Tom Kobylarz

"Anything but Chardonnay," you may have heard your friend cry. They call it the "ABCs" of wine, and perhaps you've even uttered those words yourself. Truthfully, no other grape variety yields as diverse a spectrum of wines as Chardonnay . As the world's 5th most popular wine grape, Chardonnay's reach extends from Burgundy and Champagne to Bolivia and the Czech Republic . In short, there's a Chardonnay to suit every palate.

Two thousand five continues to vie for the top spot of Bordeaux vintages in the 21st Century, thus far. How are the wines tasting today? “The best 2005s will drink well for decades, but it is also not a crime to start dipping into some of these reds,” writes Antonio Galloni . Learn more about what to drink and what to hold with these excerpts from the Vinous Vintage Charts . Bordeaux Reds A magical vintage for Bordeaux. At the time, 2005 was one of the richest and most powerful vintages ever seen.

The illustrious Twentieth Century California winemaker André Tchelistcheff once said, “God made Cabernet Sauvignon , whereas the Devil made Pinot Noir .” Today, we’re dealing with the more heavenly creation, or at least the less finicky in the vineyard. Cabernet Sauvignon, or simply Cabernet or “Cab,” is the most planted wine grape variety, and it serves as the backbone to several of the world’s most collectible bottles, from Bordeaux to Bolgheri to the Napa Valley .