I love Rhone whites but they are a crap shoot.  Luckily, this was drinking quite well.  It was brought over by a friend who was invited to our home for dinner.  He will be invited back.  Light golden in color.  The nose is nice with minerals, wax but plenty of fruit; peach and guava and finally some honeysuckle and vanilla.  On the palate, this has a slightly oily texture.  The peach and vanilla predominate but it gets waxy on the finish.  Also a lovely underlying minerality.  Good acidity.  Someone mentioned white Burgundy, but I didn't get that.  Pretty classic ehite Rhone and wide open a

This bottle was bought on release back when it was affordable.  My last bottle, and it was served at dinner with friends along with an eggplant and tomato soup.  A very good pairing.  The wine itself is very interesting.  Plenty of depth and complexity but showing quite youthfully.  Medium golden in color.  The nose has apricots, slight vanilla, slight marzipan and a hint of tropical fruit.  On the palate, full bodied.  Ever so slightly oily texture.  Delicious vanilla, peach, and waxy notes.  Complex and layered, it unwinds nicely in a glass.  Great balance.  Long finish.  Everything I cou

2003 wasa a very hot summer in Europe and many wines reflected that heat.  At age 16, this wine is ripe and sweet but does not seem to be hurt by the heat.  In fact, it was delicious and has matured beautifully.  Still has years to go.  Light golden in color.  The nose has minerals, slight peach, slight simple syrup and is very clean (no petrol).  On the palate, this is viscous and slightly sweet.  Nice peach and minerals notes.  Decent not great acidity.  It was paried with a roasted beet salad with deep fried goat cheese croutons and that was an excellent match.  

Excellent showing for this wine.  Light silvery gold in color.  A nice mousse with lots of smaller bubbles.  On the nose, nice red apples notes with just the slightest bit of nuttiness (almonds?).  Full bodied but not flamboyant.  Lots of minerals and apples on the palate.  Good acidity.  Worked well with roasted chickpeas and almonds.  Long finish.  This has a very nice complexity to it and though it tastes mature, it seems like there is still some room to go further.  Very dry finish.  It is listed as Brut Nature so that makes sense.  

This is a nice value in 1er Cru Champagne.  It drinks very well right now.  Light golden in color with a nice head of small bubbles.  The nose is nice with a green apple note along with some faint toast qualities.  In general, this is more on the austere side of Champagne which is not a bad thing.  Plenty of acidity.  Long finish.  This was served to friends at the start of the evening along side some roasted chick peas and that proved a fine pairing a great start to the evening.  I don't think this will improve and these bottles, purchased in the last year, should be drunk in the next year

Since these wines first came out, it has always been an open question how well they would age.  At age 11, this one is doing great.  Drinking quite young but quite well.  Deep ruby in color.  The nose is great with cherries, slight spice, black cherries, and very slight cola note.  On the palate, this is young but delicious.  Shows depth but tight.  Plenty of cherries and black cherry fruit.  Great balance.  Drink now or should hold for another ten or fifteen years, depending what you like in a Pinot.  Will work with a wide variety of food.  

A Burgundy for under $15?  Hard to beat that price.  As for the wine, it is fine.  Easy drinking.  Some Pinot characteristics.  Light ruby in color.  Cherries on the nose and palate.  Light bodied.  Made for immediate drinking.  Actually, for the price, this is a great Pinot value.  

OK, this was served to me at a wine store, so what the heck.  It is a sparkling rosé wine & cider blend that is 30% Merlot, 30% Chambourcin, and 40% Stayman Winesap apples. I can't imagine it costs much.  It was fun to try a can (yes, a can).  Other's seemed to find it fun.  For this grizzled old wine geek, it was more a curiosity.  But, that's ok too.  

This is an inexpensive Pinot Grigio from Washington state.  It costs about $10 which is fair.  Light white gold/copper in color.  The nose is light but mostly minerals.  Easy drinking although it finishes bitter.  Has some acidity.  If this is the option at a party, it is fine.  Drink now.  

This is an excellent value in top Napa Cabs.  While Rivers Marie makes single vineyard wines, those cost into three figures.  This is not inexpensive but it almost as good.  Inky purple in color.  The nose is great with cassis, cedar, leather, slight blueberries,  and slight spice.  On the palate, this is young and tannic.  If drinking soon, give it a few hours at least, in a decanter.  Great texture; juicy yet plush.  Lots of cassis fruit over a dry earth/graphite quality.  Long finish.  Ideally, give this five moer years and drink over the next ten to twenty.  Needs bigger food right now.