France: Wine, French Wine Regions, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, & More Profiled

2015 Clos Saint Jean Châteauneuf-du-Pape Deus-Ex Machina, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
98
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$125.00USD

This is young but wonderful.  It should improve a bit over the next couple of years.  Ruby in color, clear and bright.  Great nose of black cherries, cloves, black olives and black pepper.  Lovely juicy full (glycerin) texture.  On the palate, black cherries and in a really good way, light cherry cough syrup.  Some vanilla.  Long finish.  This has plenty of depth but its hard to find layers at this young stage.  Still, it is delicious and would work with hearty foods.  Better yet, wait 3 to 5 years and drink over the next ten or so.  

2003 Château Pavie, France, Bordeaux, Saint Emilion, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2003
Score: 
98
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$250.00USD

Gorgeous wine.  This was controversial on release for being too big and bold, but I think it would be less so today.  Maybe not.  It is still a ripe wine but not overblown or raisiny, etc.  Just a gorgeous expression of Merlot.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose is initially tight but opens quickly showing dusty cherries, slight mocha ad roasted herbs.  On the palate, black cherries layered with dry earth and just a hint of cocoa powder.  Great plush yet juicy texture.  This is deep with tight layering that unwind in the glass.  Long finish.  It probably won't get better but will

2002 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande, France, Bordeaux, Pauillac, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2002
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$129.97USD

Nice wine.  From an easy to drink vintage that may have been the last reasonably priced vintage across the board in Bordeaux.  Even the best ones should be drunk sooner than later and while this is in that category, at age 16, it offered up a very nice wine.  Purple/ruby in color.  The nose is clean with some cassis and slight herbal note.  On the palate, nice one dimensional cassis fruit.  A bit shallow but still fresh.  Not a lot of development here and no funk, tobacco, or other tertiary qualities but what is here is quality.  

2000 Château Léoville Poyferré, France, Bordeaux, Saint Julian, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2000
Score: 
97
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$185.00USD

Great wine and in a great place.  Still has plenty of life left but fantastic right now.  Purple in color, although a bit dull at the ruby rim.  The nose is fantastic; cassis, cigar box, cherries and dust.  With air it brings some funk in a beautiful way.  On the palate, cassis, dry earth and slight spice.  Complex and tightly layered it unwinds quickly in the glass.  Long finish.  This would be ideal with heavier or meat based dishes.  Truly a contemplative wine and everything you could hope for back when this wine was released.  

2013 Domaine Parent Corton Grand Cru Blanc, France, Burgundy, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2013
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$180.00USD

Light golden in color, slight green hue.  The nose is tight and not giving up much.  Revisiting it later doesn't add much; some minerality.  On the palate, there is more going on at this point.  Slightly oily texture which is nice.  Burnt lemon peel notes.  Ok finish.  Hard to tell where this is going.  It seems fresh and clean but in a shell right now.  Probably should hold or give it a lot of air.  Seem like it would work well with sea food and lighter dishes.  Hopefully, this has some upside with proper cellaring.  

2000 Dom Perignon Champagne P2, France, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2000
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$325.00USD

This was the second time in a week being lucky enough to try this.  Although they were similar, this bottle was served colder and seemed just a bit better.  it seemed fresher and more lively with more acidity.  Golden in color.  The nose has some peach, minerals and smoke.  With air, some seltzer came out.  On the palate, it starts out slightly sour (in a good way).  Nice lemony notes.  It finishes more like a lemon candy with a sour/sweet note.  What an incredibly long finish this has.  It will go with just about any food.  It has depth and complexity but still seems youthful despite being

2016 Alain Jaume & Fils Gigondas Terrasses de Montmirail, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$30.00USD

This is very good and for $30 a nice value.  Purple in color.  The nose has black cherries, slight mocha, spice and plums.  On the palate, this has a wonderful texture.  Juicy and plush.  Lots of black cherry fruit.  The mocha note carries thru.  Medium to full bodied.  Good acidity.  Delicious.  Will work with heavier foods (think cassoulet).  This has some upscale with future development and should be good for another decade, maybe more.  

2014 Clos Margalaine, France, Bordeaux, Margaux, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$35.00USD

Purple in color.  The nose has black cherries, slight barnyard and a bit of cigar tobacco.  On the palate, this is medium bodied.  Drinking well right now with black cherry fruit and underlying earthiness.  Good acidity.  Should be pretty food friendly for medium or heavier foods.  Nice finish.  Drink now.  It might last for five more years, but won't get any better.  

2006 Domaine René Leclerc Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Champeaux, France, Burgundy, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2006
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$85.00USD

This seemed to be in a great place right now.  Ruby in color.  The nose is cherries, slight sour cherries and slight anise.  On the palate, this is still youthful but showing nice depth.  Slightly viscous.  Sour cherries and cherries with underlying anise and minerals.  Good finish.  This will work with a wide variety of foods, even sea food.  Probably needs another five years until peak and then should drink well for another decade after that.  

2012 Domaine Jean-Louis Chave St. Joseph, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2012
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$75.00USD

Purple in color.  The nose is great with black raspberries, black pepper, slight charred meats and hints of bacon.  On the palate, this is pretty ripe for St. Joseph but well with limits.  Lovely, full texture.  Lots of black raspberry fruit with underlying earth.  Deep with layers that unwind in the glass.  Still young but getting there.  Needs bigger or spicy foods to match.  Works well on its own.  A bit expensive for a St. Joseph but well worth the $60 tariff release price. 

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