France: Wine, French Wine Regions, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, & More Profiled
This was oxidized. Apparently, the cork crumbled on removal. Of course, anytime a White Burgundy is oxidized earlier than expected it is worrisome. My friend who opened it said prior bottles had been good.
The wines of Pegau can reach great heights, but they often have a lot of barnyard notes which are not for everyone. I love them. Purple in color with ruby swirls. Most opaque and bright. The nose has black cherries, cigar, cedar and yes, barnyard. Medium bodied. Lower acidity. On the palate, black cherries with some earthiness. Complex. Getting pretty close to peak. Long finish. This is great on its own, but probably better with food. A nice beef stew would be classic but it would work with a bowl of chili, too. Drink over the next five to ten years.
Not a particularly good vintage, but when someone opens a bottle of Mouton, it gets one's attention. Purple/brown in color, mostly opaque and slightly flat. There is some fruit on on the nose, cherries along with dried cherries and caramel/brown sugar notes. Thin. Moderate acidity. Some cherries on the palate. At age 50, it really was better than expected. More of a cool factor than a wine I would want to drink but not bad. Maybe with some cheeses at the end of a meal would be cool. Drink up.
This is a big, plush wine for Bordeaux standards. It seemed a bit polarizing between those who enjoy those types of wines and those who want a more "traditional" Bordeaux. Purple in color, opaque and bright. The nose has blueberries, cassis, cedar and tobacco. Full bodied. Firm tannins. On the palate, a plush, rich texture. Plenty of depth. Still quite youthful. Long finish. It is slightly over the top but I think with a bit more cellaring it will come together. Another five years in the cellar will help. Drink over the next twenty. A nice choice with BBQ Ribs.
This is a blend of 32% Pinot Noir, 32% Chardonnay, 32% Meunier, and 4% Petit Meslier, Arbanne, and pinot Blanc according to the label. Of course, Zero Brut nature is an indication that this is the driest level of Champagne and has no added sugar prior to bottling. Light golden in color with a frothy mousse of tiny bubbles. Clear and bright. The nose is great with spice, ginger, slight golden delicious apples and a hint of lemon peel. Great acidity. Dry. On the palate, lemon peel with minerality and a touch of toast. Long finish. Very impressive.
With all of the top level wines from Guigal, sometimes, this one gets lost in the mix. That's a shame because this is am outstanding wine and an excellent value in Cote Rotie. Purple in color with some ruby hues, mostly opaque and bright. The nose is a bit earthy with black raspberries, spices, black olives and slight dark chocolate. Medium to full bodied. Medium tannins. Good balance. On the palate, this is on the leaner side but still has a great delivery. Boysenberries, char and some earthiness. Good finish. This seems to be about at peak but should have another ten years. Goo
This is Syrah from the Northern Rhone Valley in France. Purple in color, mostly opaque and bright. The nose has black raspberries, black pepper, slight bacon fat and spices. Medium to full bodied. Light tannins. On the palate, this seems to be close to peak. Some depth and complexity. Juicy black raspberries with some pepper and spice. Good acidity. Nice finish. This should drink well for another seven to ten years. It will work better with food although it is nice on its own. A nice match for a chunky beef tew with roasted veggies.
Golden in color, some orange hues, clear and bright. The nose is lovely with apricot, peach, slight honey and a slight bitter note. Viscous. Full bodied. Good acidity. On the palate, slightly sweet, not cloying. Honey and apricot. Long finish. A good year if not great. Nice value. Drink over the next five to ten years. It works well with a shortbread (not too sweet) cookie.
This is the second wine of Chateau Montrose. The blend is 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 4% Petit Verdot. Purple in color, shimmering bright and opaque. The nose has cassis, sandalwood, spice, and tobacco. Full bodied. Firm tannins. On the palate, this is deep and powerful. Cassis, and earthy with some char. Long finish. This will drink well for another ten years. It will go well with a steak but also a home made Macaroni and Cheese.
Purple in color, opaque if slightly flat. It seems young for a wine to be flat, so this may not be a pristine bottle. The nose is earthy with cassis and spice. Also some char. Medium bodied. On the palate, this has a soft texture. Light tannins. Black cherry fruit with good acidity. Moderate finish. No obvious flaws and it drinks easily. Drink over the next five to seven years. A nice wine for a beef or lamb stew.
