May offers another fine line-up of collectible wines, with each wine bringing something special to the table. Consequently, it comes down in my mind solely to a matter of additional bottle age, which leads me choose Seghesio’s 2008 Barolo as my first Top Pick. Seghesio has carved out an enviable record for producing majestic Barolo over the past decade, and the wonderful 2008 vintage in Piemonte shines through in this month’s offering. Given that this youthful Barolo wine drinks beautifully now and still promises further development earns it a top spot. My second Top Pick goes to the very limited edition 2010 Au Bon Climat 30th Anniversary Edition Chardonnay. This is a masterful, larger than life Chardonnay that makes a bold statement, yet it pairs magnificently with full flavored dishes, something few Chardonnays do well. Au Bon Climat produces an Anniversary Edition only every five years, and this Anniversary Edition is to my taste the most complex and interesting I’ve sampled. I hope these two choices don’t diminish the quality and pleasure to be found in Girard’s excellent 2010 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, this month’s other selection. It is a polished, sophisticated Cabernet that offers plenty of appeal now and will continue to drink beautifully for a decade. But alas, there can only be two Top Picks. A votre santé.
