This is one of my favorite wines from Pomerol.  They have gotten crazy expensive over the years and this was probably the last reasonably priced vintage.  2002 was not a great vintage.  What is good about it though is that the wines drank well in the short term and were evenly good if not great.  This bottle is at peak right now or maybe just shy.  It will probably stay there for another few years, so if you own any, be thankful and drink up.  It won't get better and depending on the bottle, may start to fade.  Purple in color.  The nose has dark cherries, chocolate, slight spice and a bit

A great example of one of the top Muscadets.  This cost $15 on release and a recent vintage is not much more.  Its been aged for 14 years and it was wonderful.  Still fresh, crisp and enjoyable.  Golden in color.  The nose is great.  Complex with sea air, sea shells and slight honey notes.  On the palate, this is laser precision minerals.  Slightly oily texture.  Some salinity.  For those who prefer oysters, this is the perfect match but works with other food as well.  Long finish.  Just a gorgeous $15 bottle of wine.  

This is 80% Malbec and 20% Merlot from southwest France.  Purple in color, ruby swirls.  The nose is dusty with plums.  Some cherries come out later.  On the palate, this is a bit reticent.  Some cherries.  Firm tannins.  This could use a few years of cellaring.  Good acidity. Would work well with food especially heavier dishes.  

Made from a blend of Niellucci, Syrah and Grenache.  Nielluci is genetically identical to Sangiovese but to the Corsicans, it is a native grape.   Very interesting as Corsican wines often are.  The nose has raisins, and spice along with a bit of sweet red currants.  On the palate, this is quite tannic so perhaps it is just young and will develop.It has a sweet tart quality which is fun.  Raisined cherries with a slight chocolate note.  Long finish.  This retails for $16 and is probably more interesting than great, but it is solid.  Seemingly grown in hot conditions, it would work with or wi

I love Muscadet.  They are some of the best values in the wine world.  Rarely do the cost more than $15 and even the very best are under $30.  And they age much better than many people think.  Light green gold in color.  The nose has slate, green apples, sea air and slight crushed shells.  A bit of salinity as well.  On the palate, this is slightly oily.  Nice mineral streak, crushed shells and slight grapefruit. Slightly warm on the finish, but serving a bit cooler might help that.  It retails for $15 which is a very fair price and well worth it.  

This is a blend of four grapes in the French portion of the Alps; Jacquere, Chasselas, Chardonnay, and Altesses.  Light green gold in color.  The nose is all about the minerals.  Not much fruit.  Oily texture.  Good acidity.  Lean minerality on the palate.  This win begs for food but nothing too heavy.  It retails for $14.  A nice lunch wine but more pleasing for those with European wine tastes.  

100% Chardonnay.  Light copper/gold in color.  The nose is interesting with lanolin, yeast and very slight ginger.  It dies have a nice acidity.  On the palate, a light citrusy note along with some ginger.  Slightly sweet.  Good finish.  This retails for $25 and competes with Champagnes in that price point.  Food friendly with a wide variety of foods.  

I haven't had this in a few years but it hasn't changed it seems.  This retails for around $25 and for people who like this style, this is a great price point.  Purple in color.  The nose has cassis, black raspberries and cherries in a very perfumed liqueur package.  Also plenty of "toasty oak".   On the palate, this is warm but juicy.  Plenty of red berry pie filling.  Plenty of toast and spice.  Medium tannins.  Easily gulpable.  More of a love it or hate wine perhaps, but those who love it will drink bottles (and add 2 or 3 points to the score) and for those who don't, one glass will sti

Ruby in color, purple at the core.  The nose has cinnamon, cherries, and dark cherries.  Some cedary spice.  On the palate, this has nice tart cherries with an underlying earthiness.  It seems open and drinking well although will certainly mature.  Some depth to it.  Would work with a lot of different foods.  This retails for around $35 which, for Burgundy, makes this a nice entry point.  

This is always one of the best Cotes du Rhone and in good vintages it is worth stocking up on.  It cellars well for five  to ten years.  Drinking great right now.  Purple/ruby in color.  The nose is very nice with black cherries, violets, spice and slight cedar.  On the palate, juicy black cherries, spice and gravel notes.  Not quite layered but more of a mosaic.  Good acidity.  Food friendly.  This retails for close to $20 which makes it a great value.  Better than a lot of Chateauneuf du Papes!