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

2020 Zind-Humbrecht Gewurztraminer, France, Alsace, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$30.00USD

This is their basic Gewurztraminer (they have many higher end ones worth exploring).  Golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is nice with lychees, slight minerality, and lemon peel.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, this is pretty much dry.  Notes of lemon and minerals.  Great texture.  Nice finish.  Drink over the next few years.  Very nice on its own, this will work nicely with Thai food.  

2019 Domaine Michel Bregeon Muscadet de Sèvre-et-Maine sur lie, France, Loire Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$19.00USD

I have always felt that Muscadet can age better than given credit for.  Yes, with age it loses some of that raw crispness, but it rounds out and can get almost Chablis-like.  Of course, that depends on the producer.  Golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is classic with salinity/crushed shells along with lanolin and a hint of citrus.  Medium bodied.

2005 Nicolas Potel Mazis-Chambertin Grand Cru Wine Review

Vintage: 
2005
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A

Wow.  Wonderful showing for this wine.  Garnet in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is deep (and great) with cherries, black cherries, roasted meats, spice and slight  dark chocolate.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this is complex and layered.  Black cherries, slight sour cherries, and spice with underlying earthiness.  Long finish.  This is great on its own and would be nice to slowly savor but it will work well with food.  Roasted duck would be a nice match.  This bottle was about at peak, but should easily go another ten to fifteen years.  

2019 Serafin Père et Fils Gevrey-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes, France, Burgundy, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$104.00USD

Serafin has always been a great source of "value" in Burgundy although "value" in Burgundy is relevant.  Ruby in color, a bit flat though clear.  The nose has cherries, some rhubarb, but it is ripe (nothing green).  Also a bit of spice.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, this is a bit one dimensional.  Perhaps it is just young.  Nice cherry fruit and some toasted oak.  Moderate finish.  A bit disappointing as there is little value left.  drink over the next seven to ten years.  Better with food.  This would work well with roasted chicken.  

NV Trudon Champagne Dyade, France, Wine Review

Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$50.00USD

Light golden in color with some silvery hues.  Lots of tiny bubbles make up a nice mousse.  The nose is nice with minerality, sulfur, chalk and also some cherries and slight citrus.  Medium to full bodied.  On the palate, this seems ripe with cherries and slight grapefruit but also lots of minerality.  Good acidity.  Long  finish.  Very food versatile, this will go with just about anything.  It went well with vegetarian Egg Rolls.  Drink over the next few years.  

2005 Château Troplong Mondot, France, Saint Emilion, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2005
Score: 
99
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$325.00USD

In a really special place right now.  Fantastic.  This is 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with black cherries, cherries, slight chocolate, tobacco, leather and slight funk.  Full bodied.  Velvety texture.  On the palate, this is vibrant but also showing layering and complexity.  Flavors of black cherries and cherries with underlying earthiness.  Some chocolate on the finish.  This is at peak but should drink well for another decade.  Great on its own as it is contemplative, but will work great with roasted fowl, meat or even vegetab

2008 Trimbach Riesling Clos Ste. Hune, France, Alsace, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2008
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$365.00USD

Arguably the best Riesling in the world.  This dry Riesling comes from Alsace.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is great.  Clean.  Aromas of peach, slight apple, chalk, crushed stones and slight sea air.  Medium to full bodied.  A great backbone of acidity.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Dry.  Notes of peach, apple and chalk.  Slightly viscous texture.  Long finish.  Complex.  Drinking great now, this should have another twenty or thirty years of life left.  Very food versatile.  It will match with almost anything.  It would be awesome with Thai food.  

2005 Château Fleur Cardinale, France, Bordeaux, Saint Emilion, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2005
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$100.00USD

Gorgeous showing for this wine.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is wonderful with black cherries, chocolate, spice, cherries and slight funk.  Full bodied.  Lush texture.  On the palate, this is just about at maturity.  Plenty of vibrant fruit; cherries and black cherries but also starting to show some depth and complexity.  No hurry though.  This should drink well for another ten to twenty years.  Nice on its own, but better with food. Lamb would be a good match.

2006 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2006
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$100.00USD

Great showing for this bottle at age 17.  Purple in color with some ruby swirls, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is great with plums, black raspberries, worn leather, slight dried floral note and spice.  Full bodied.  Tannins mostly resolved.  On the palate, this is deep and complex.  Flavors of plums, raspberries with some spice.  This bottle is clean with just a bare touch of funk.  Nice finish.  Seemingly at peak, these bottles probably should be consumed in the next five to seven years.  Great on its own, this works better with food.  Chili or beef stew would be a nice match.  

2016 Roland Champion Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Brut, Chouilly Grand Cru, France, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$60.00USD

Golden in color with a lot of very small bubbles, clear and bright.  The nose is very nice with chalk, toast, and slight marzipan.  Full bodied.  Good balance.  On the palate, this is crisp with a very, very slight sweetness to it.  Chalk and slight dried citrus notes.  Long finish.  This has plenty of depth.  Drinking well now, this should drink well for seven to ten more years.  It is very food versatile and should go with just about any food.  It went very well with a spicy vegetarian pizza.  

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