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

2009 Château La Violette, France, Bordeaux, Pomerol, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2009
Score: 
97
Grade: 
A+

09 was a pretty open vintage especially on the right bank.  At age 9, this is drinking very well.  That said, there is plenty of room for further improvement.  Purple in color.  The nose has black cherries, black raspberries, dark chocolate and char.  On the palate, this is juicy with a full bodied texture.  Black raspberries, layered with chocolate dust and slight oak notes.  Long finish.  This will work with roasted meats dishes quite well.  Another five years in the cellar and this should come together quite well.  If opening now, give it some air.  

2003 Château Ducru-Beaucaillou, France, Bordeaux, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2003
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A

One of the great wines of Bordeaux well deserving of its second growth status.  This is from a very hot vintage that many wine makers had some trouble with.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose has cassis, black cherries, slight tobacco and slight fresh floral notes.  On the palate, this is drinking quite well.  Showing some development, it is close but not yet at peak.  Layers of cassis and black cherry fruit, with some dry earthy forest floor.  Wispy tannins at this point.  Long finish.  Would work well with roasted meats and other foods.  Some possible upside still left.  

NV Jacquart Champagne Brut Mosaïque, France, Champagne, Wine Review

Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-

Nice mousse with lots of tiny bubbles.  Gold green in color.  The nose has a nice toast to it.  Slight smoke and red apples.  On the palate, this has a nice tart acidity.  Some depth.  Long finish.  This is very food friendly and in fact, while drinks well on its own, is probably better suited to apps or a nice meal.  This retails for $45 which is fair.  

2016 The Furst Gewurztraminer, France, Alsace, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-

Produced at Cave Vinicole de Kientzheim-Kaysersberg.  This was (surprisingly?) a couple of steps up from the 2015.  Light golden in color.  Great nose of Lychees and slight canned peaches.  On the palate, lively acidity cuts through the slight sweetness.  Lychees and peaches with underlying minerality.  Despite the acidity, the wine is round.  Will work great with spicy foods (this Asian) and lighter foods.  It retails for $17 which is a great value.  

2016 Pinot Blanc The Furst, France, Alsace, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+

Produced at Cave Vinicole de Kientzheim-Kaysersberg.    The nose has minerals and slight peaches.  On the palate, there are more peaches but underlying minerality.  Slightly oily texture.  Nice acidity.  Will work with lighter and medium bodied foods and on its own.  Retails for $17 which is a nice value.  

2016 Alain Jaume & Fils Côtes du Rhône Blanc Reserve Grand Veneur, France, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-

2016 is a great vintage in the southern Rhone which makes it a really great vintage to stock up on Cotes du Rhone.  This is a white wine but should last for at least five years despite its $15 retail price tag.  Light green gold in color.  The nose has nice grapefruit with minerals.  On the palate, there is a nice tart acidity.  More peach than citrus.  Long finish.  Very food friendly.  Great value.  

2017 Cave de Pomérols Picpoul de Pinet Hugues Beaulieu, France, Languedoc, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+

Consistently one of the great wine values, year in and year out.  This retails for $10.  Light golden in color with some green swirls.  The nose has nice minerality, slight melon and citrus.  On the palate, this drinks easy.  A slightly bitter citrus pith note which is nice, but also some melon and underlying minerality.  Easy.  Not complex but not nothing either.  Good balance.  Works with lighter and medium weight foods and on its own.  Drink them young as while the wine is still good after a few years, the freshness fades.  

NV Pannier Champagne Brut Sélection, France, Wine Review

Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+

Its always nice to find actual Champagne that retails for $30 (or less).  This is one and is a very nice value.  Light golden in color.  A good amount of very small bubbles.  The nose has minerals with slight ginger notes.  Good acidity.  Nice balance and finish.  This is very food friendly and will match a wide variety of foods.  It is dry and will also work for celebrations (but don't limit it to that).  

2005 Château Rol Valentin, France, Bordeaux, St. Emilion, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2005
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A

Purple in color.  This is drinking quite well now.  Pretty classic right bank but perhaps still a skosh more room to develop.  The nose is nice with cherries, some cassis, cigar box and chocolate shavings.  On the palate, this has nice cherries, not super ripe, but nothing green.  Undertones of tobacco and damp earth.  Good balance.  Drank over two nights and while different just as good on each night.  Will work with most foods.  Really everything you could want from this wine at this point.  

2005 Domaine Huet Vouvray Demi-Sec Le Mont, France, Loire Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2005
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+

Deep golden in color.  The nose shows some slight oxidation but not a lot.  Some apple cider notes but also fresh pears.  On the palate, this is just barely sweet.  The apple cider carries thru as does the pears.  Good finish.  So the big question is whether this was a pristine bottle.  At age 13, it probably should have been a bit fresher.  On the other hand, it was varietally correct.  It seems this was close enough that it is within the variance of a 13 years old top Vouvray.   All in all, this should have been better but it was still very good.  

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