France

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Purchased off the list at The Arbor in Pasadena California.  Kudos to them for this inspired and affordable choice.  $65 or so off the list.  Purple in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is deep with black raspberries, slight blueberries, hints of bubble gum and black licorice.  Medium bodied.  Nice texture.  On the palate, this is young but tasty.  Blueberries and black raspberries with a slight sour note.  Nice finish.  This is drinking well now and should drink well for the next five to eight years.  It went very well with Pappardelle Pasta, Pesto and Burrata.  

Domaine Huet makes some of the best Chenin Blanc wines anywhere in the world from dry to sweet to sparkling.  This one is semi-dry and is wonderful.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is great with citrus (lemons and slight tangerine), salinity and chalk.  Medium bodied.  Light tannins.  Good balance and acidity.  On the palate, citrus with nice minerality.  This is sweet but not at dessert levels.  The acidity balances it nicely.  This drinks great on its own and will work well with spicy Thai food.  Drink over the next fifteen to twenty years.  

As prices for white Burgundy in general and Chablis in particular continue to rise, it is nice to find still affordable producers making great wine.  This is one such producer.  the wine is made in a concrete egg and sees no oak.  Light golden in color with some green hues, clear and bright.  The nose is nice with crushed shells, slight chalk/minerality and lemon.  Medium bodied.  Lean and racy texture.  Good acidity.  On the palate, lemons and crushed shells.  Long finish.  This is drinking well now and should continue to drink well for another ten to twelve years.  Nice on its own, this w

Not a whole lot more to say about Yquem that hasn't been said, but it is arguably the greatest winery on the planet.  The 2013 is a very good if not top vintage, but still a thrill to drink.  Golden in color, light with just a tinge of orange.  The nose is great with apricots, slight honey and slight tangerines.  Viscous.  Full bodied.  Great balance.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Flavors of apricots and tangerines.  Sweet with enough acidity to not be cloying.  The finish goes on forever.  This is drinking well now and should drink well for another twenty to thirty years.  Great on i

The 2005's are really starting to come into their own now and this is one more data point supporting that.  This is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Merlot.  Purple in color with ruby swirls, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with cassis, black cherries, char, slight cigar box, leather and spice.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, this is complex.  Flavors of cassis and black cherries, slight leather and char.  Great balance.  Long finish.  This is about at peak but should stay there for another ten years.  Nice on its own, but better with food.  This would wo

This is not your typical Santenay.  For one thing, it is white.  For another, this is one of the best.  100% Chardonnay.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  Vibrant nose of peach, apple and slight tropical fruit.  Medium bodied.  Slightly viscous.  Crisp acidity.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Deep and complex with peach, apple, minerality and slight salinity.  Long finish.  This is drinking well and should for the next five to eight years (and maybe more).  Better with food, this will go well with chicken or tuna salad.  

This is a nice wine.  Golden in color, clear and bright.  It has a very pretty nose.  Peaches with a floral note.  Slightly viscous texture.  On the palate, nice acidity.  Peach fruit notes.  Good finish.  This is refreshing and an excellent value.  Nice on its own, but better with food.  This would be nice with lighter foods such as fresh seafood.  

Another slowly developing 2000 Bordeaux.  Deep ruby in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, cigar box, leather and spice.  Full bodied.  Light to medium tannins.  On the palate, black cherries and cassis with some leathery notes and underlying forest floor.  Nice complexity.  Good finish.  Drink over the next five to seven years.   Better with food, this would work nicely with Beef Wellington.  

A good vintage if better on the right bank, this wine is drinking at or maybe slightly past peak, but still very nice.   It is a blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot.  Old school in style.  Purple in color with ruby swirls, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with tobacco, cassis, forest floor and spice.  Full bodied.  On the palate, cassis, tobacco with underlying earthiness.  Good texture.  Complex.  Long finish.  This is great on its own and will work nicely with lamb chops.  Drink over the next few years.  

This is always one of the best values in Bordeaux.  The 2000 vintage in particular seems to be a slow developing vintage and at age 22, this is just about at peak.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  Medium bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, this is drinking well.  Cassis, tobacco, with slight earthiness.  Good balance.  Nice finish.  Drink over the next five to seven years.  Better with food, this is the perfect wine for Meatloaf.