2021 Michèle Luyton Hermitage Blanc,France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-

This is the final vintage of this wine.  It is an 80/20 blend of Marsanne and Roussanne.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose has apples, baked apple pastry, and some pears.  Medium bodied.  Smooth and  more on the elegant style.  Crisp acidity.  On the palate, flavors of apples with some minerality.  Someone mentioned a bit of reduction but it didn't stand out for me.  Good finish.  This is drinking well now and should for another five to ten years.  Better with food, it is still nice on its own.  This would be nice with Sushi but also with Cold Chicken on a picnic.  

2020 Domaine de Couron Côtes du Rhône Villages Blanc, France, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$20.00USD

This is a blend of 33% Marsanne, 33% Roussanne, and 33% Grenache blanc from the Rhone Valley.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose has vanila, lemons and peaches.  Full bodied.  Slightly oily texture.  On the palate, lemons and peach.  Easy drinking.  Nice finish.  This is a nice value in white wines and should continue to drink well for another three to five years.  It is nice on its own and will work well with many foods including Pork, Poultry and Seafood.  This would be a nice pairing with Roasted (or fried) Turkey.  

2022 J.L. Chave Sélection St. Joseph Circa, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2022
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$33.00USD

This is a blend of 60% Roussanne and 40 % MarsanneLight golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is tight.  With air it shows beeswax, lemons, pastry  dough and slight peaches.  Medium bodied.  Good acidity.  On the palate, vanilla, lemons and  and slight minerality.  Good finish.  This is still on the young side but opens well with air.  Drink over the next five to ten years.  It is nice on its own but better with food.  Creamy garlic pork chops would be a nice match.

2022 Château Saint Nabor Côtes du Rhône Blanc, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2022
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$17.00USD

This is a blend of Roussanne 80%, Grenache Blanc 10%, and Ugni Blanc 10%.  Light/medium gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose has beeswax, golden raisins, and slight peach.  Medium bodied.  Slightly oily texture.  On the palate, red apples with slight peach notes.  Good finish.  This is an easy drinking CdR that is an excellent value.  It would make a nice summer sipper on the back patio.  This is good on its own and would  work well with lighter foods but would stand up to a burger off he grill as well.  Drink over the next few years.  

2021 Tablas Creek Esprit Blanc de Tablas, USA, California, Paso Robles, Adelaida District, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$50.00USD

White Rhone wines can be so hard to know where they are as they age.  This wine is very good, but much bigger, riper and blowsier at the moment (or at least this bottle was) than expected.   It is a blend of 70% Roussanne, 17% Picpoul Blanc, 10% Grenache Blanc, 2% Bourboulenc and 1% Clairette Blanche.  Medium golden with a few green swirls, clear and bright.  The nose is nice with lemon, vanilla, baked apples and spice.  Medium to full bodied.  Moderate acidity.  Nice texture.  On the palate, lemons, vanilla and spices.  Good finish.  This is nice on its own but would be better with the rig

2019 Fingers Crossed Two Become One White, USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$245.00USD

This is a 60/40 blend of Chardonnay and Roussanne from California.  Golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is lovely with lemon rind, shite flowers, slight almond notes and chalk.  Full bodied.  Light to medium tannins.  On the palate, this is big and round but enough acidity to work well.  Still young, this should continue to mature and get better but is already drinking well.  Drink over the next ten to fifteen years.  Maybe better on its own right now as this is a big wine, but it would work with shrimp and pasta for example.  

2014 Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage Blanc, France, Northern Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$285.00USD

These wines can be hard to judge as to when they are open for business.  This bottle was drinking beautifully.  Golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is great with peach, wax, buttered popcorn and lemon.  Also a nice touch of minerality.  Full bodied.  Oily texture.  Good balance.  On the palate, dried peach, apples with underlying minerals and slight char.  Long finish.  This is complex and deep.  Probably not at peak but showing a nice maturity.  Drink over the next twenty years.  This would work well with Veal Chops.  

2018 Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage Blanc, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
100
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$340.00USD

This started a bit tight, but with three hours of air, this was absolutely singing.  80% Marsanne with 20% Rousanne grapes from multiple vineyards.  Golden in color with some green hues, clear and bright.  The nose initially shows tightly with limes, some melons and spice.  With air, more notes come out; salinity, butterscotch, almonds but also more melons and slight lemons.  Really complex.  Great "slick" texture with pin point balance and energy.  The palate mirrors the nose and really explodes with lots of air.  Melons, quince, spice, minerality and a bit of almonds on the finish.  Layer

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