France: Wine, French Wine Regions, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, & More Profiled
2018 version. 80% Pinot Noir, 20% Chardonnay. It is composed of the following vintages: 50% 2015, 25% 2014, 25% 2013, with10% Pinot Noir still
For wines that are purchased on release and cellared for years, it is rare to hit a bottle at its exact prime. Often the bottle is opened too early, or too late. Wine lovers often discuss which is better.
This was given an hour in the decanter after decanting for sediment. Purple/ruby in color. This took a long time to come around. In fact, we gave it another hour and then it finally started to open (2 hours total). The nose is clean with raspberries, garrigue, and black licorice. What a wonderful texture. Silky yet plush and almost seamless. Showing a bit of age, but then with more air it revived even further. Lots of black and red raspberries, black cherries, lavender and spice. Deep and tightly layered. Long finish. The proverbial last glass was the best. This bottle was bough
This is an outstanding wine. If you are not looking at Cru Beaujolais wines then you are missing out on one of the real value regions for red wines anywhere. This one retails for $30 but if you're lucky, you can find it for less. The bottle I tried was $20. Ruby in color, a bit muddled. The nose is great. Dusty with some decayed meat (in a good way), earth and plums. A slight asparagus note. On the palate, this has a lovely texture. Plush with few seams. Medium bodied. Medium tannins. Plums and cherry fruit. Some depth. Good finish. This may still get a bit better as it matur
I brought this to dinner with a couple that usually take a small pour of my whites and move quickly on. Not this time. They both went back for seconds, which is of course, the best compliment to the wine. Really in a good place, but it is Chenin Blanc, so it has a long life ahead of it. Light golden in color. The nose has a lovely salinity along with some apricots and orange peel. Also a slight metallic minerality (in a good way). On the palate, be forewarned, this is sweet. Probably a bit more than off dry. But it is lovely and deft and light on its feet. The orange peel comes th
This is certainly one of the stars of its region. While not in the category of Haut Brion, neither is the pricing. Of course, it is not inexpensive either. This bottle was purchased on release. It was allowed to breathe for an hour and then consumed over the next few. Still on the young side, it offers up plenty of enjoyment right now. If you have a few, go ahead. If you just have one or two, then it's a hold. Purple in color. The nose has cassis, black cherries, some cedar, spice and a bit of minerality. On the palate, light tannins. Tight layers that unwind in the glass of cass
The evening wasn't quite done and this fit the bill for a little something sweet to finish the night. From a 375ml bottle. Deep golden/orange in color. The nose is pretty with lychees, oranges and slight simple syrup. Also a nice underlying minerality. On the palate, this is slightly viscous. Much fresher than a bottle a couple of years ago. Lychees, apricots with a bit of sweetness. A nice bit of acidity to balance things out. Long finish that was clean and without bitterness. Just delicious and interesting to sip on its own, it would work with a slightly sweet dessert.
This is still quite young and patience will be rewarded. That said, if you have a few or like them young, then this is great now too. This bottle was decanted for four hours prior to drinking. Inky purple in color. The nose is black raspberries, charred wood, pepper, spice but also a lovely little lavender. On the palate, this is big. Brooding but still shows black raspberries, blueberries, black pepper and slight charred earth. Medium tannins. A nice streak of acidity. Long finish. This wine begs for food. Cassoulet, steak or roasted vegetables would be great. Probably another
A stunning wine if still a bit young. In a day when Grand Cru Burgs are priced crazily, this is about the best one that is almost affordable. It certainly is not your typical Chablis in profile either. Golden in color. Not dark but not light either. No noticeable oxidation. The nose has peaches, slight chalk and a bit of pepper/spice. On the palate, the peaches carry thru over a concentrated minerality. Great round texture. Good acidity but not bracing. Nice finish. In general, this is a big round wine that is just delicious. Went well with St.
2008 is a great vintage for Champagne. This is the first Dom I have tasted from that vintage. Outstanding and also a bit unique. Light golden in color with a very nice mousse of tiny bubbles. On the nose, this has a a nice meyer lemon note along with an ever so slight nuttiness and a bit of smoke. It opens slowly with air and never is a big nose at this point but does show bit of ginger root. On the palate, this is excellent if still young. Apple cider, fresh green apples, slight toast all mix together. But what is really fun is the tension in the wine. This is one of the liveliest
