Pierre Moncuit Non Vintage Blanc de Blancs Champagne ($35)
I don't often carry my own Champagne, but when I do, it's usually one that is high quality and somewhat obscure, like this all-Chardonnay wine from Pierre Moncuit, whose vineyards are located in the famed Mesnil-Sur-Oger.
2004 Calera Mills Vineyard Pinot Noir ($45)
Josh Jensen makes beautifully ripe, polished, truly Burgundian-style Pinots that are food-friendly and versatile. This bottling, made in small quantities, is one of my favorite California Pinots.
1998 Bosquet des Papes Cuvée Chantemerle Châteauneuf-du-Pape ($65)
I have more Châteauneuf in my cellar than any other wine. That's one reason why I like to bring it along to dinner, but another reason is that many of my Châteauneufs, like this savory red, have a bit of age. (It's considered poor form to BYOB a newly released wine.)
2005 Christian Moreau Les Clos Chablis Grand Cru ($72)
Chablis is a terrific food wine (it has lots of acidity), so I love to bring it to restaurants. This grand cru, from a top producer in a great year, is wonderfully minerally and intense.
2000 Valentini Trebbiano d'Abruzzo ($85)
There may be no more mediocre white grape grown in Italy than Trebbiano, but the Valentini winery in Abruzzo has transformed it into a wine of complexity and richness. It's also a cult bottling that you won't find on many restaurant lists.
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