France

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Where to start?  This is one of the great white wines of the world.  Such a fascinating and contemplative wine.  Made from a field blend of 80/20 Marsanne and Roussane.  i was a bit aprhensive about this as Hermitage Blanc at age 6 can often be shut down.  Light/medium gold.  This showed quite well though.  The nose is waxy with some honey and slight white floral notes.  With air, almonds and slight tangerine notes.  Fascinating.  Slightly oily texture.  Full bodied.  Great minerality.  Earthy with almonds and slight citrus.  Long finish.  Warming, not hot on the finish.  Certainly some ups

Always an interesting experience venturing into the Jura.  Made by Ludwig "Lulu" Bindernagel.  75% Chardonnay, 25% Savagnin.  Light medium gold in color.  The nose is interesting.  Almost like a dry sherry that's not oxidized.  Almonds, slightly "fleshy" with a dried orange peel note.  On the palate, there is a nice slightly oily texture.  Some vanilla, minerals, almonds and bits of lemon.  Nice enough acidity.  Long finish.  Very different and hard to put into context.  I liked it and even more so as it warmed.  

Purple in color.  The nose is tight.  With a few hours of air it opened a bit more to show a nice earthy cherry quality.  On the palate, this is soft.  It has a sweet tart quality to the cherry fruit.  A bit clipped on the finish.  At $40, this may provide value if it develops over the next few years.  Time will tell.  

Purple in color.  The nose has cherries but also a geranium note.  With air, that quality blew off and the nose also showed cherry powder and spice.  In any event, with air this got much better on the nose and also the palate.  Juicy acidity.  Light tannins.  Black cherry fruit.  A bit drying on the finish.  It got much deeper and more complex with air, so there is some upside to cellaring this.  Around $65.  

This was the WOTN of our tasting.  It kept getting better of the 4.5 hours during which it was consumed.  At $60, you can make your own choice as to "Burgundy value".  Purple/ruby in color.  The nose is dusty with black cherries and spice.  On the palate, this is juicy with light tannins.  Black cherries turning a bit drying on the finish.  There is some depth here.  Given a few more years of cellaring, there is a bit of an upside.  

I really enjoyed this (more than the group I was tasting with actually).  It has a great texture and is open and drinking well right now.  It probably won't make old bones.  For $27 it is fairly priced for immediate drinking.  Purple/ruby in color.  The nose has fresh cherries, cherry powder and slight earthiness.  On the palate, this has big cherry fruit.  Slight tannins.  A wonderful silky texture.  A bit sour cherry on the finish.  Seems food friendly as well.  

Light ruby in color.  The nose has cherries and slight spice.  On the palate, this has cherries and sour cherries and a slight woody note.  Nice texture.  A step up from easy drinking.  Good finish.  Around $26

This is an excellent value.  For around $18, it is hard to get a better Pinot anywhere.  Not that it is amazing or mind blowing, but it is correct and affordable.  That is what Bourgogne should be about.  Purple/ruby in color.  The nose is dusty with cherries, powdered cherry drink and slight spice.  This has a very nice medium bodied, silky texture.  Cherries and sour cherries on the palate.  Slight depth.  Good balance.  Nice finish.  

Ruby in color.  The nose has sour cherries and a slight barnyard note.  Someone mentioned vanilla and there is a bit as well.  This has a nice texture.  Sour cherry fruit.  Some depth.  Long finish.  It continued to open for a few hours suggesting that there is some upside to this wine.  At around $40, there is some "Burgundy value" here.  

This took a while to open.  In fact, about 3 hours until it really started to hit its stride.  My score went from an 88 to a 91 during that time, so I guess this needs some cellaring or time.  Ruby/purple in color.  The nose is tight but eventually shows some cherries and cherry powder.  Some spice and an interesting iron note.  On the palate, this has tart cherries.  With air, they got a bit fresher and riper.  The finish was more about sour cherries.  Nice texture.  Some depth.