Big Bottle Jolly From the prestigious 2015 vintage, this magnum of Château Petit Val represents class and elegance. A sucker for Merlot dominant “right bank” styles of Bordeaux, I love its spiral of red-black fruits and its Cabernet Franc puffs of violet earth. Aged in 100% new French barriques, time on the cork has softened its sweet oaky tones into wise and savory ones, like a fine aged cigar, with its cozy cedar, wintry spice, and worn-in leather. An exceptional price for $85, grab what you can, and spread the cheer this year with a little Big Bottle Jolly.      Happy Drinking, Allegra A