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

2018 Xavier Gerard Côte-Rôtie, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$73.00USD

The grapes for this wine come principally from the Mollard lieu-dit (65%) with the rest coming from Font-Jean, Viallière, and La Landonne.  It is a blend of Syrah 93%, and Viognier 7%.  Just a stunning wine, and for Cote Rotie, a great value.  Purple in color with a slight ruby rim, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, smoke, slight bacon fat, and slight violets.  Full bodied.  Good acidity. Great glycerin driven texture.  On the palate, black raspberries and black pepper.  Firm tannins.    Long finish.  This needs a bit more time and then should drink well for the next twent

2018 Clusel-Roch Côte-Rôtie Champon, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$107.00USD

This is the first ever vintage of this wine.  Made from a massal (various clones growing together) selection of 65 year old vines at the top of the hill.  The Syrah is Serines which is a particular clone of Syrah that is native to the northern Rhone.  Some people think it is a distinct varietal but that is yet to be proven.  Purple in color with ruby swirls, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, black cherries, violets and char.  A wonderful velvety texture.  Medium tannins.  Great balance.  Delicious.  On the palate, black raspberries, smoke, and great minerality.  Tig

2018 Xavier Gerard Condrieu Côte Chatillon, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$61.00USD

Very nice expression of a northern Rhone Viognier.  Deep golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is perfumed with floral notes as well as peach, slight hay, and slight golden raisin.  Full bodied.  Viscous, slightly oily texture.  On the palate, some waxiness with some pear, slight orange and just a hint of floral notes.  Good acidity.  Dry.  Long finish.  This probably should be drunk in the next few years to enjoy the freshness.  Nice on its own, this would work well with lighter foods but would be nice s well with lobster.  

2010 Jean-Louis Chavy Puligny-Montrachet, France, Burgundy, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2010
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-

This wine is in a beautiful place right now.  Medium gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose has grapefruit, slight orange peel, with a slight touch or caramel.  Full bodied.  Complex.  On the palate, quince with slight grapefruit.  Good acidity.  Long finish. This is great on its own and would be excellent with shellfish.  Though it will last long, drink in the next few years to catch at peak.  

2018 M. Chapoutier Côtes du Roussillon Les Vignes de Bila-Haut Blanc, France, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$13.00USD

This white is a blend of Grenache Blanc, Roussanne, Macabeu, Vermentino and Marsanne. Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is nice with floral notes in addition to limes, and quince.  Viscous texture.  On the palate, green apples and some citrus.  Nice finish.  Overall, an easy drinking wine that provides nice value.  

2012 Bollinger Champagne La Grande Année, France, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2012
Score: 
97
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$135.00USD

With 2/3 Pinot Noir and 1/3 Chardonnay, this is slowly opening up.  Pale golden in color, clear and bright.  Lots of tiny bubbles.  The nose is boisterous with pears and green apples along with a bit of chalk and slight black cherry.  Really a lot going on.  Full bodied.  Tart acidity.  On the palate, green apples, slight lemon, slight black cherry with nice chalky minerality.  Long, long finish.  Plenty of depth and layered complexity.  Still quite youthful but getting closer to peak.  Drink over ten to fifteen years.  This is very food friendly and went great with an assortment of cheeses

2019 Château Rieussec, France, Bordeaux, Sauternes, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
97
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$110.00USD

Always a pleasure to drink Rieussec.  It is one of the great wines from Sauternes.  This year it also comes in a spiffy  new bottles that is very different.  A blend of 89% Sémillon, 9% Sauvignon Blanc, 2% Muscadelle according to the winemaker's notes.  Golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is great with apricot, orange zest, slight honey and a bit of lemon.  Full bodied.  Viscous.  Sweet, not cloying.  Good acidity.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Orange zest, lemon and honey.  Long, long finish.  This should drink well for thirty years.  Great on its own, it will work with a le

2019 Château Boutisse, France, Bordeaux, St. Emilion, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$45.00USD

One of the few St. Emilion wines tried that didn't seem shut down.  Ruby/purple in color.  The nose has char, black cherries, and slight cedar.  On the palate, light black cherries.  Moderate finish.  Light tannins.  This is drinking nicely now and should continue for the next five to seven years.  A nice match with Mushroom Barley soup.  

2019 Château Fombrauge, France, Bordeaux, Saint Emilion, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$40.00USD

Mostly shut down at this point.  It is 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc according to the winemaker's notes.  Purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cherries and cedar.  Medium bodied.  Medium tannins.  Delicious on the palate if one dimensional.  Black cherries.  Moderate finish.  This should be held for five to seven years and then consumed over the next ten to twelve.  

2019 Le Pavillon de Saint-Jacques, France, Bordeaux, Lalande de Pomerol, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
87
Grade: 
B
Current Price: 
$22.00USD

The label lists this as 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc.  Purple in color with some ruby swirls.  The nose is simple with fresh cherry fruit.  Medium bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, cherries and black cherries.  Moderate finish.  This is a pleasant wine that should be consumed in the next few years.  It would make a nice mid-week wine with burgers.  

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