France

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• Burgundy
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• Tavel

Hay gold in color.  The nose is filled with green apples and some chalk.  A bit of underlying minerality.  On the palate, sour green apples which get stronger with air.  Good acidity, but not great (especially for Chablis).  Long finish.  Lots of fruit here.  This will go with a wide variety of light and medium weight foods.  Not quite what I think of for Chablis, but very much a nice Chardonnay (if that makes sense).  Available at Nakedwines.com.

Pale salmon/orange in color.  There is a nice mousse with lots of medium and small bubbles.  On the nose there are strawberries, cherries and oranges.  Not too pronounced but persistent.  On the palate, the cherries carry thru along with some orange peel (bitter in a good way).  There is a lot of acidity on this wine.  That is a great thing for working with food and waking up the palate.  Of course, palate's vary as well.  An very long finish that really lasts.  This is not a big wine.  There is persistent fruit but it won't overwhelm food and in fact, it works great with a wide variety of

Light golden in color.  The nose has some lemons, a bit of hay but a touch of oxidation as well.  Not too much though.  On the palate, the lemons carry thru with nice acidity.  Slightly candied on the finish.  This kept improving all night with air and the bit of oxidation seemed less obvious as other elements were more present.  Nice finish.  This worked quite well with a funghi pizza.  It may improve a bit with more storage, but it seems like it should be drunk sooner than later at this point.  Of course, one always worries with oxidation and white Burgundies.  

This is an under $10 Sauvignon Blanc from France.  It is made in the style of a Loire Valley wine, that is more mineral based with some fruit and good acidity.  Light golden in color.  The nose is fine with minerals, and slight grapefruit.  On the palate, this is slightly bitter.  An underlying minerality.  Slightly flabby.  Innocuous.  For the price, it is fine, but don't expect magic.  

This has really come into its own and is drinking quite well right now.  Still youthful and not yet at peak though.  Purple in color.  The nose is bigger and excellent with cherries, violets, black olives, black raspberries, slightly meaty and spice.  On the palate, this is primary but deep.  it starts to open in the glass but still needs a few more years.  Lots of concentrated black raspberry fruit, cherries with just a bit of earth and spice.  Nice balance.  Long finish.  It needs heartier foods right now but should last for another 12 to 15 years at least.  

Ruby in color, purple at the core.  The nose has cherries and black olives.  With air some black raspberries come out along with a bit of spice.  On the palate, this has a great texture.  This bottle seems like it is at or perhaps ever so slightly past peak (of course bottles vary).  nice complexity with layers of cherries, raspberries and spice with a slight dry earthiness.  Great balance.  It has an elegance that many 2007's do not have.  Great with foods of all kinds.  

Older wines can be a crap shoot.  At the same time, it's always a privilege to get to try them and to accept what they have to offer.  This was not a perfect bottle but it was quite good.  The color is great.  Mostly deep ruby/purple with a bit of lightening at the rim but not really bricking.  The nose is very nice if showing a bit of an oxidized note.  Slightly meaty with some cassis and tobacco.  A bit of funk.  In short - old Bordeaux.  On the palate, there is some cassis and cherry fruit.  The acidity is pronounced at this point but not intolerable (depending on your tastes).  Food cer

Silvery gold in color.  The nose has slight baked bread and slight citrus.  A nice head of lots of tiny bubbles.  On the palate, this is all about minerality and smoothness.  There is some citrus.  Great length on the finish.  This is incredibly versatile with food although hearty meats might be pushing it.  Great on its own as well.  Seems like this is a step up from the 2004.  

Deep ruby in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose is dusty with red berries.  On the palate, cherries with slight tannins.  It could use a bit more acidity but that is nit picking.  Good finish.  This seems to be approaching maturity and should have a decade left.  Will work with a wide variety of foods, but maybe not spicy ones.  

Deep salmon Pink in color.  There is a nice mousse with lots of tiny bubbles.  The nose has seltzer, and strawberries.  Reminiscent of the Faygo Red Pop of my youth.  Nice.  On the palate, there is a bit of depth and complexity.  Dry.  Nice acidity.  Good finish.  Would go with practically any food.  This drinks quite well now but should develop some maturity and drink well for a while.  Aged Champagnes are not to everyone's taste but I think this should easily last for a decade.  delicious and more traditional Rose.