Book excerpt: "My Favorite Burgundies is a more personal follow-up to--but not a comprehensive revision of--Coates' The Wines of Burgundy (California, 2008). The book is based on the author's many subsequent tastings and travels through the region since the publication of his last book five years ago. Chapter 1 includes descriptions of Burgundy's most renowned vineyards, including their particular history, geography, and soil conditions, as well as tasting notes of various producer's single-bottle offerings from these sites. Chapter 2 describes the region's most distinguished domaines, with Coates impressions of the proprietors, facilities, and wine-making philosophies, along with vertical tasting notes (in some cases, stretching back more than thirty years). Chapter 3 provides current vintage assessments of Chablis from 2008-2010, Coates' highly sought-after "Three Years On" and "Ten Years On" tastings, assessing wines from between 1990-2002. All tastings are accompanied by the author's personal notes, ratings, and suggested drinking dates. Interspersed throughout are a brief series of "observations" on a variety of hot-button issues in the wine world, from the utility of blind tasting and tasting notes to biodynamics and other philosophies of viticulture"--