France

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This was a pleasant surprise.  Served from Magnum and along side some bigger California wines, this provided a nice contrast and was quite tasty.  2014 was not a particularly good vintage in the southern Rhone, but of course, good producers usually find a way to make good wines.  Ruby in color.  The nose is nice with cherries, garrique/spice, and slight floral notes.  On the palate, this is medium bodied.  Nice cherry fruit with some dark cherry and a bit of earthiness.  Good acidity.  Nice finish.  This worked quite well with some home made pizzas and in general is food friendly.  It is dr

These are great values in Northern Rhone Syrah.  Fass Selections is their importer and distributor in the US.  For those looking for some different wines, sign up for their daily e-mail blasts of wines for direct sale.  While this will improve a bit with cellaring, it drinks well now, especially with a bit of air.  Purple in color, ruby swirls.  The nose is nice with black raspberries, roasted herbs and slight black pepper.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, the fruit is a bit lighter but still in the black raspberry vein.  An underlying minerality with some char.  Good acidity.  Nice finish. 

One of the longer living CdP's.  However, 2004 is an ok, not great vintage at this time.  The result?  At age 15 this is at peak.  It should be here for at least five and likely ten more years.  Medium ruby in color.  The nose has cherries, slight floral notes, garrique and slight earthy funk.  On the palate, this has nice depth.  Layers of cherry liqueur unwind in the glass over a funky earthiness.  Light dry tannins especially on the finish.  This works well with stews and roast.  Everything you want in a traditional CdP.  

About ten years ago, a west coast retailer dumped these on the market.  And, I mean dumped.  About $15 a bottle.  Never knew why but bought some anyway as did lots of others.  It seems that has tainted the perception of this wine as every time people open one, the story is told and the comments factor in the price.  Frankly, that does this wine a dis-service.  At age 13, from a solid vintage, this wine is drinking quite well and appears to be at peak.  Pale ruby in color.  The nose is earthy, slightly dishwater with good fresh cherries as well.  On the palate, this is clean with cherries, m

Well, this was one of the better values I have had in Burgundy in a while.  It was $70 on release with current vintages retailing for $110 or so.  Pop and pour, this seems to be at peak or just getting there.  It improved in the first thirty minutes and then held until the bottle was empty.  Light ruby in color.  A bit pale.  The nose is strong though with cherries and a slight earthy funk.  Maybe just a bit of spice.  On the palate, this has nice layering of fruit (cherries) and earth.  Good balance.  Persistent finish.  It went very well with food.  Delicious but also contemplative.  

Light gold/green in color.  The nose is nice with lemons, slight vanilla, and a bit of grapefruit.  On the palate, this is nice but a bit more depth would be nice.  Decent acidity.  Some lemon and grapefruit.  Went well with a vegetarian pasta dish.  This cost $70 and that is the biggest thing.  Hard to justify that unless one lays it down the cellar.  But, with white Burgundies, that raises the risk of premature oxidation.  I am not sure what the answer is, but I find myself buying less White Burgundy.  That said, if you have this, it should be cellared for at least five more years.  

Chablis continues to be an excellent source or white Burgundy especially when considering the price and the premox issues.  While Chablis is not immune on either issue, it is a bit better on both.  This is a newer-ish producer making some great wines and reasonable pricing.  Light silvery gold in color.  The nose is very nice with green apples and chalk.  Very clean.  On the palate, those flavors continue with a nice depth and complexity.  Very nice acidity.  Some grapefruit as well.  Long finish.  This will work great with salads and sea foods but also with fowl dishes.  It really does beg

Though young, this is drinking quite well and in "Burgundy" terms a good value.  Deep garnet in color.  The nose has cherries, spice, and slight black cherries.  The texture on this wine is very pretty.  Round but intense.  Lots of black cherry fruit and some underlying earthiness.  Good balance.  Nice finish.  This should continue to improve for five to ten years and be good for another five to ten after that.  It will pair well with game or fowl.  

Château de Fargues probably doesn't get enough recognition and 2001 is one of the all time great vintages in Sauternes.  This was an excellent showing and a great way to finish an evening.  A very cool looking orange/red in color.  The nose has orange peel and honey.  A bit of Crem Brulee.  On the palate, this is viscous although not as sweet as expected (which is fine).  The orange peel carries thru with good acidity.  Plenty of depth.  A very long finish.  Still on the young side, this should develop further.  

This is drinking well.  Probably at or close to peak at this point.  Ruby/purple in color.  The nose has black raspberries, black cherries, slight floral notes and garrique.  On the palate, there is some oak showing though this is brought up more in tank than barrel.  Perhaps just from concentrated old vine/stems?  Cherries, black raspberries and slight funk.  Starting to show some layering though that will doubtless expand over the next decade.  I don't think it get's better but will continue to morph, so it depends on how you like them.  Nice finish.  This is very food friendly and would