France

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  • Châteauneuf-du-Pape
  • Cornas
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  • Hermitage
  • Lirac
  • Saint Joseph
• Provence
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• Tavel

Always a great value, the price has snuck up a bit and this was a bit disappointing considering all of the hype over the vintage.  That said, it was still a very good wine for a reasonable price.  Ruby in color, clear and bright.  The nose has a cherry candy quality to it.  Also a sour cherry note.  On the palate, this is very sweet/tart.  Sweet cherries almost cloying but not quite playing off a tart sour cherry note.  Medium tannins.  Ok finish.   And interesting wine that may settle down some and improve.  It will work well with stews and meat dishes.  

This was brought to a dinner party by a friend who reps the wine.  It was the first time trying this winery, but of course 2015 is such a great vintage in the Northern Rhone that my expectations were high.  Indeed, this wine delivers.  It is an old school styled wine that really has a lot going on.  It retails for around $25 which is a nice value.  Purple in color, a bit flat in appearance.  The nose is great but there is some funk/barnyard (if that bothers you).  Also some plums, a bit of spice and black pepper.  On the palate, this has light tannins.  Good acidity.  Black raspberries and

On a cold winter Sunday, after making a pot of Lentil Soup, this was opened and it was a perfect match.  St. Joseph Blancs are not all that common but this one is worth searching out (so are this producer's reds)!  Light golden in color.  The nose is nice with a bit of wax, but nice peach and slight tropical fruit.  Very clean.  On the palate, this comes across with a lot of acidity until the finish where it get's really turned up.  Nice creamy texture.  Some peach and slight bees wax.  Depth  For around $25, this was a great match.  

An issue with Bordeaux is how long do they need to be cellared before opening.  I saw a tasting note saying this was drinking great, so I opened a bottle.  Pop and pour.  Uh, no.  At least not for my tastes.  It was tight, closed up and tannic.  No harm though, the cork went back in and it was left for the next night.  Again, pop and pour on Night 2.  Much better although the last glass was certainly then best (by far).  If I was doing it again, I would wait a couple of years but if I really wanted it htat evening, a six hour decant seems about right.  As for the wine, it is inky purple in

2009 was such a great vintage in Beaujolais.  This bottle was purchased on release and stored well since.  It is drinking great.  Over two nights, it was actually a bit more interesting on night 2.  Deep ruby/purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose has cherries, sour cherries, slight spice and slight damp forest floor.  On the palate, the sour cherries come out.  Great texture.  Depth with some complexity.  Blind, one might be tempted to guess Oregon Pinot Noir.  Long tart finish.  This is very food friendly for all but the hearties of dishes.  While it certainly won't get better from h

Nice to check in on this.  That said, this bottle, purchased from retail on release had a significant amount of brett on it.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose has some band-aid, slight barnyard, cassis, slight blueberries, and cedar.  On the palate, this was decanted and much but not all of the brett blew off.  It shows nice fruit with tight layers of barnyard and earth.  Medium tannins.  Long finish.  A cleaner bottle can certainly go longer, but given how this showed, it might be better to open a bottle and see how it is doing.  Especially if you have more than one.  It needs b

Opened about an hour before the tasting and allowed to breathe. Purple/ruby in color. The nose is beautiful with a nice earthiness (mostly clean), baking spices, cherries (red and black). On the palate there is a juicy acidity that gives way to a lush texture and big fruit. Dark and red cherries but also some clay and spice show thru as well. Tight layers that unwind in the glass. Long finish. Certainly needs time or air, but drinking great right now.

An interesting blend of Gewurztraminer and Riesling.  It was sold for $20 which is a nice value.  Light gold/green in color.  Oddly, this seems to have some trapped CO2 in the bottle as it shows up on the glass if the not the palate.  Neither varietal seems to be very pronounced on the nose, although both show up a bit.  Slight lychee, apricot and minerals.  On the palate, this is viscous.  A perception of sweetness but seems dry though ripe.  Lychees and apricots.  Good finish.  Will work well with Indian or Thai food.  

Ruby/purple in color.  The nose has cherries, slight cough syrup, some anise and spice.  Nice.  On the palate, this has a lovely juicy but velvety texture.  Cherries and cherry cough syrup with some underlying spices.  Nice finish.  Very food friendly.  This still is a bit young and another few years of cellaring will be beneficial.  If not,, give it some air now.  

2001 was such a great vintage and the wines from Sauternes or Barsac are in a gorgeous place right now.  Golden orange in color.  The nose is beautiful with honey and apricots.  Slightly sweet on the palate.  Oranges and apricots with honey.  Viscous with a nice backbone of acidity.  Long finish.  This is complex and layered and demands ones attention.  The first sip tastes good, then evolves on the palate and just does not let go.  Works great with blue cheese or a savory dessert.