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

2007 Clos des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2007
Score: 
100
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$230.00USD

Wow.  One of the best CdP's I have ever had.  This is in a great place right now.  Deep ruby in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is incredible with black cherries, black raspberries, violets, garrique and slight char.  Full bodied.  Sexy, voluptuous texture.  Great energy and balance.  On the palate, this is just about at peak.  Complex and deep with layers of fruit and minerality.  Flavors of black cherries, black raspberries, spice, earthiness and char.  Long finish.  This is great on its own and would be excellent with Roasted Duck.  Drink over the next ten years.  

2016 Roger Sabon Châteauneuf-du-Pape Le Secret des Sabon, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
98
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$157.00USD

Pop and pour on day 1 and it was a bit disappointing.  Good, not great.  Recorked and tried again on day 2.  So much better.  At eight years from vintage, that is surprising and impressive.  Purple in color with some ruby hues.  Mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is deep with black raspberries, gravel/asphalt, some garrique, and slight dried floral notes.  Full bodied.  Light to medium tannins.  Very lively.  On the palate, this is complex.  Layers of black raspberries, black cherries, spice and char.  Good acidity.  Long finish.  This is delicious.  Great on its own, this would be great w

2002 Château Valandraud, France, Bordeaux, Saint Emillon, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2002
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A

Funny, I had just been talking about the 2002 vintage in Bordeaux.  I liked it but it was a "Restaurant" vintage meaning early accessibility and not wines to lay down for thirty years.  But, as they say, great producers make great wines in every vintage.  That is certainly true for this bottle.  Tasted blind, it started out slow, but just kept getting better.  Purple  in color but a bit flat, opaque.  The nose is nice with black cherries, cherries, spice, cigar box and char.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, great balance.  Complex.  Flavors of cherries, spice and char.  Long f

2021 Domaine Alain Chavy Puligny-Montrachet, France, Burgundy, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$80.00USD

This was interesting.  In a room with 7 blind tasters with plenty of experience, no one even guessed Chardonnay much less Burgundy.  Personally, I was stumped.  It was good, but I had no idea what it might be.  Green/gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose has a nice minerality with a touch of quince.  A very nice mouthfeel, slightly oily.  On the palate, mostly minerals.  Good finish.  It drinks well on its own and would be better with some seafood or hearty vegetarian dishes.  Drink over the next five years or so.  

2020 Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc La Crau, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$75.00USD

As many times as I have had the red, I am not sure I ever had the white.  Tasted blind, I guessed Hermitage.  It is a blend of 45% Clairette and 30% Grenache Blanc, with the Roussanne and Bourboulenc.  Light golden in color with some green flecks, clear and bright.  The nose has lemon, wax, vanilla, oak and spice.  With air a slight tropical fruit.  Full bodied.  Viscous.  Nice mouthfeel.  On the palate, lemons with almonds turning slightly bitter on the finish.  Long finish with some heat.  A very nice white Rhone.  Young but drinking well.  It needs a bit of food to sort out the rough edg

2015 Château de Saint Cosme Gigondas Valbelle, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$75.00USD

Gigondas is often thought of as a "lesser" Chateauneuf du Pape.  That can be good as in pricing or bad as in quality.  This is neither.  It is one of the best Gigondas produced and it is not inexpensive.  That said, if you like CdP, you will love this.  Purple in color with some ruby hues, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is great with black raspberries, spices, slight floral, black cherries and earth.  Full bodied.  Good acidity.  Light tannins.  On the palate, this is complex and layered.  Deep.  Flavors of black raspberries, earth and char.  Long finish.  This is not yet  at peak but

2010 Château Lamothe Guignard, France, Bordeaux, Sauternes, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2010
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-

Iced tea/ orange in color, clear and bright.  The nose is great with honey, peaches, and some citrus.  Viscous texture.  Medium bodied.  Good acidity.  On the palate, this is tasty.  Flavors of peaches with some honey.  Good acidity.  Nice finish.  This is drinking well.  A bit more mature than expected but still with life left.  Drink over the next five to ten years.  It drinks well on its own and would work nicely with not too sweet, dry cookies, and of course, foie gras.

2016 Clos de l'Oratoire des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A

This is a blend of 80% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 5%Cinsault and 5% Mourvèdre.  It is drinking quite well now.  Deep garnet in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has black cherries, slight cough drop note, wild herbs, char and some black raspberries.  Very nice creamy texture. Good balance.  On the palate, this is very tasty.  Black cherries, black raspberries and char.  Complex and deep.  Long finish.  This is just getting to peak but should drink well for another seven to ten years.  Great on its own, this should work with a  lots of foods.  Lamb of beef stews would be perfect.  

2018 Domaine de la Pépière Muscadet de Sèvre-et-Maine Monnières-Saint-Fiacre, France, Loire, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$25.00USD

There are not many better values in wine than Muscadet.  This is one of the better ones and it can be had for under $30. This is made from the Melon de Bourgogne grape from 60 year old vines.  Silvery gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose has crushed shells, salinity and a hint of peach.  Medium bodied.  Nice acidity.  On the palate, this is crisp but with no hard edges.  Crushed shell notes and a slight peachy quality.  Good finish.  This is a perfect choice with oysters but will work well with salads as well.  A great summer wine.  Drink over the next five to seven years.  

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