2004 Best Wine/Liquor Store: Midtown Wine & Spirits  

When Paul Patel closed his tiny wine-lovers' institution late last year and moved into an expansive brick-and-glass showcase with exceedingly more floor space, many devotees held their tannin-tainted breath: would a new store maintain the personal feel and heady atmosphere that made the original store such a singular sanctuary? Truth is, the brighter lights, bigger shelves and expanded aisles gave Midtown more room to continue what they do best: offer discerning customers hard-to-find, small-case reds that come in and quickly vanish. Buyer's tip: when they ask if they can help, they mean it, so take them up on it. Once they know what you like, you'll be rewarded with something special, over and over again.

--Michael McCall

Reprinted with permission from The Nashville Scene