2004 Luneau-Papin / Domaine Pierre de la Grange Muscadet de Sèvre-et-Maine Sur Lie Le "L" d'Or, France, Loire Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2004
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-

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.  

1978 Château Cheval Blanc, France, St. Emilion, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1978
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-

On opening the cork fell into the bottle.  It was fished halfway out and removed with a Durand corkscrew.  Anytime one gets the opportunity to try a Cheval Blanc it is truly a treat!  Of course, this is not a great year and it might be getting a bit old but it still has plenty to offer.  It took about 15 minutes to really open up.  Purple in color, slight browning at the edges.  There is some initial bottle stink but that blows off leaving cherries, slight dried cherries, spice, dust and blood.  Interesting.  On the palate, this has nice tart cherries layered with dry forest floor and some

2015 Zind-Humbrecht Gewurztraminer Rangen de Thann Clos St. Urbain, France, Alsace

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A

Light golden in color.  What a gorgeous nose.  Lychees, peaches and minerals.  On the palate, this is slightly sweet but not much.  Great minerality.  Some peach notes.  Wonderful mouthfeel.  Good acidity.  Went great with spicy Indian food.  Long finish.  A beautiful wine.  It is still quite young and will continue to improve for a decade at least and be good for another decade after that.  $75 but might just be worth it!

2015 Markus Molitor Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett (Golden Capsule), France, Alsace

Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-

This is young and tight.  Light golden in color.  The nose is nice with peach and minerals.  On the palate, this is rich.  Not quite the acid I might like but plenty of delicious fruit and enough acidity.  Good finish.  It will be interesting to see how well this ages out.  I would think it improves from here, but would drink it in the first 10 - 12 years of life.  

Alsace Wines: Some of France’s Great White Wines

Along the French border with Germany lies the region of Alsace (all-SAHss). The region’s customs are a combination of both the French and German culture, a result of the political turmoil this region has long experienced. Alsace has changed ownership four times in the past few hundred years. Since World War I, this area has belonged to France. The wines, however, bear as much resemblance to the wines of Germany as they do to the wines of France. To be more precise, the wines of Alsace are a hybrid of the two, yet distinct from either.

Alsace, France - Wine Vintage Chart

Alsace, France 2009 90 D/H 2008 87 D 2007 88 D 2006 90 D 2005 91 D 2004 87 D 2003 85 D 2002 93 D/H 2001 93 D 2000 85 D 1999 92 D 1998 88 D 1997 84 D 1996 88 D 1995 92 D 1994 90 D 1993 88 D 1992 85 D 1991 78 D 1990 94 D Vintage Charts should be used for a generalized guide in lieu of specific...

Thanksgiving Wines - Whites

Tim Halloran's piece on Thanksgiving Reds can be viewed here . Thanksgiving dinner, while delicious and nutritious (well, at least delicious) is not the easiest meal to pair with wines. So many different elements are present; there are savory/mild foods like turkey, gravy, yams and potatoes, crisp/acidic foods like cranberry sauce and salads, and hearty foods like ham and stuffing. Throw in a few other vegetables and you have a veritable cornucopia of flavors and textures to match.

Vins de France 101: Alsace, France’s Little Wine Treasure

Take a deep breath. While exhaling, say “Ahhhl zas.” It resonates like a yoga mantra with the emphasis on “Ahhh.” The phonetic version of Alsace reveals the beauty of this little border province and the prominence of one of France’s smallest wine regions. It harbors a medieval landscape from a bygone era. Half-timbered houses, cobbled streets, and Romanesque churches have you anticipating someone heavily cloaked in costume to walk by you munching on a giant turkey leg.

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