France

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2016 is a stellar year in Chateauneuf du Pape and the southern Rhone Valley.  While this wine has years left in it, it was wonderful to drink now.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose is great.  Clean with black cherries, dust, spice and slight lavender notes.  On the palate, this has a wonderful texture.  Juicy black cherry fruit.  An underlying minerality.  Lots of depth.  Good finish.  It is a big wine at the moment, but will no doubt mellow and gain in complexity as it loses some of that youthful fruit.  This easily has a decade and more left to it, but it really is worth drinki

Wow.  This is impressive.  For the Beaujolais purist this might be too much but for the rest of us, this is delicious and a great wine.  A prior review can be found on this site from a couple of years ago, but it has improved since then.  Purple in color.  The nose has black cherries, figs, slight black raspberries and a bit of spice.  On the palate, this has medium tannins.  Lots of black raspberry fruit with some black cherries and slight fig.  A bit of black olives too.  Deep and complex, this is delicious and interesting.  Still young, it has at least a decade and probably two left whic

This is one of those bottles that is both good and disappointing at the same time.  It is a very good bottle, but considering the vintage, the region and yes, the price ($60 on release), it should have been better.  Still, it was good.  Deep ruby in color.  The nose has cherries, mushrooms/earthiness and spice.  On the palate, this has nice cherry fruit.  A bit of depth.  No tannins.  Decent acidity.  OK finish.  This will work better with food and fowl would be a particularly good match.  No real signs of development but no real sign of age either.  

This is in a great place right now.  It won't get better although it will continue to mature.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose is gorgeous with Black cherries, garrique, violets and tapenade.  On the palate, the texture is incredible.  Soft yet structured.  The wine just glides down the palate.  Lots of black raspberry fruit with some black cherries layered with a bit of earth.  Great balance.  Long finish.  This will go great with meat dishes and anything roasted.  No hurry, it should be at this level for a decade and even then some.  

This is delicious.  From an excellent vintage and drinking youthfully.  A blend of 55% Pinot Noir and 45% Chardonnay.  Light golden in color.  The nose shows green apples, some chalk and marzapan.  Very nice but tight.  More open on the palate.  Very lively acidity.  Green apples and minerals.  It starts out tight and broadens over the palate.  Long finish.  This will work with almost any food.  It is still young although drinking nicely but is likely to improve over the next tne years and be good for at least that long after that.  

This is a very nice Chardonnay at a reasonable price.  It even says Chardonnay on the label.  Light golden in color.  The nose is nice.  Slightly chalky with flint and slight smoke.  Also some lemon.  On the palate, this has a nice acidity.  Lots of minerality with a bit of lemon fruit.  Clean.  Nice finish.  Worked well with an assortment of cheeses but will work with lighter and medium bodied foods.  It should last another five years but won't get much better if at all.  Depending on the price where you live, this is a very nice value.  

Pop and pour, this is in a good place right now.  Light golden in color.  The nose has a nice salinity with some orange peel.  On the palate, this is barely sweet.  It has an almost dry pineapple quality if that makes sense.  Underlying minerality with a touch a salt (and yes, salt is also a mineral).  Good finish.  This is close to peak but will continue to morph and mature.  No hurry on well stored bottles.  Went well with cheeses.  

This is 100% Sauvignon Blanc from the Lorie Valley in France.  Yellow/gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose has a nice minerality with crushed shells.  Slight grassiness.  On the palate, this is slightly oily with nice minerality.  Clean finish.  This is a solid wine that is a very nice value at $13.  It will drink well on its own or with lighter foods.  

Pale silvery/gold in color.  A very nice head of smaller bubbles.  The nose has a nice seltzer quality with good minerality and slight soap.  On the palate, this is clean with good acidity.  Lemons with a slight mint note.  Good finish.  A really nice way to begin an event and share with friends.  Probably better to drink sooner than later.  

Beautiful showing for this bottle.  Gorgeous color if a bit worrisome.  A deep burnt orange color.  The nose is very nice with a slight petrol quality along with apricots and slight honey.  On the palate, this is slightly viscous.  Not as sweet as it was in it's youth though still some sweetness.  Peaches, slight honey, slight almond note on the finish.  Complex and deep.  It is evolving nicely and well stored bottles should continue to be a treat for a while.  This went well with a salad and will probably have more synergy with lighter foods at this point in its life.