French Wines: Five of the Best

French wines intimidate and confuse a lot of people. If you're not in that category, you're probably an expert, deluded or just indifferent to the subject of French wines. These are 5 of the best French wines. If you ever get 3 wishes, these should be 5 of them. The price tag for many of these French wines is astronomical but some alternatives are included.

Best French Wines: 1990 Krug Le Mesnil Champagne

This French wine has a very fresh nose. It's the color of straw and medium dry with good fruit, firm on the palette, and a long finish. It has very small bubbles. Le Mesnil sur Ogre is a small plot of land in the Champagne region that produces superlative chardonnay grapes for Blanc de Blancs Champagne. 1990 was a great year for champagne and this is very expensive and difficult to find. (You could get a Salon Blanc de Blancs Le Mesnil Champagne Blend 1990 for about $400.)

Best French Wines: 2006 Lafon Meursault-Charmes

This French wine is a beautiful light golden color. It has a very subtle nose with some oak. This dry and intense wine is delicate and complex and opens up in the mouth. Compte Lafon is a legend and 2006 was a great year for white Burgundies. (About $160 per bottle.)

Best French Wines: 1982 Chateau Prieuré-Lichine

This French wine has an intense purple color. It has a good nose and a sweet ripe feel in the mouth with peppery flavors and a good after taste. It's from the Margaux region of Bordeaux and was made under the supervision of the late Alexis Lichine, the wine writer and entrepreneur who helped make Americans conscious of French wine. 1982 is a classic year and this French wine has been highly praised for its silky texture and balance. (About $175 per bottle.)

Best French Wines: 1990 La Tâche Domaine de la Romanée-Conti

This acclaimed French wine has a dark ruby color, a toasty aroma of berries and cherries and spice, complex flavor and a long finish. The winery Domaine de la Romanée-Conti is one of the most famous estates in Burgundy. (About $3,800 per bottle.)

Best French Wines: 1959 Chateau d'Yquem

This French wine is the iconic sauterne. Its color is golden amber with a fragrant bouquet of honey. It's full bodied and sweet. 1959 was a great year for Bordeaux wines including sauternes. (An 1811 can sell for over $80,000. So 1959 may sound good at about $3,000 or more. Or you can get a 2008 for about $260 per bottle.)