France: Wine, French Wine Regions, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, & More Profiled

2018 Domaine de la Côte Sainte-Epine St. Joseph Vieilles Vignes, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-

Purple in color with some ruby hues, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, roasted herbs and meats, and black pepper.  Light tannins.  Nice texture.  good balance.  On the palate, this is drinking well.  Black raspberry fruit with some char and a bit or pepper.  Good finish.  This is nice on its own but better with a bit of food.  It went well with vegetarian (black bean) Chili.  

1996 Château Siran, France, Margaux, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1996
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-

This bottle had been purchased at the Chateau on release and well stored.  Decanted for sediment right before serving.  The cork was perfect.  Purple in color, opaque and still mostly bright.  The nose is great with cassis, slight perfumed note, dust and char.  With air some leather and cigar box notes emerged.  Medium to full bodied.  Tannins mostly resolved but still some silky ones.  Good balance.  On the palate, this is still fresh.  Complex with layers of cassis, earth, tobacco and underlying char.  Good finish.  Overall, this bottle is at peak but seems right there.  At age 28, this w

2010 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie Château d'Ampuis, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2010
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$180.00USD

This is in a great place right now.  It has started to shed some of its oak coat and the fruit is coming thru.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has boysenberries, spice, slight lumber, black pepper and roasted herbs.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Nice texture.  On the palate, boysenberries, vanilla, spice, black pepper and roasted herbs.  Long finish.  This could use a few more years but should drink well for another ten to fifteen.  Right now it could use some fatty food to match it with.  

2004 Domaine Ponsot Clos de la Roche Vieilles Vignes, France, Burgundy, Wine Reivew

Vintage: 
2004
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$480.00USD

Count me among those who find a certain greenness to the 2004 Burgundies.  Others at the table loved this wine and either didn't find that quality or didn't mind it.  Ruby/purple in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, black cherries, a bit of earthiness and an herbal quality hanging around the background.  It comes across as a sort fresh thyme mixed with cilantro.  Medium to full bodied.  On the palate, black cherries, some cherries, herbal notes and char.  It is also complex and layered.  It works better with food and it would be nice with fresh sashimi.  It has plenty

2006 Domaine Bruno Clair Chambertin-Clos de Bèze, France, Burgundy, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2006
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$1387.00USD

From magnum.  This bottle seemed to get mixed reactions from the table.  Some thought it needed a long decant and others were more positive.  I found it young, but very enjoyable.  Like many Pinots, a lot depends on what style you like best.  This seemed on the darker, more ripe side especially in this format.  Deep ruby in color, purple at the core, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has black cherries, cherries, black tea, char, and slight earthiness.  Great texture.  Good energy.  Light tannins.  On the palate, black cherries, cherries, with some char and earthiness/minerality.  Long fin

2017 Vincent Dauvissat (René & Vincent) Chablis 1er Cru La Forest, France, Burgundy, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$899.00USD

From one of the top producers of Chablis.  Impressive showing.  Light gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose has crushed shells, green apples, lemons and a slight waxy note.  Great texture.  Crisp acidity.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Crisp granny smith apples with crushed shells and slight lemon notes.  Deep and complex.  Long finish.  This drinks well on its own and is very food friendly.  Obviously shell fish but this went quite well with sweet potato sushi and even asparagus sushi.  Drink over the next ten to fifteen years.  

2017 Domaine William Fèvre Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos, France, Burgundy, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$160.00USD

It was interesting to try this side by side with the Vaudesir.  While neither one could be called blowsy or showy, this has more presence and weight.  Light golden/green in color, clear and bright.  The nose is classic Chablis.  Green apples, chalky minerality, slight gunpowder and slight white flowers.  Full bodied.  Great balance.  Firm acidity.  On the palate, green apples with underlying minerality and just a hint of  flint/gunpowder.  Long finish.  This is nice on its own but needs food to really shine.  Shell fish would be ideal but it went nicely with Japanese Noodles as well.  This

2017 Domaine William Fèvre Chablis Grand Cru Vaudésir, France, Burgundy, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A

Can a Grand Cru be austere and pretty at the same time?  This wine seems to answer that question in a positive way.  Green/gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose has great minerality along with peach and slight lemon peel.  Medium to full bodied.  Crisp, tangy acidity.  On the palate, there are peach and lemon lime notes that are piercing yet delicious.  Long finish.  This wine begs for food.  Shell fish would be ideal but it worked well with a sauteed mushroom dish as well.  Drink over the next eight to twelve years.  

2017 von Winning Forster Kirchenstück Riesling Großes Gewächs trocken, Germany, Pfalz, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$120.00USD

My first time trying this wine and I was impressed.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose has great minerality/wet rocks with slight lemon candy notes.  Medium bodied.  Crisp with a slightly viscous texture.  Dry.  On the palate, this is deep.  Lemons, minerality with good acidity.  That said, no hard edges.  Very  smooth.  Very long finish.  This is drinking well now on its own and is very food friendly.  It worked well with roasted Brussels Sprouts (a difficult match) but would be great with almost any seafood as well.  Drink over the next ten to fifteen years.  

2011 Trimbach Riesling Clos Ste. Hune, France, Alsace, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2011
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$275.00USD

One of the world's great Rieslings.  This bottle  had been purchased on release at the winery.  Green gold in color. The nose is very expressive.  Minerality, peach, and chervil.  Great texture.  Good acidity.  Balanced.  On the palate, this is dry.  Notes of chalk with some peach and minerals. Very long finish. Not quite at peak but certainly showing some development.  Drink over the next ten to fifteen years.  Very food friendly, it would work well with Sushi and was excellent with Shishito Peppers.  

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