France

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Every once in a while you open a bottle and its at peak.  It is a great feeling.  This was one of those times. Deep ruby in color.  The nose is great with black cherries, minerals, slight floral notes and garrique.  On the palate, this is layered and complex.  At the same time it drinks fresh and with vibrancy.  Plenty of black cherry fruit, some black licorice, and charred earth.  Long finish.  This is delicious on its own and will work great with casseroles and roasts.  It should be here for three to five years and then slowly fade while still great for another ten or so.  

I don't buy much white Burgundy anymore, but this one was reasonably priced and meant for short term drinking so I tried.  Glad I did.  Light golden in color.  The nose is slightly buttery with red apples and slight smoke/minerality.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, this is crisp with red apples and slight lemon.  Good finish.  This is enjoyable if not really showing a "sense of place".  It will work well with sea food and fowl dishes or buttery pasta.  Assuming no pre-mature oxidation, this should last for ten years at least.  

This was not a good vintage and its been a long time.  This bottle was DOA.  Oxidized.  Oh well.  Certainly representative of most bottles at this time.  

This is always one of the better values in Rhone wines.  They make two cuvees, this being the better of the two.  This is a blend of  40% Syrah, 30% Grenache and 30% Mourvèdre.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose is great with black raspberries, black cherries, plums, spice and smoked herbs.  On the palate, this is medium bodied.  Complex.  The fruits carry thru.  Light tannins.  Good acidity.  Long finish.  This drinks well on its own but also works well with a wide variety of foods.  Works with casseroles, pizza or grilled foods.  It will continue to mature for a couple more year

This is a Cabernet Franc from the Loire Valley.  2003 was an extremely hot vintage and also the vintage where Benoit came home to work the vineyards with his father Yannick.  This is fully mature and maybe a bit past for some bottles and depending how you like you wine.  Deep ruby in color.  The nose has black cherries, slight tobacco, dust and slight spice.  Medium bodied.  Tannins fully resolved.  On the palate, black cherries over a cigar box quality.  Good acidity.  Nice finish.  This should be consumed in the next three to five years.  It goes well with roast or casseroles.  

This is somewhat of a rarity in CdR as it is 100% Syrah.  This is also consistently one of the better values in Syrah.  Purple in color.  The nose is nice with black raspberries, garrigue (an herbal/spice combination found in the Rhone), and black pepper.  Medium bodied.  Nice acidity.  A bit more austere than prior vintages but that's fine.  More than enough stuffing.  On the palate, black raspberries, black pepper and slight roasted herbs.  Good finish.  This might even get a bit better with just a hint of age.  This should drink well for the next five to seven years.  It will work well w

The 20111 vintage was difficult in the Rhone.  Nevertheless, Giraud still crafted a very nice wine.  Purple in color.  The nose is tight but with air shows cherries and raspberries with some spice.  On the palate, this runs a bit sweet/ripe.  Cherry candies.  Low in acidity.  Slight tannins.  Moderate finish.  This is easy drinking on its own but might work better with a some less sweet cookies or chocolate dessert.  It seems to be  nearing the end of its optimal drinking window so it probably should be consumed sooner.  That said, it will still be drinking well for at least the next five y

The 2010 vintage was excellent if quite structured on release.  While they have finally opened up, the structure remains.  Deep purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, roasted meat and roasted herbs.  On the palate, this has sweet black cherry fruit with a bit of cherries along with some char and spices.  Mild tannins.  Good finish.  I don't think this will improve from here but should be good for another five to seven years at least.  This will work well with burgers or roasts.  

Gigondas can offer great values on a Chateauneuf styled wine for a lot less money.  This is a great example.  And coming, from a less than great vintage, this is drinking quite well at age 5.  Deep ruby in color.  The nose is tight but with air opens to show raspberries, black cherries, char and spice.  On the palate, this has a great texture.  Juicy and full bodied.  Black cherry fruit over a bed of spice, earth and char.  Light tannins.  Nice finish.  This won't get better but should be at this level for another five to ten years.  It will go well with stews or roasts.  

One of the interesting things about tasting wine is that everyone is sensitive to different things (especially faults) in wines.  Personally, I am not very sensitive to a bit of oxidation and I really enjoy many wines made in an oxidative style such as Sherry, wines from the Jura, or some Champagnes.  Which brings me to this wine.  This was bought on release and well stored, but at a recent tasting, some found it too oxidized and not enjoyable.  For me, I had no issues with it and found it quite enjoyable.  Your mileage may vary.  Deep ruby in color.  The nose is tight at first but with som