France

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This is really in a nice place right now.  Mature but enough fresh fruit to keep it edgy.  Ruby in color, purple at the core.  The nose has opened up on this showing black cherries, cherries, and plums along with spice and slight dried floral notes.  On the palate, there is plenty of vibrant black cherry fruit.  Deep with layers that open up quickly.  Good acidity.  Nice balance.  No hurry but I think a few more years and it starts moving the other direction.  Works well with a wide variety of foods.  A great example of why cellaring top wines in ripe vintages might be a good strategy.  

Deep burnt orange in color  A nice head with small bubbles.   The nose is tight initially but with air opens to show some orange peel.  Also a bit fleshy.  On the palate, there is some citrus.  Tart oranges as well  It opens and gain complexity with air.  Worked great with appetizers.  

Great showing for this.  Tasted over two nights with little change.  Of course, 2015 is young and a great vintage in the northern Rhone.  Purple in color.  The nose is pretty classic if a bit riper than typical.  Black raspberry fruit with spice along side some bacon fat, slight grilled meats and black pepper.  On the palate, this has a lovely rich texture.  Good acidity to balance that out.  Black raspberry fruit with an underlying crushed rock and slight roasted herbs.  Primary now but it unwinds in the glass.  A step up from a recent 2012 of this wine I had.  Not yet at peak, this needs

From an excellent vintage whose wines are slow to come around, this one is drinking well.  Seems to be shy of peak but getting close.  Purple/ruby in color.  The nose has cherries, slight tobacco and spice.  On the palate, this has medium body.  Cherries with some intertwines tobacco.  Some depth if not a lot.  Good acidity.  Worked well with food.  Nice finish.  I believe this was under $30 on release which is a fair price.  

This is Chenin Blanc from one of the top producers in Vouvray.  While not to the same extent, Vouvray has dealt with premature oxidation in their wines much like Burgundy.  This wine has been one of those which has had issues.  Luckily, there were no such issues for this bottle.  Still a light gold in color.  The nose is nice with minerals, slight burnt orange and quince paste.  On the palate, this is dry.  Minerals and burnt orange peel (like in some cocktails).  There is a bit of bitterness on the finish.  It is a very good wine that really begs for food to shine.  Good bottles of this ha

From the venerable Chateau Haut Brion, this is an inexpensive rose.  A blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc.  Light salmon in color.  Strawberries on the nose.  The palate is clean with "red berries", mostly strawberries.  This is easy and drinks well.  Perhaps not the energy or brightness it had last year, so these should probably be drunk sooner than later.  Works well with food.  

Consumed from a Magnum.  Purple in color, ruby swirls.  The nose is clean with black cherries and spice.  On the palate, this has a soft texture.  Black cherry fruit.  Slight, slight bitterness to it.  It seems advanced considering the format and the age, but that's fine.  Drinking well now.  While it has some complexity it is broader rather than deep.  This is very good for the vintage and should be good for the next ten years.  Not sure if there is any upside though.  

Kirkland is the in house brand for Costco.  They contract out a wide variety of wines and many of them including this one are very good and great values.  This sells for $7.Silvery green and gold in color.  A modicum of medium sized bubbles.  The nose is reticent but with minerals and limes/green apples.  It opens with a bit of air but is never strong.  It is better and stronger on the palate.  Clean.  Just a hint of sweetness, just barely.  Good acidity.  Good finish.  This is food friendly and easy to drink.  Made for immediate consumption, for $7, this is a no brainer for parties and coo

This is an inexpensive Sauternes that retails for around $20.  That is a great value for a nice dessert wine.  Light gold/green in color.  The nose has apricots and slight honey.  It has just a hint of sweetness.  Some apricots on the palate.  Nice acidity.  A nice choice for large groups or just a nice finish to a meal.  

This is 80% Malbec and 20% Merlot from southwest France.  Purple in color, ruby swirls.  The nose is dusty with plums.  Some cherries come out later.  On the palate, this is a bit reticent.  Some cherries.  Firm tannins.  This could use a few years of cellaring.  Good acidity. Would work well with food especially heavier dishes.