2016 Verget du Sud Vin de France Chardonnay, Wine Review

Verget is a very good producer in Burgundy. They make some of the better values. This is a lower level wine labeled under the Vin de France designation. Deep golden in color. The nose is more about minerals. Also some lemon. On the palate, this has a sweet tart quality to it. Light tannins. Light tannins. Refreshing. Verget is known for being a bit heavy handed with his use of oak. None of that was an issue here. This sells for around $10 a bottle is a really good value. Great for a party or large crowd. Food friendly. Not a complex or amazing wine, but very solid and enjoyable. Probably should be drunk up by 2020.

Grade:

B+

Score:

Vintage:

2016

2018 Wild Pig Chardonnay Vin de Pays d'Oc, France, Wine Review

Vintage:

2018

Score:

Grade:

Current Price:

$14.00USD

Named after "Greta" a "famous" wild pig in the southeast of France. This is an easy to drink white wine that provides some value. Light green/gold in color. The nose is smoky and fruity (sort of like fruit flavored gum). There is nice acidity and a nice texture. On the palate, not as much generic fruitiness but it is refreshing. A hint of bitter almond on the finish. For the price, this would be a fine choice for a party. It would work with lighter foods or on its own. Drink now.

Judgment of Paris: Film "Bottle Shock" Brings the Paris Tasting of 1976 to the Big Screen

Bottle Shock On May 24, 1976, Steven Spurrier, a British wine merchant hoping to stoke sales at his French-wine-only shop, held a wine competition in Paris. In this competition French judges were invited to blind-taste top chardonnays and cabernet sauvignons from France and California. In an event that would later be dubbed the Judgment of Paris , the California wines –included merely to serve as the “sacrificial lambs” to the supposedly superior French wines- won the competition in a shocking upset. This singular event revolutionized the wine industry and put California on the map as a major world producer of fine wine. This story comes to life on the silver screen for the first time with the film Bottle Shock , starring Bill Pullman, Alan Richman, and Dennis Farina among other notables. I recently chatted with Bottle Shock Co-Writer and Producer Jody Savin about the film. Why this film now? To answer this question in a socio-political sense, I would venture to say that we live in challenging times.

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2016 Philippe Viallet Vin de Savoie, France, Savoy, Wine Review

Vintage:

2016

Score:

Grade:

This is a blend of four grapes in the French portion of the Alps; Jacquere, Chasselas, Chardonnay, and Altesses. Light green gold in color. The nose is all about the minerals. Not much fruit. Oily texture. Good acidity. Lean minerality on the palate. This win begs for food but nothing too heavy. It retails for $14. A nice lunch wine but more pleasing for those with European wine tastes.

NV Charles Bove Vin de Pays du Loir-et-Cher Brut, France, Wine Review

Score:

Grade:

A-

Current Price:

$18.00USD

Had this at a local wine shop and was told it was a sparkling Vouvray. I don't see that on the label as it appears to Vin de Pays though that is not on the label either. The importers web site states that this is "Based heavily on Chenin Blanc with a dollop of Chardonnay" from vineyards in Touraine. In any event, I love Chenin Blanc and thought this was a very nice sparkler. How much one enjoyed it seemed to be directly tied to ones appreciation fro Chenin (at least at the store). Light gold in color with some green streaks. On the nose, this has a nice salinity with a bit of chalk, c

2016 Domaine des Terres Dorées (Jean-Paul Brun) Chardonnay Beaujolais Blanc, Wine Review

Vintage:

2016

Score:

Grade:

B+

This was fun to throw into a Burgundy tasting. Is it on point? Technically, yes. And at $15, no harm done. This is actually a wonderful value for a Chardonnay of this level. Medium golden in color. The nose is interesting with minerals, some lemon, and spice. I wouldn't think this saw oak, but it certainly had some of those characteristics. On the palate, this is tart with almost a cherry quality which is interesting for a white. Some minerality. A bit of depth. I would prefer a bit more acidity and cut but it was fine.

2016 Verget du Sud Vin de France Chardonnay, Wine Review

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