France

• Alsace
• Bergerac
• Bordeaux
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  • Bordeaux Supérieur
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  • Sauternes
• Burgundy
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• Jura
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  • Touraine
  • Vouvray
• Rhone (Rhône)
  • Châteauneuf-du-Pape
  • Cornas
  • Crozes-Hermitage
  • Gigondas
  • Hermitage
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• Savoie
• Tavel

Purple in color, opaque and slightly flat.  The nose features black raspberries, black pepper, bacon fat, and spice.  Medium to full bodied.  On the palate, this has some complexity and depth.  Black raspberries with black pepper and spices.  Nice finish. This seemed to be close to peak but should have another five to seven years at this level.  It went very well with a black olive tapenade and flat bread.  

A really nice value in French Chardonnay.  Gold/green in color, clear and bright.  The nose has red apples, good minerality and a touch of spice.  Medium bodied.  Good acidity.  On the palate, no hard edges.  Very smooth with apples and minerals.  Long finish.  Nice on its own, but better with food.  Pepper crusted Tuna steaks would be nice.  Drink over the next seven to ten years.  

This is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, 25% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot from the very good 1996 vintage in Bordeaux.  purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  There is some cassis but mostly dried fruits, tobacco, cigar box, dried leather and some spice.  Medium bodied with good acidity.  On the palate, this is complex and fully mature.  It doesn't seem much past though (depending on how you like older Bordeaux).  Black cherry fruit, dried cherries, forest floor, and slight spice.

This is a delicious Syrah from the Northern Rhone value.  Purple in color with some ruby hues, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries with some funk/Brettanomyces.  Also a slight lavender note.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, cleaner with black raspberries, minerality an char.  Nice finish.  Obviously young, but drinking well, it will mature and improve.  That said, drink over the next twenty years.  A nice match would be Lamb stew. 

Deep garnet in color, mostly clear and showing just a bit of bricking on the edges.  The nose is a bit musty but I didn't think TCA  (although some did), with cigar and some cassis.  The mustiness did not blow off completely but did not get stringer so I am going with a bit of bottle age.  There is some depth to the wine.  The palate has some cassis and some tertiary notes of leather and dust.  Good acidity.  Most 2000's are slow to mature, but this bottle, at least, seems past prime.  Drink up.  No rating as not sure how representative this bottle is.  

When I saw this being opened, I had no hope.  But, it showed well.  Past prime and this was never a great wine (not a good vintage), but a very enjoyable wine.  Garnet in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has dried raspberries but a touch of fresh with dried floral notes and spice.  Medium bodied.  Tannins resolved.  Good acidity.  On the palate, raspberry fruit with some depth and complexity.  No off notes.  Good finish.  Way to go!  Drink now if you have this, but at least give it a chance.  It went well with some pasta.  

Apparently, this was purchased at the winery and brought back.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is pretty with lychees and some lemons.  Medium bodied, oily texture.  On the palate, this is slightly sweet.  Complex.  Flavors of Pineapple with nice minerality.  Nice acidity.  Good finish.  A very nice wine that is closing in on maturity but still very fresh.  Nice on its own, this will work with lighter foods such as a fruit salad very well.  Drink over the next ten years.

Ruby in color, mostly clear and bright with some purple swirls.  The nose has black raspberries, black cherries, roasted meats and slight black pepper.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Good balance.  On the palate, this seems open and ready to go.  Black cherries, some black raspberries with minerality and some char.  Nice finish.  A nice middleweight Cornas that is nice on its own but better with food.  A good match would be Indian cuisine.  Drink over the next five to eight years.  

The name Gentil means that the blend has at least 50% Alsace noble varietals (Riesling, Pinot Gris, Muscat or Gewurztraminer). Maison Willm usually has 80-90% of these noble varietals with the rest Pinot Blanc. Golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is nice with peach notes and some minerality.  Light to medium body with a slightly creamy texture.  Moderate acidity.  On the palate, this shows sour lemon drops which are quite refreshing.  Good finish.  This is nice on its own and will work with lighter salads and also fish dishes.  Drink over the next few years.  

The Vouvray's of Huet are my most often opened white wine.  100% Chenin Blanc.  This vintage seems to be not a top vintage but the wine is still excellent and a nice value.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is nice with pears, sea air, some orange peel and slight herbal note.  Medium bodied.  Slightly oily texture.  Crisp acidity.  On the palate, this is dry (Sec) with pears and slight citrus.  Moderate finish.  This improved over the three  hours it took to drain the bottle (two people).  It should drink well for the next ten to fifteen years.  Nice on its own, it is very