France

• Alsace
• Bergerac
• Bordeaux
  • Barsac
  • Bordeaux Supérieur
  • Margaux
  • Graves
  • Haut-Medoc
  • Listrac
  • Pauillac
  • Pomerol
  • Saint Emilion
  • Saint Estephe
  • Saint Julian
  • Sauternes
• Burgundy
  • Beaujolais
  • Bourgogne
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  • Côte de Nuits
  • Mercurey
• Cahors
• Champagne
• Cognac
• Corsica
• Gascony
• Jura
  • Arbois
• Languedoc-Roussillon
  • Minervois
• Loire Valley
  • Bourgueil
  • Jasnières
  • Muscadet
  • Mont Louis
  • Sancerre
  • Saumur
  • Savennières
  • Touraine
  • Vouvray
• Rhone (Rhône)
  • Châteauneuf-du-Pape
  • Cornas
  • Crozes-Hermitage
  • Gigondas
  • Hermitage
  • Lirac
  • Saint Joseph
• Provence
  • Bandol
• Savoie
• Tavel

This is a blend of 70% Grenache, 20 % Syrah, and 10% Mourvèdre.  In many ways, Gigondas has been thought of as Chateauneuf du Pape's little brother and for Guigal, that is an apt comparison.  Drunk side by side, this seemed lighter and easier although similar.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries and spice and a hint of anise.  Medium bodied.  Good acidity.  On the palate, black cherries and cherry fruit with a bit of spice on the finish.  Nice finish.  This will work better with food that on its own.  Cassoulet is a classic match.  Drink over t

The Guigal Cotes du Rhone is consistently one of the best values in wine.  This is the red, but they also make white and rose.  It is  a blend of 50% Syrah, 40% Grenache, and 10% Mourvèdre.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is dusty, slight earthiness with black cherries and black raspberries.  Medium to full bodied.  Very tasty.  Nice texture.  This drinks easy but it also has some stuffing.  On the palate, light tannins with black raspberries and black cherries.  Well balanced.  Amazingly, they make 4.5 million bottles of this wine and keep the quality

This is the basic Condrieu (they also make a higher end called La Doriane).  It is made from 100% Viognier grapes.  Golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is nice with floral qualities along with some vanilla and spice.  With air, apricots emerge along with a bit of peach.  Medium to full bodied.  On the palate, the apricots and spice come thru.  A bit of a bitter ginger note on the finish.  This needs a bit of cellaring, maybe two or three years, and then should drink well for five to eight more years.  Very nice on its own, this will work better with food.  Shellfish would be a nice

A very nice northern Rhone white, perhaps a bit lighter in style, but in a good way. It is a blend of 95% Marsanne, and 5% Roussanne.  Light yellow/gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose is nice with vanilla, peach, pears and spice.  Medium bodied.  Crisp acidity.  On the palate, tangerine with slight lemon peel and the oak/spice continues thru to the finish.  A bit of grapefruit on the finish as well.  This is very nice on its own but even better with food.  It went well with a vegetarian cassoulet.  Drink over the next three to five years.  

Young, but a wonderful Cote Rotie.  Purple in color, slim ruby rim, opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries and black raspberries, black olive and black pepper with a bit of smoke, Full bodied.  On the palate, black raspberries, black raspberries and black pepper.  Medium tannins.  Deep but primary.  This needs a five to ten more years of good cellaring. Drink for twenty after that.  If drinking soon, it should be with food.  Cassoulet is the choice.  

Purple in color, ruby at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose has cherries, tobacco and slight barnyard.  Great texture   Tannins are all integrated.  Complex and deep.  Just about at peak.  Layers of cherries and black cherries and also some tobacco.  Good finish.  Delicious.  This drinks well on its own but is better with food.  Lamb stew would be a nice choice.  Drink over the next five to seven years.  

Great showing for this wine.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has some funk/brett.  Also, black cherries and slight plums.  Full bodied.  The palate has minerals, plums, and black cherries.  Layered and complex.  This at the young side of peak but it is mature.  Long finish.  Delicious.  This is great on its own and will work well with food.  Roasted duck is a nice choice.  drink over the next eight to twelve years.  

From the southwest of France, this is a blend of Tannat, Cabernet and Pinenc from the southwest of France.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, spice, and oak.  Full bodied.  Very tannic.  On the palate, boysenberries, ash, and black cherries.  Good finish.  This needs some air although the tannins will certainly outlast the fruit in this wine.  It is just part of the drinking experience.  Due to that, food is probably a good idea.  Cassoulet would work well.  Drink over the next five to seven years.  Nice Value.

This is 100% Sauvignon Blanc from the Loire Valley in France.  Golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose has minerality, salinity and slight cat pee notes.  Light bodied.  On the palate, lemon/lime notes.  Good acidity.  Some depth.  This works better with a bit of food.  A roasted beet & goat cheese salad would be nice.  Drink over the next couple years.  

60% Grenache and 40% Cinsault from the south of France (carrying a Vin de France designation).  Pale pink/gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose has orange rind and slight strawberries.  Nice texture, slightly creamy.  On the palate, orange citrus.  Medium bodied.  Good acidity.  Nice, long finish.  A nice value in a Rosé.  This should be very food friendly and a bit better with food.  A nice with with a Niçoise Salad.  Drink over the next year.