I believe in wines that dance across the palate. “Dancers” I call them as they are wines that are alive. Wines that don’t dominate the palate, but invite you as the taster to share in their energy - not stand back as an awed spectator. These real food wines are wines that don’t short you on complexity, in fact, they offer more to the attentive taster. Yet, despite their complexity they float across the palate, not deaden it, and make the matching of food and wine a glorious experience.

So on a monthly basis I will offer my “Dancing Troupe” of the month, a selection of wines that have made my meals and my life better - wines that dance across my palate. I suppose they are my “Zen” experiences with wine and food, which I choose not to separate as an experience.

My September 2006 Dancers are:

Muscadet, Climat, Château de la Fessardièe, Alex Sauvion, 2004 A svelte, compelling Muscadet.

Sparkling Wine, Argyle, Knudsen Vineyard Brut, Willamette Valley Oregon, 1998 A great sparkling wine - on par with the world’s best.

Bourgueil, Trinch!, Catherine & Pierre Breton, 2004 Perhaps one of the best everyday wines ever.

Cour Cheverny, Le Petit Chambord, Domaine Francois Cazin, 2002 One of the best dry white wines you’ve never heard of.

Picpoul de Pinet, Coteaux du Languedoc, Saint Peyre, 2005 What a BARGAIN!!

Muscadet Sèvre et Maine sur lie, Domaine de l’Ecu, Expression de Granite, Domaine Guy Boussard, 2001 Very simply a great white wine.

Pian del Ciampolo, Sangioveto e Canaiolo, Montevertine, Radda in Chianti, 2002 A pure experience in what should be great about Tuscan red wine.

Régnié, Cuvée des Braves, Cuvée des Braves, Domaine Jöel Rochette, Vielles Vignes, 2004 A wonderfully pure Beaujolais.

Touraine, Clos Roche Blanche, Cuvee Pif, 2004 Does anyone create more reliably delicious wines than Clos Roche Blanche - I don’t think so.

Marsannay, Les Longeroies, Domaine Charles Audoin, 2002 Real Burgundy, real character without a big price tag.