France: Wine, French Wine Regions, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, & More Profiled
Always a pleasure to drink d'Yquem. This vintage is 75% Semillon and 25% Sauvignon Blanc. From a 375ml bottle.
Funny, I had just been talking about the 2002 vintage in Bordeaux. I liked it but it was a "Restaurant" vintage meaning early accessibility and not wines to lay down for thirty years. But, as they say, great producers make great wines in every vintage. That is certainly true for this bottle. Tasted blind, it started out slow, but just kept getting better. Purple in color but a bit flat, opaque. The nose is nice with black cherries, cherries, spice, cigar box and char. Full bodied. Medium tannins. On the palate, great balance. Complex. Flavors of cherries, spice and char. Long f
This was interesting. In a room with 7 blind tasters with plenty of experience, no one even guessed Chardonnay much less Burgundy. Personally, I was stumped. It was good, but I had no idea what it might be. Green/gold in color, clear and bright. The nose has a nice minerality with a touch of quince. A very nice mouthfeel, slightly oily. On the palate, mostly minerals. Good finish. It drinks well on its own and would be better with some seafood or hearty vegetarian dishes. Drink over the next five years or so.
As many times as I have had the red, I am not sure I ever had the white. Tasted blind, I guessed Hermitage. It is a blend of 45% Clairette and 30% Grenache Blanc, with the Roussanne and Bourboulenc. Light golden in color with some green flecks, clear and bright. The nose has lemon, wax, vanilla, oak and spice. With air a slight tropical fruit. Full bodied. Viscous. Nice mouthfeel. On the palate, lemons with almonds turning slightly bitter on the finish. Long finish with some heat. A very nice white Rhone. Young but drinking well. It needs a bit of food to sort out the rough edg
Gigondas is often thought of as a "lesser" Chateauneuf du Pape. That can be good as in pricing or bad as in quality. This is neither. It is one of the best Gigondas produced and it is not inexpensive. That said, if you like CdP, you will love this. Purple in color with some ruby hues, mostly opaque and bright. The nose is great with black raspberries, spices, slight floral, black cherries and earth. Full bodied. Good acidity. Light tannins. On the palate, this is complex and layered. Deep. Flavors of black raspberries, earth and char. Long finish. This is not yet at peak but
Iced tea/ orange in color, clear and bright. The nose is great with honey, peaches, and some citrus. Viscous texture. Medium bodied. Good acidity. On the palate, this is tasty. Flavors of peaches with some honey. Good acidity. Nice finish. This is drinking well. A bit more mature than expected but still with life left. Drink over the next five to ten years. It drinks well on its own and would work nicely with not too sweet, dry cookies, and of course, foie gras.
This is a blend of 80% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 5%Cinsault and 5% Mourvèdre. It is drinking quite well now. Deep garnet in color, mostly clear and bright. The nose has black cherries, slight cough drop note, wild herbs, char and some black raspberries. Very nice creamy texture. Good balance. On the palate, this is very tasty. Black cherries, black raspberries and char. Complex and deep. Long finish. This is just getting to peak but should drink well for another seven to ten years. Great on its own, this should work with a lots of foods. Lamb of beef stews would be perfect.
There are not many better values in wine than Muscadet. This is one of the better ones and it can be had for under $30. This is made from the Melon de Bourgogne grape from 60 year old vines. Silvery gold in color, clear and bright. The nose has crushed shells, salinity and a hint of peach. Medium bodied. Nice acidity. On the palate, this is crisp but with no hard edges. Crushed shell notes and a slight peachy quality. Good finish. This is a perfect choice with oysters but will work well with salads as well. A great summer wine. Drink over the next five to seven years.
This is their basic Riesling. Light gold in color, clear and bright. The nose is great with some citrus, honeydew and minerality. Medium bodied. On the palate, this is dry. Melon with minerals and a bit of salinity. Good acidity. Long finish. This is nice on its own but better with food. This will work with almost any food. Try it with fried chicken. Drink over the next eight to twelve years.
This was a brutally hot vintage and winemakers had to deal with over ripeness from the heat and under ripeness from the vines shutting down. Yet, some did make wonderful wines and this is one. Purple in color with some ruby hues, mostly opaque and bright. The nose has cassis, chocolate, cigar box, spice and smoke. Full bodied. Medium tannins. Good, lively acidity. On the palate, this is mature and drinking well. Deep with layers of cassis, tobacco and spice and some char. Long finish. This won't get better but should go another ten years. Great on its own but better with food. T
