daily wine picks

More than $30

Jan. 06, 2001: CHÂTEAU CHEVAL-BLANC St.-Emilion 1998 (98 points, $190)

Cheval-Blanc's 91 acres of vines form a single, unbroken block, located on the border of the Pomerol appellation. They are planted primarily (57 percent) to Cabernet Franc, along with Merlot and tiny amounts of Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon. The estate's —James Suckling

Jan. 04, 2001: VIÑA ALMAVIVA Puente Alto Maipo (90 points, $87)

Despite the region's El Niño-ravaged harvest in '98, this joint venture of Concha y Toro and Château Mouton-Rothschild turned out an outstanding wine. It also sets a new benchmark for the price of a Chilean wine. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, with Carm —James Molesworth

Jan. 01, 2001: CHÂTEAU LE PIN Pomerol 1998 (100 points, $615)

In the 1998 vintage for Bordeaux, the Pomerol appellation excelled. This perfect wine is going to be hard to find, but it should be a legend as time goes on. Incredibly rich, wild and exotic. Dark ruby in color, and decadent, with aromas of aged game, wil —James Suckling

Dec. 29, 2000: CHÂTEAU SMITH-HAUT-LAFITTE Pessac-Léognan (94 points, $36)

Another of the outstanding Pessac wines in '98 is the Smith-Haut-Lafitte. This young Bordeaux shows intense aromas of wet earth, stone and berries. It's full-bodied, with super-well-integrated tannins and a long, long finish. Very well made indeed, and mu —James Suckling

Dec. 27, 2000: CHÂTEAU HAUT-BRION Pessac-Léognan (97 points, $198)

Jean Delmas, proprietor of Haut-Brion, has turned in another classic performance in the '98 vintage. Rich and wonderful wine, classic, with loads of vanilla, raspberry and chocolate aromas. Full-bodied, with fine tannins and a long aftertaste of berry, gr —James Suckling