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

1934 Château de Laubade Armagnac, France, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1934
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$2275.00USD

What a way to end an evening!  Bright amber/ruby in color, clear and bright.  The nose has a lot of alcohol, some wood, but also Crem Brulé , slight cinnamon, and a bit of butterscotch.  Full bodied and viscous.  On the palate, the Crem Brule is there and some butterscotch.  Also the alcohol and warmth.  Long finish.  I don't drink much Cognac or Armagnac but this would be nice to sip slowly after a great meal.  

2015 Domaine Leflaive Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Folatières, France, Burgundy, Wine Revview

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$580.00USD

Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is clean with peaches, a slight chalk note and spice.  Medium to full bodied.  Moderate acidity.  On the palate, this is smooth with some depth.  Flavors of peach with some chalkiness.  Good finish.  Getting close to maturity but may gain some complexity.  This is lovely on its own but probably better with food.  A nice choice with  Sushi.  Drink over the next fine years.  

2024 Clos Ste. Magdeleine Cassis Blanc, France, Cassis, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2024
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$35.00USD

This is a blend of 40% Marsanne, 30% Ugni blanc, 25% Clairette, and 5% Bourboulenc from Southeast France.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  A very nice nose of peaches with slight tangerine and a hint of minerality.  Light to Medium bodied.  Good acidity.  On the palate, the peaches come thru with a bit more minerality.  Long finish.  This is a nice, slightly light white but still has some stuffing and seriousness.  Very nice on its own, this will work well with lighter foods or most seafood.  Drink over the next few years but it will probably go longer.  

2011 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie La Mouline, France, Northern Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2011
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$345.00USD

This is open and drinking very nicely now.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, black pepper, black olives, minerality and slight vanilla.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Great balance.  On the palate, this has a juicy acidity.  Flavors of black raspberries, black olives and minerality.  Long finish.  This should drink well for another fifteen to twenty years.  It is lovely on its own and will work well with hearty foods.  It would go well with a Pepper Steak Stir Fry.  

2011 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie La Turque, France, Northern Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2011
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$295.00USD

Purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is complex with black raspberries, soy sauce, black olives, black pepper and char.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Good acidity.  On the palate, this seems to be just entering its maturity window.  It unwinds nicely in the glass to show layers of black raspberries, black olives, spice and char.  Long finish.  This is great on its own and will work well with bigger foods.  It should work well with a spicy curry.  Drink over the next twenty to thirty years.

1996 Château Latour, France, Bordeaux, Pauillac, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1996
Score: 
98
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$725.00USD

Always great to try a mature Latour from a great vintage!  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is deep, young, and complex with cassis, plums, graphite, and blueberries.  Full bodied.  Medium to firm tannins.  Great energy.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Young with cassis, blueberries, slight plums and earthy funk.  Long finish.  This will benefit from cellaring but is great now.  At age 29, it still has twenty to thirty years left.  While a Roast would be classic, it would also be great with a roasted Butternut Squash.  

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