Book excerpt: The great wines captivate like lovers with their harmony and complexity - and especially their rarity. But what are the greatest among them? In this compact volume, international wine expert Michel Dovaz identifies the finest wines of our times and recounts how they came about. From the legendary 1900 Chateau Margaux to the blockbuster 2008 Pol Roger Champagne, the exceptional wines are mainly French, but also include vintages form Germany, the United States, Australia, Italy, and now South America. Dovaz provides an informative overview from year to year: land, climate, soil, grape varieties, harvest time and conditions, fermentation, and aging. In the following, newly expanded section, Dovaz lists the best vintages by year. Each entry features a detailed description of the wine itself, as well as an enlightening discussion of the vineyard's history and the specific conditions that led to superior vintages. They are paired with practical pricing information as well as photographic spreads that will provide enthusiasts and collectors with a fuller understanding of these favored wines within the historical and social context of their times. AUTHOR: Michel Dovaz is the author of more than one dozen books about wine, including Bordeaux, a Legendary Wine, and Chateau Latour. Michael Broadbent, author of the introduction, is founder and senior consultant of Christie's international wine department. ILLUSTRATIONS 375 illustrations