Wine House

  In the Loire Valley, Chenin Blanc produces some fantastically alluring wines, among them Savennières from a small appellation in the Anjou region. I've always loved Château d'Epiré's crisp, minerally Savennières, but the 2009 "Cuvée Speciale" is something else again. Two things make it different from the regular cuvée. The vineyard's soil is black slate and, instead of the stainless steel owner-winemaker Luc Bizard uses for his regular Savennières, for this one he uses the traditional chestnut foudres , or casks.

  2001 Giorgio Primo Chianti Classico La Massa I know wine buffs who have been buying up cases of the 2001 Giorgio Primo Chianti Classico since they found out how cheap it has gotten. Produced by Giampaolo Motta at Fattoria La Massa in Panzano in Chianti, the 2001 Giorgio Primo is a beautiful expression of Sangiovese with notes of dark berries, leather and forest woven together. Elegant and restrained, this is a Chianti that deserves a special meal — a Kurobuta pork roast, a rack of Sonoma lamb or a massive bistecca . And the price?

Here's where to find some of the wines mentioned in this story. 2008 Chateau Ste. Michelle Dr. Loosen Riesling "Eroica" (Columbia Valley) is available at Manhattan Fine Wines in Manhattan Beach, (310) 374-3454, http://www.manhattanfinewines.com , and Wine Exchange in Orange, (714) 974-1454, http://www.winex.com , about $20. 2008 Luneau-Papin Muscadet et Sevre et Maine "Le L d'Or" is available at Woodland Hills Wine Co. in Woodland Hills, (818)

Here's a selection of Central Coast Grenaches to seek out in your local retail shop. A few select shops — Wally's Wine & Spirits, Woodland Hills Wine Co. and Twenty Twenty Wine Merchants, in particular — have some of the rarer and pricier Grenache bottlings as well, such as Alban, Sine Qua Non and Saxum. 2007 Tablas Creek Vineyard "Cotes de Tablas" (Paso Robles) — A blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvedre, it has a scent of red berries and a fresh, juicy red-cherry flavor, with firm acidity.

2007 Domaine du Mas Blanc Collioure "Cosprons Levants" I absolutely loved this wine from the first sip. It has everything going for it — dark, velvety fruit, a scent of wild herbs and tobacco, and a gorgeous, robust flavor all rolled into one delicious package. The surprise is that this is a Collioure, a red from a small appellation near the fishing town (and Impressionist painter hangout) on the Mediterranean in the South of France. And that it comes from an estate more known for its Banyuls, the Port-like dessert wine beloved of sommeliers as a match with chocolate.

  2008 Kofererhof Sylvaner The Kofererhof estate in Alto Adige goes back 850 years, but the Kerschbaumer family, who have owned it since the 1940s, have been bottling their own wines only for about 15 years. Under young Gunter Kerschbaumer, the organically farmed estate near the Dolomite Mountains produces top Riesling, but also this intriguing Sylvaner, ideal for summer drinking. It's delicate and nuanced with notes of green apple, lime and kiwi. Its bracing minerality makes it a fine match with vegetarian and vegetable dishes.

Here's a wonderful fino sherry from a family-owned winery that dates from the beginning of the last century. The estate is on the Guadalete River in Cadiz Bay, very close to the Atlantic and its humidity and winds. Until 10 years ago, the Colosia family sold to bigger producers. Now Juan Carlos Gutiérrez Colosia, who learned about sherry from his father, is bottling and selling the wines under the Gutiérrez label.

• The 2008 Burgans Rias Baixas Albariño is available at the Wine House in West Los Angeles, (310) 479-3731, http://www.winehouse.com; Woodland Hills Wine Co. in Woodland Hills, (818) 222-1111, http://www.whwc.com; and Manhattan Fine Wines in Manhattan Beach, (310) 374-3454, about $13. •The 2008 Mártin Códax Rias Baixas Albariño is available at Du Vin Wine & Spirits, West Hollywood, (310) 855-1161, http://www.du-vin.net; John & Pete's Fine Wines & Spirits in West Hollywood, (310)

  2007 Domaine de Roally Viré-Clessé The name doesn't jump right out at you like Montrachet or Meursault, and while this Viré-Clessé from Domaine de Roally won't give you equal bragging rights, you can certainly brag about turning up such a fine bargain. That's no mean feat. Viré-Clessé is a newer appellation for a village within the Mâcon region in southern Burgundy. Domaine de Roally's vineyards are a mix of Chardonnays of various ages. The wine is delicate and relatively lean, with a deep mineral undertone that holds interest sip after sip. And it's inexpensive enough that it doesn't demand some grand occasion to pop the cork.