France

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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.  

This is their basic Riesling.  Light gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose is great with some citrus, honeydew and minerality.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, this is dry.  Melon with minerals and a bit of salinity.  Good acidity.  Long finish.  This is nice on its own but better with food.  This will work with almost any food.  Try it with fried chicken.  Drink over the next eight to twelve years.  

This was a brutally hot vintage and winemakers had to deal with over ripeness from the heat and under ripeness from the vines shutting down.  Yet, some did make wonderful wines and this is one.  Purple in color with some ruby hues, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, chocolate, cigar box, spice and smoke.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Good, lively acidity.  On the palate, this is mature and drinking well.  Deep with layers of cassis, tobacco and spice and some char.  Long finish.  This won't get better but should go another ten years.  Great on its own but better with food.  T

This is a very nice Syrah from the Northern Rhone Valley.  Purple  in color, ruby at the rim, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has boysenberries, roasted meats, slight floral tones and spices.  Medium to full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Good acidity.  On the palate, this is more middle of the road in style for a Syrah.  Flavors of black raspberries with some roasted meats and minerality.  Nice finish.  Nice on its own, this will be a bit better with food.  It would work well with burgers or ribs off the grill.  Drink over the next five to seven years.  

Purple in color with some ruby hues, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, roasted herbs and meats, and black pepper.  Light tannins.  Nice texture.  good balance.  On the palate, this is drinking well.  Black raspberry fruit with some char and a bit or pepper.  Good finish.  This is nice on its own but better with a bit of food.  It went well with vegetarian (black bean) Chili.  

This bottle had been purchased at the Chateau on release and well stored.  Decanted for sediment right before serving.  The cork was perfect.  Purple in color, opaque and still mostly bright.  The nose is great with cassis, slight perfumed note, dust and char.  With air some leather and cigar box notes emerged.  Medium to full bodied.  Tannins mostly resolved but still some silky ones.  Good balance.  On the palate, this is still fresh.  Complex with layers of cassis, earth, tobacco and underlying char.  Good finish.  Overall, this bottle is at peak but seems right there.  At age 28, this w

This is in a great place right now.  It has started to shed some of its oak coat and the fruit is coming thru.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has boysenberries, spice, slight lumber, black pepper and roasted herbs.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Nice texture.  On the palate, boysenberries, vanilla, spice, black pepper and roasted herbs.  Long finish.  This could use a few more years but should drink well for another ten to fifteen.  Right now it could use some fatty food to match it with.  

Count me among those who find a certain greenness to the 2004 Burgundies.  Others at the table loved this wine and either didn't find that quality or didn't mind it.  Ruby/purple in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, black cherries, a bit of earthiness and an herbal quality hanging around the background.  It comes across as a sort fresh thyme mixed with cilantro.  Medium to full bodied.  On the palate, black cherries, some cherries, herbal notes and char.  It is also complex and layered.  It works better with food and it would be nice with fresh sashimi.  It has plenty

From magnum.  This bottle seemed to get mixed reactions from the table.  Some thought it needed a long decant and others were more positive.  I found it young, but very enjoyable.  Like many Pinots, a lot depends on what style you like best.  This seemed on the darker, more ripe side especially in this format.  Deep ruby in color, purple at the core, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has black cherries, cherries, black tea, char, and slight earthiness.  Great texture.  Good energy.  Light tannins.  On the palate, black cherries, cherries, with some char and earthiness/minerality.  Long fin

From one of the top producers of Chablis.  Impressive showing.  Light gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose has crushed shells, green apples, lemons and a slight waxy note.  Great texture.  Crisp acidity.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Crisp granny smith apples with crushed shells and slight lemon notes.  Deep and complex.  Long finish.  This drinks well on its own and is very food friendly.  Obviously shell fish but this went quite well with sweet potato sushi and even asparagus sushi.  Drink over the next ten to fifteen years.