France

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Nice to revisit this one again (other notes are posted on this site).  It is always interesting to follow a wine over time.  What was a very concentrated and precise wine on release has started to broaden out and showing some development.  It is still a youthful wine with plenty of energy at 13 years from vintage.  Light golden in color with a nice frothy mousse with tiny bubbles.  The nose has a bit of yeast/baked bread with a lemon peel note.  On the palate, this has a nice citrus over a slightly earthy quality.  Good acidity.  Long finish.  This is showing a nice complexity and depth.  W

This is a Trader Joe's wine made from Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.  It is an easy drinking rose that is easy on the budget.  Deep pink/orange in color.  The nose has some watermelons and strawberries.  Light bodied.  On the palate, a bit of clean strawberries.  Drank well enough on its own and worked with a variety of garden and fruit salads.  Drink up this summer.  

A very pretty white wine from the Rhone.  This is a big, round wine that is unique and outstanding.  Grenache Blanc, Bourboulenc, Clairette and Roussanne.  Golden in color.  The nose is gorgeous with peaches, minerals, slight lime, toast and a slight waxy/floral quality (not unlike my late Aunt's apartment).  On the palate, this is round with a slightly oily texture.  very nice acidity.  Long finish.  In a very good way, this is somewhat like a white Burgundy with a peach candle melted in.  Delicious.  It would go great with food especially vegetarian grain dishes (couscous, quinoa, etc.). 

Purchased off a store shelf, pop and pour.  Inky purple in color.  The nose has black raspberries, charcoal, a slight floral note and with air some roasted meats.  On the palate, this is leaner bodied.  Slight tannins.  Black raspberry fruit with some earthiness.  The wine is drinking well already and doesn't seem like it will get much better.  It is very good right now though.  It will work great with stews and casseroles.  Drink over the next five to seven years.  

This is coming along quite nicely.  It's not yet at peak and still drinks big and young.  Purple in color.  The nose is big with black cherries, some black raspberry, spice, some chocolate and a bit of coffee.  On the palate, this has medium tannins.  Lots of black cherry and black raspberry fruit over a bit of char/dark chocolate.  Slight black licorice on the finish.  This is delicious and great on its own or with bolder roasted meat (or vegetable) dishes.  It will continue to improve for another five to ten years, and be good for another ten to fifteen after that if well stored.  This bo

This is from a region typically more known for their whites.  The owner of this winery is the son and nephew of the owners of Clos Rougeard, a "cult" wine in the Loire Valley.  This is Cabernet Franc from old vines.  It is a very nice wine.  Purple/ruby in color.  The nose has a slight barnyard with cherries, black licorice and slight hay quality.  On the palate, concentrated cherries.  Nice layering as this unwinds in the glass.  It has a soft texture but at the some time intense.  Long finish.  Certainly not over ripe, this wine will work better with food.  It would be interesting to try

This was fine.  Probably a bit past prime, but it probably never was great to begin with.  More a victim of higher expectations given the vintage and age. Ruby in color, clear and bright.  The nose is dusty with some cherries.  Not old, but not exciting either.  On the palate, there is some energy here.  It has a nice velvety texture.  Cherry flavors.  Not much depth.  Medium finish.  If you have any, drink up soon.  This will work well with fowl.   

From the Cahors region of southwest France.  In Cahors, Malbec is known as  "Côt", "Côt Noir" or "Auxerrois", so the fact that the label says Malbec tells us a lot about the intended market for this wine.  Not to mention that in other than in Alsace, naming a varietal on the label, is usually not a good sign.  Of course, its what is in the bottle that count.  Ruby in color.  The nose is dusty with cherry hard candy.  On the palate, this has sour cherry candy with slight plums.  Light tannins.  Good acidity.  A short to medium finish.  This is made to drink now, with BBQ or on its own.  Noth

This is a nice, easy drinking rose from the south of France, made from Syrah, Cinsault and Grenache.  Light salmon/burnt orange in color.  The nose has watermelons and orange citrus.  On the palate, more viscous than expected.  It is dry.  13% ABV on the label.  Strawberries with a bit of bitterness on the finish.  Some warmth as well.  Priced at $14, this is a fine wine on its own on the back deck on a summer night and will work with some lighter foods too.  Drink this year.  

One of my favorite affordable-ish rose Champagnes.  It's too good just for celebrations.