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

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.

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