France

• Alsace
• Bergerac
• Bordeaux
  • Barsac
  • Bordeaux Supérieur
  • Margaux
  • Graves
  • Haut-Medoc
  • Listrac
  • Pauillac
  • Pomerol
  • Saint Emilion
  • Saint Estephe
  • Saint Julian
  • Sauternes
• Burgundy
  • Beaujolais
  • Bourgogne
  • Chablis
  • 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

Very nice showing for this wine.  Deep salmon pink with some orange swirls in color.  The nose has strawberries, some active yeast aromas, and a bot of cherries.  A nice mousse with small bubbles.  On the palate, this has nice cherries with some orange and an interesting milk chocolate note.  This has a nice complexity.  Good acidity.  Drinking well now; it has a nice verve and freshness that won't last.  It probably should be consumed in the next coup,e of years.  This went well with crackers and olives but would really go with just about anything.

This was purchased off the list at Chez Panisse in Berkeley California.  It was $48 nut it usually under $20 in a retail setting.  This made a nice choice for lunch on vacation as it is low on alcohol (11%) and matches with food.  Pale pink in color.  The nose is light with watermelons and slight orange/citrus.  On the palate, there are light watermelons, strawberries with a slight burnt orange note.  This is lively while being demur.  A moderate finish.  Not for cellaring, this should be drunk now.  It will go well with most lighter foods.  

This is, of course, young, but already drinking well.  2015 was such a delicious year in the northern Rhone.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose has black raspberries, violets, and slight spice.  On the palate, this is ripe/slightly sweet.  Nothing close to cloying.  It should calm down with some age.  Lots of depth.  Nice full bodied texture.  Plenty of black raspberry fruit.  Nice finish.  At this point, this will need big food but should calm down.  This has ten to fifteen years and probably more.  Definitely a point or two of upside. It really is an excellent value.  

Ruby in color, purple at the core.  The nose is slightly earthy with cherries, garrique and charred wood.  On the palate, this has nice cherry fruit with layers of forest floor and damp earth.  Nice acidity.  Seems to be at peak, depending how you like your wines.  Nice finish.  This will work great with roasts.  It probably needs to be drunk in the next five years or so.  

This basic level Burgundy from a great vintage is drinking quite well at age 14.  Ruby in color, clear and bright.  The nose has nice cherries with a slight forest floor.  On the palate, this has slight layering.  Slight complexity.  Slight tannins.  Good acidity.  Nice cherry fruit with a certain freshness.  Really a nice showing and better than anticipated.  It seems like it should still have five more years.  It will work great with fowl or heavier sea food dishes. 

Light green/gold in color.  The nose is floral with white peaches and a sort of pastel candied quality to it.  On the palate, this has a nice oily texture.  some peaches.  Clean.  Easy drinking.  Nice finish.  Not sure how this ages or even if it is.  Rhone whites are hard to predict and this is an entry level wine.  I preferred this to the Marsanne though both are good values.  

This was a bit of a controversial wine on release due to the hot vintage and the extracted nature of the wine.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose has black cherries, spice, and slight earthiness.  On the palate, this has calmed down since release.  There are nice black cherries, but it is not hot or over ripe.  Plenty of depth.  It has settled into adulthood quite well.  Layers of fruit, earth and spice.  Nice finish.  It works well with grilled peppers or probably most grilled foods.  It won't get better and probably should be drunk in the next five to seven years, perhaps a few

Although it doesn't carry the designation, the Marsanne grapes come from Condrieu.  This is an entry level wine that provides nice value.  Light golden in color.  The nose is a bit waxy with pears and slight white peaches.  Tight.  On the palate, this has nice acidity.  Vanilla, pears and slight peach.  also a bit of dill which is somewhat distracting.  Nevertheless, it is crisp enough and tasty enough to work with lighter foods or drink on its own.  Probably should be drunk in the next few years.

This is  a white blend from Southwestern France.  It is a blend of 35% Sauvignon, 25% Colombard, 20% Ugni Blanc, and 10% Gros-Manseng.  This retails for under $10.  Light silvery/gold in color.  The nose has limes and peach.  There is some varietal complexity on the palate.  Limes and minerals.  Some acidity.  Easy drinking.  Not for cellaring.  Nice for a party or cook-out.  Works a bit better with some food.  

Whoa.  I thought this would be good, but this exceeded my expectations.  From the first sip it just kept getting better, and the first sip was very good too.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose is very pretty with black cherries, spice.