imports

21. l'Oratoire St. Martin 2001 Cairanne, Haut-Coustias, Cotes du Rhône Villages $27 - 890 points
Never have I witnessed a wine that improved after being open for three weeks! Infantile, blurry and sweet upon first tasting, it gathered material and focus to emerge as a triumph of Rhone purity.  Importer: J et R Selections

22. Avignonesi 1999 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, Grandi Annate $65 - 943 points
Velvet ink. Importer: Dalla Terra

23. Bernard Fouquet, Domaine des Aubuisières 2003 Vouvray, Cuvée de Silex, Loire Valley $16 - 799 points
Plump, viscous mineral extracts are discernable in this white-fruited liquid.
Importer: Weygandt/Metzler

24. Termanthia 2000, Toro $200 - 990 points
Hyperdense, yet pretty. Black, oily, layered and layered with fruits, woods and spices. Importer: Jorge Ordoñez

25. Sobon Estate 2002 Zinfandel Fiddletown, Lubenko Vineyard $19 - 750 points
It may not be polite to compare one wine to another brand, but this is very Ridgey.

26. Poggio Bertaio 2001 Sangiovese Stucchio, Umbria $19 - 820 points
Plump, sweet, pure red fruits, girthy, cut with ripe acids and fine tannins. Extraordinary. Importer: Vias Imports

27. Lis Neris 2001 Pinot Grigio, Gris, Friuli $25 - 811 points
Leesy, flavored of apricots and blanched almonds, thick textured, mouth-melting, audaciously fruited white wine.

28. Russian Standard Vodka, Russia $50 - 942 points
Sadly unavailable in North America. Worth the trip to St. Petersburg (or London.) Nougat, plum and marzipan flavors decorate an unctuous, full-bodied frame that melts cleanly.

29. Dr. Loosen 2003 Erdener Prälat Auslese, long gold capsule (375ml)
$45 - 999 points
Fruit cocktail flavor-paint. Strange, but this sort of reminds me of a clear-colored Quintarelli Bandito. Importer: Valckenberg

30. Cuvée de Peña 2002 Blanc, France $6 - 690 points
Word was this was supposed to be some dry Chenin Blanc, cobbled together by the witty Mr. Kravitz.  Importer: Hand Picked Selections

31. d'Arenberg 2002 Shiraz, The Dead Arm, McLaren Vale $70 - 900 points
This has the sweetness of the 1998 Dead Arm and the earthy power of the 1996 Dead Arm. So, it's one of the best ever. Importer: Old Bridge Cellars

32. Prodel Birra del Vecchio Pilsner, Calabria $1.45 - 644 points
The most authentic-tasting Czech lager available in Michigan. So why is it made in southern Italy? Importer: Beers of the World, Rochester NY

33. Ajello 2001 Furat, Sicily $18 - 802 points
"...how odd the fruity warmth of grapes rising from these geometries of rational viticulture." - Count Agoston Haraszthy  Importer: Dalla Terra

34. Abel Mendoza 1999 Rioja, Jarrarte $25 - 880 points
Emotionally powerful. Natural, perfectly ripened cherries, blackberries, strawberries and plum fruits overlay deep-seated layers of toasted vanilla bean and luxury woods. For all the depth and richness of the bouquet, the texture is agile. In the mouth it bursts with lively berry flavors that are met with cosmopolitan finesse in the form of cedar, mocha, opium and leather impressions. Importer: Jorge Ordoñez

35. Belvedere 2001 Chardonnay, Russian River Valley $18 - 663 points
From Laguna and Orsi vineyards. Aromas of lemon peel, granite paste, crusty biscuits and mashed almonds. In the mouth it is a clash of forces: bold, rich, chewy, dried citrus and sourdough smeared with butter opposes chiseled mineral structure.

36. Moris Farms 2000 Avvoltore, Tuscany $60 - 976 points
Almost impossible to drink when first opened, my best drink of this wine came after a bottle had been sitting open for four days. Then it was irresistible. Pure, sticky, black, blue and red berry fruits are precisely complimented by woody spices, tar and vanilla. Importer: Wines of Distinction, West Bloomfield MI & Polaner Selections

37. Louis Metaireau 1999 Muscadet Sevre et Main sur lie, Cuvée One, Loire Valley $19 - 898 points
Adolescent, yet emerging with an herbal nuttiness that can be compared to cru Chablis. Importer: Martine’s Wines

38. Jolly Pumpkin, Oro de Calabaza, Michigan $7 - 850 points
Oak-aged Belgian-style ale - no pumpkins are used in the brewing.

39. Pierre Soulez 1997 Savennières Molleux, Cuvée d'Avant, Loire Valley $24 - 879 points
Humbrechtian in honeyed breadth, kissed with quinine and quince - needs another decade. Importer: Martine’s Wines

40. Chateau de Poupet 2003 Julienas, Beaujolais $14 - 699 points
Shipped by Georges Duboeuf. Tastes like good Santenay tinted with Concord. Age it for 5 years at least. Importer: Duboeuf

41. Ridge 2001 Montebello, Santa Cruz Mountains $100 - 930 points
Aristocratic.

42. Olio Seidita 2004 Harvest, Olive Oil, Sicily $35 - 852 points
From Valle del Belice and made from Nocellara del Belice . Biosynthetic beauty and power. Drink a shot of this before bed. Importer: Stella Seilo, Royal Oak, MI

43. Krug NV Brut Grande Cuvée $125 - 922 points
Pulpy lemon and sour yeast flavors characterize weighty texture. Horsepower.

44. Zind Humbrecht 2001 Riesling Brand, Alsace $75 - 910 points
Coleman fuel, lemon syrup and crème de granite flavors. Most recently enjoyed with hand-made sausages from Minnesota.

45. Walter Hansel 2001 Pinot Noir, South Slope, Russian River Valley $40 - 897 points
See no. 7.

46. Cantine Vietti 1998 Barolo, Lazzarito, Piedmont $80 - 973 points
Is it perfume or is it wine? Sappy, intense, gorgeous and brutal. Importer: Remy Amerique

47. Anchor Brewing Co. 2004 Our Special Ale, 30th Anniversary, San Francisco $1.50 - 820 points
Like a best Belgian Dubbel with rustic, west-coast forest-flavored bitterness. Why does Anchor not care about selling beer in my state? Wait, don't answer that.

48. Glenrothes 1974 Single Malt, Speyside, Bottled in 2003 $100 - 940 points
Orange peel, roasted nuts, toffee and oolong tea flavors. Far too easy to drink.

49. Cantina Produttori San Michele 1998 Pinot Grigio, Sanct Valentin, Alto Adige $25? - 882 points
Nuts and apricots cleansed with noble mineral extracts.

50. Roberto Voerzio 1998 Barbera d'Alba Riserva Vigneto Pozzo dell'Annunziata (magnum), Piedmont $200 - 882 points
Hmm. Oily vanilla and blackfruit flavors as big as an armchair.
Importer: Leonardo Locascio

51. Domaine Vieux Telegraphe 2000 Chateauneuf du Pape $55 - 946 points
This estate is apparently missing from the latter-day public infatuation with wines from this appellation. Avoid the trends - this brute is even-steven with the very best of all Chateauneufs currently being produced.

52. Domaine Vieux Telegraphe 2001 Chateauneuf du Pape $55 - 945 points
Like the 2000, it packs a mass of sticky, pulpy, sappy plant energy. Patience.

53. Gérard Doreau 1999 Monthelie $20 - 885 points
I feel like I know Mr. Doreau. Outrageously high bottle fills, ripe 'n tangy red berry flavor, resiny Pinot essences... that's one stubborn geezer working them vines.
Importer: Hand Picked Selections

54. Deus Brut des Flandres (ale) $25 - 956 points
This "beer" really soaked up some Champagne karma while it was hand riddled for over a year in chalk caves under Reims.

55. Casa Lapostolle 2000 Clos Apalta $60 - 927 points
Oozing black fruit syrups and roasted herb-flavored tannins.

56. Santa Rita 1999 Cabernet Sauvignon, Floresta, Apalta Vineyard, Colchaugua Valley $25 - 897 points
Who knew there was another superdense Apalta wine?

57. Rene Barbier NV Mediterranean White $5 - 610 points
Pure, sweet pear and citrus flavors. Put down the "Pinot Grigio" and step toward the outdoor seating.

58. Denis Mortet 2002 Gevrey-Chambertin $55 - 929 points
Roasty, ripe red berries and vanilla frame details of husky spices. Pure 'n modern.

59. Quinta do Vale Dona Maria 2001 Porto, barrel sample $60 - 994 points
From the previous owner of Quinta do Noval, Christiano van Zeller, it is a show-stopper for purity, concentration and balance. No trace of sugar or alcohol. Detailed, voluptuous, serious and so dark. They won't ship it to me - I don't matter.
Importer: Christopher Cannan

60. Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey 2001 Sauternes $60 - 915 points
Honey - no - herbs - no - roasted nuts - no - pepper - no - figs - no - beeswax - no - ... this is the elusive pleasure of sticky white Bordeaux at its best.

61. Domaine Dujac 2002 Morey St. Denis $65 - 924 points
Very dense Syrah - er - Pinot Noir. Fine barrels. Dujac's negotiant wines don't come close to the estate bottlings such as this. Importer: Wilson Daniels

62. Jean Raphet 1997 Chambolle-Musigny $38 - 845 points
We opened one of these next to an F. Mugneret 2001 Chambolle Musigny Les Fuees. Ten hours later I thought the '97 would be dead - it got stronger! The group preferred to finish it in favor of the Mugneret. And apparently the importer is still holding some (J et R Selections.)

63. Drie Fonteinen Kriek, Senne Valley, Belgium $6 - 943 points
...honey-ripe tomatoes, seasoned with bouquets of tarragon and assorted fresh herbs. Strawberry, red cherry, red currants and lime pulp are the fruits. This is the most sexy, perfumed beer I have ever smelled. Who's barrels do they use: Pavie's? Mouton's? Palate-drenching acidity drizzles like honey on the very long finish.
Importer: Shelton Brothers

64. Domaine Leflaive 2002 Bâtard-Montrachet $500 - 995 points
A hormone of a white wine. Highlighter yellow. Cake-like. Why must it cost more than my last two cars? Importer: Wilson Daniels

65. J. L. Chave 1999 Hermitage, Northern Rhône Valley $150 - 966 points
Like purple nectar slowly pushed through stony fields of thorny anise and blackcurrants. Importers: Kermit Lynch and David Shiverick

66. Del Maguey Santo Domingo Albarradas, Oaxaca $98 - 950 points
Creamsicle, roasted plantains, lemon custard and stone flavored firewater.
Importer: Ron Cooper

67. Edge 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley $22 - 810 points
The bottle looks and sounds like a men's razor and, in fact, it is a macho style red wine: Concentrated, smoky and beefed-up with tannic red and black fruits.

68. Domaine la Tourade 2000 Gigondas, Southern Rhône Valley $20 - 831 points
Really ripe Grenache can sometimes taste a bit like chocolate. This has that, while also maintaining a cleansing lightness of fruits and spice. Importer: J et R Selections

69. Charles Joguet 1999 Chinon, Clos la Dioterie, Loire Valley $38 - 900 points
They say the glory days are behind this estate (someone always says that, right?) but there can scarcely be a more complex, spicy and beautiful Cab Franc on the face of the planet. Importer: Kermit Lynch

70. H. Cuvelier et Fils 2000 Bordeaux, Gulliver $13 - 737 points
Aromas of black raspberries, flavors of chocolate and slate and impressively dark, purple-red color. Assembled Bordeaux can be amazing sometimes. Importer: Wines of Distinction, West Bloomfield MI

71. Mühlen Kölsch (air-shipped, one week old), Cologne $3 - 888 points
Biscuits, spicy, dried herbs, toasted hazelnuts and almonds, green melon fruit and fantastic, helium-like, finely-milled bubbles characterize this seamless Kölsch experience...dry, light and deliciously permanent.

72. 1800 Edicion del Nuevo Milenio, Jalisco, Mexico $56 - 921 points
Like XO Cognac made from blue agave.

73. Ca Viola 2002 Dolcetto, Piedmont $24 - 786 points
Giuseppe responded to weather conditions by putting the Bric du Luv into this standard bottling. It is resiny and purple. Importer: Legends Ltd

74. Darwin Brewery Original Flag Porter $2.50 - 905 points
Made from shipwrecked, salvaged yeast from the 1820s: Gorgeous, velvety perfumes of baked blue fruits and Caribbean chocolate. Transparent and clean with chunky, meaty suggestions of marrow, roasted seeds, blackberry paste, bitter chocolate, smoky branches and creosote. Much lighter, thankfully, than modern Porter convention.

75. Heyl zu Herrnsheim 2002 Red Slate Riesling Spätlese Trocken $24 - 881 points
Supple. Suited for raw salmon. Importer: Valckenberg

76. Selbach Oster 2003 Estate Riesling $8 - 770 points
This may have been pure fiction, but Johannes Selbach presented a sample of this with sincerity. It has not yet been delivered. Arghh!

77. Dr. Loosen 2002 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Auslese (375ml) $32 - 914 points
The kind of Riesling that goes nicely with a cigar. Importer: Valckenberg

78. Cantillon 2001 Gueuze, Lou Pepe, Senne Valley, Belgium $16 - 860 points
Golden apricot colored with aromas of ripe, sweet lemons, buttered crust and extraordinarily savory impressions of white pepper and chicken broth (umami!) Sour and sweet, fermented melon rind flavors reside on an unctuous, full frame that hides flavors of raw, skinless almond meats and greenish crabapples with crabapple tannins. Toasty, sour and hedonistic - all at the same time.
Importer: Shelton Brothers

79. San Roman 2000 Toro $40 - 899 points
Drop this into a group of comparably priced Cali' Cabs and witness the humiliation. Importer: Jorge Ordoñez

80. Ladera 2000 Cabernet Sauvignon, Lone Canyon $65 - 885 points
Rustic, wiry and muscular.

81. Duckhorn 2002 Decoy, Napa Valley $30 - 742 points
Briary. Could it be that the depressed market for $50+ wines caused Duckhorn to formulate less of their estate Cab and Merlot in 2002 and, consequently, a greater amount of this 2nd wine, thus raising the quality bar? I'm just askin'!

82. Testarossa 2000 Syrah, Gary's Vineyard $45 - 855 points
There's only a small plot of Syrah vines (8 acres) at the top of a hill in this vineyard. The daily heat exchange there helps cool the fruit, rendering a style reminiscent of the Northern Rhone or Margaret River. And of course, all Testarossa wines are handled with utmost sensitivity. Layered, spicy, not too dark, fine acidity and perfumy floral and berry fragrances.

83. Alvear Montilla Fino $10 - 711 points
Soured almonds and chalk flavors make this 15% alcohol white wine seem light as a kite. Importer: Jorge Ordoñez

84. Bisol NV Prosecco Brut Crede $19 - 776 points
Perfumed of green fruits and flowers, this charmat-method fizzy wine is the choice for any food containing bamboo, seaweed or cilantro. Importer: Vias Imports

85. Brother's in Arms 2000 Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon, No. 6, Australia $20 - 788 points
As black as a dark Petite Sirah, the sour black cherry flavors of Cab and dry anise tannins of Shizzaz made this a steal for the coin. Importer: Grateful Palate

86. Cantina Vietti 1999 Nebbiolo Langhe, Perbacco $18 - 911 points
This is the quintessence of Nebbiolo at its peak. Tears and lust are summoned by the aromas alone. Who on this earth can drink well-seasoned Nebbiolo like this every day? What a privilege.  Importer: Remy Amerique

87. Domaine Charvin 2001 Chateauneuf du Pape $70 - 916 points
Like surfing molten boulders in scorpion-friendly heat. Tanned, sweet red berries and spice make my mouth sweat just thinking about it. Oh, and it is classically beautiful too, sheathed with roasted, wild herbs flavors. Importer: Weygandt/Metzler

88. Adnams SSB Bitter $3.50 - 876 points
It's OK to drink English beer from a bottle. This thrilling example is bone dry and fascinating. Importer: Shelton Brothers

89. Kiuchi (Kikusakari) Kurakagami, Tokubetsu-Daiginjo $62 - 965 points
The easiest, most luxurious liquid on this list to drink and enjoy. Importer: B. United

90. Domaine la Remejeanne 2001 Les Eglantiers $24 - 920 points
Inky, perfectly balanced Syrah. I feel guilty paying such an absurdly low price. Of course, supplies are absurdly limited too. Importer: Steven Grant

91. Zenato 2001 Ripassa $20 - 795 points
A red wine for the whole family. Plump, dark, finely shaped and easy - no - infectious. Importer: Leonardo Locascio

92. Chateau Lancyre 2001 Pic St. Loup Vielles Vignes $19 - 886 points
A thick paint of blue and black flavors including anise, currants, tar and roses. Importer: Hand Picked Selections

93. Reichsrat von Buhl 2002 Riesling estate, Maria Schneider 12% Alc.
$16 - 812 points
Baked yellow rocks, weighty fruits, reliable acidity, all it needs is some well-sorted natural cork. So drink it now. Importer: Rudi Wiest

94. Rosenblum 2001 Zinfandel Port, Castanho Vineyard $24 - 835 points
Raspberry syrup of the highest quality, with a kick!

95. Mas Amiel 2002 Carrerades $22 - 811 points
Distinctly belonging to the modern western Mediterranean trend in favor of low yields, thorough extraction and clean barrels. This isn't your father's Grenache (for one thing, it's dark purple!) Importer: Eagle Eye Imports

96. Ron Matusalem Gran Reserva Rum (rumored to be smuggled out of Cuba)
$30 - 890 points
Spicy woods, rancio, toffee and roasted pecans flavors. It used to be that liquor was smuggled from Canada, not from places south. Now Canada is a leading world hemp producer - go figure.

97. Vincent Girardin 2002 Chassagne-Montrachet, Morgeots Vielles Vignes
$65 - 915 points
Clear. Purposefully mineral. Mouthfilling. Cut. Importer: Weygandt/Metzler

98. O'Shaughnessy 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon, Howell Mountain $55 - 882 points
Predictable, coiled, energetic and racked with toasted spices and
cassis.

99. Springbank, Campbeltown Single Malt, Aged 10 years $65 - 870 points
It does have an edge at full strength, but Scotch shouldn't be judged on glycerin alone. The flavor! Pure wheaty fields of sunlight and honey blossom after being cut in half with a good spring water, such as...

100. S. Pellegrino Sparkling Natural Mineral Water $1.50 - 600 points
At least 100 points better than tap water.