France: Wine, French Wine Regions, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, & More Profiled

2017 Diving Into Hampton Water Rose, France, Languedoc, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-

A collaboration between Gérard Bertrand, and Jon and Jesse Bon Jovi.  HW Wine Company is essentially a company that commissioned this wine to be made in France to celebrate the good life.  Light salmon pink in color.  The nose is all about watermelon and strawberries.  It has a nice texture.  Nice acidity.  This wine is really all about summer fruit.  Not a lot of depth or complexity but tasty and easy drinking.  While it is probably made as a summer sipper it went well with a summery watermelon salad. Fun wine.  

NV Moët & Chandon Champagne Nectar Imperial Rosé, France, Epernay, Wine Review

Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-

Apparently, this bottling was done for the 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers NBA Championship.  This was not in the locker room, but part of the same bottling that was.  Go Cavs!  Orange pink in color.  There is a nice mousse with a lot of tiny bubbles.  On the nose there are a lot of cherries and oranges.  Very strong and interesting.  On the palate this is sweet.  Oranges.  The finish is oddly enough almost dry.  This wine's sweetness proved a bit divisive, but was quite enjoyable for me.  It has a nice depth and the acidity works with sweetness and this is very food friendly.  

2017 Château de Ségriès Tavel, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-

So glad to be able to review this as a bottle last week was not that good.  This one was much better and more what should be expected.  Bad bottles do happen.  Deep salmon pink in color, but not as deep as the prior bottle (heat damage?).  The nose has cherries and light rhubarb.  On the palate, this is clean, dry and no bitterness.  Persistent cherries on the palate.  Good acidity.  Nice finish.  Worked well with food.  Nice bottle.  In retrospect, that first bottle was probably damaged in shipping at some point.  

2014 François Chidaine Vouvray Sec Les Argiles, France, Loire Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-

This wine has a reputation of being a bit oxidized and advanced in 2014.  This bottle was a bit advanced but it was also spot on drinking right now.  Medium golden in color.  The nose has anjou pears along with minerals and a salinty which is very nice.  This has a slightly oily texture.  The pears continue and if this has any oxidation, it is quite small.  There is good acidity.  Nice finish.  Enjoyed with a Ginger Parsnip Pear soup, this was a perfect match with a nice synergy.  It might not make old bones, but it is drinking quite well right now.

2001 Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Crau, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2001
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A

Ruby in color.  The nose is classic with cherries, slight funk, slight violets and spice.  With air, some leather.  On the palate, this is at peak.  Just where it should be.  Cherries layered with spice and earth.  Complex.  Alive with great energy.  This would work with a wide variety of hearty foods.  Good finish.  A wine that is both delicious and contemplative.  No hurry, but it won't get any better from here, so absolutely worth checking on.  

1967 Château Palmer, France, Bordeaux, Margaux, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1967
Score: 
87
Grade: 
B

Old bottle are always fun.  Sometimes they work out, other times, not so much.  This bottle had a very low fill.  Below the shoulders and near the top of the label.  The cork was removed using a Durand.  It virtually exploded as it escaped the bottle.  very little integrity.  The bottle was decanted for sediment and pieces of cork, checked right away, but allowed to breathe for a while.  It turned out the wine continued to improve in the decanter for at least 30 minutes as it blew off the bottle stink and gained some strength.  Ruby/brown in color.  The nose has some mushrooms, some fresh m

2012 Maison Bouachon Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Tiare du Pape Blanc, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2012
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-

This is drinking really well right now.  Light golden in color.  The nose is great with minerals, lemons, wax but also plenty of melon and tropical fruit.  On the palate, this has a nice cutting acidity.  Good melon and lemon fruit.  Long finish.  Very food friendly.  While still drinking youthfully, it it open for business.  It will probably start to show more signs of maturity in a few years but is delicious right now.  

2017 Château Suau Blanc Sec, France, Bordeaux, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
87
Grade: 
B+

80% Sauvignon Blanc, 20% Semillon.  Silvery gold in color.  The nose is nice with slight tropical fruit.  Also some pears.  On the palate, this is nice.  Round.  Not a lot of acidity.  Tasty though and easy to drink.  Drink it cold and it will be refreshing.  Food friendly.  This is under $20 and a pretty good value.  Drink over the next few years to enjoy its freshness.  

2017 Château de Ségriès Tavel, France, Rhone, Wine review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
83
Grade: 
B-

Not sure this was a proper bottle but no obvious faults.  This wine is usually solid year in and out, but hopefully, there will be a chance to revisit.  Deep salmon pink in color.  The nose is like a watermelon liqueur.  The alcohol is really out of proportion.  On the palate, this is tart and bitter and the alcohol continues to stand out.  There is some watermelon and cherry fruit.  Not sure what is going on here.  

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