France: Wine, French Wine Regions, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, & More Profiled
Purple in color. The nose is very tight at first. Eventually, it opens with a perfumed nose of cassis, slight menthol and cigar notes. On the palate, this is very tannic. Boysenberries with some earthiness. Nice finish. This kept improving all night. It is an expensive wine at $130. There is no reason to open this for at least a decade to justify the price. The potential is there but it will take time.
This has been one of the best values in Bordeaux and continues to be. Great showing for the money. Purple in color. The nose is tight at first but then opens to cherries and dark cherries. It starts out bitter and tannic, but with some air, the cherry and dark cherry fruit explode. Nice depth. Some oak but integrated. Good finish. Right now it could use a decant. It will continue to improve for a decade or more. $30.
Purple/Ruby in color. The nose is dusty with dark cherries, cedar and slight dill. On the palate, there is black cherries and tobacco. Firm tannins. Juicy acidity. This is the second wine of Pape Clement and cost $35. It did keep improving as it opened with air. Probably needs some cellaring for a while to hit peak. It is good now but should improve.
Purple in color, ruby at the rim. The nose is dusty with tart cherries. Seemed quite tight. On the palate, cassis fruit. Medium bodied. A fair amount of oak. OK finish. I am hoping this is just shut down at this point as it did not seem to give up too much. At $50, this is not inexpensive. It is good, but under expectations. At this point, it should be cellared for a decade and then checked in on.
Gold/silver/copper in color. The nose has lemon and minerals with a bit of a metallic quality to it. On the palate, this has good acidity. Full bodied. Green apples especially on the finish. Slightly oily texture. This is a very nice, relatively inexpensive white Bordeaux that is drinking fine right now. I doubt it makes old bones, but that is fine. Food friendly as well.
This is an under $20 easy drinking wine from the south of France. Purple in color. The nose has black raspberries, some leather and slight violets. On the palate, this is medium bodied. Nice acidity. Works well with food. Nice black raspberry fruit. Not a lot of fruit nor complexity, but works nicely as a package. Drink sooner than later.
Purple in color. The nose has cherries, black cherries, slight chocolate and cedar. On the palate, this is still not at peak but drinking very well. Layers of black cherries, cherries, earth and spice. Nice texture. Good finish. This is a nice value for top (not the very top) Bordeaux. Still some upside for this wine as well as it matures. Better with food. There is plenty of fruit though.
Possibly my favorite Cotes du Rhone wine. I bought a case of this back on release and this was the last bottle. No regrets, but it would be fine if I still had more. It is drinking just fine. It might be a good idea to try and track some down from the 2016 vintage. Purple/ruby in color. The nose is nice with black cherries, black pepper, slight earthiness, garrique and still some floral notes. On the palate, this has some complexity. Slight layering. Still some sour cherry and black cherry fruit. Tannins are integrated. Good acidity and balance. At around $15 per bottle on relea
Another inexpensive, relatively easy bottle to find of very nice wine. Purple in color. The nose is nice with black raspberries, some cherries, a bit of leather and earth. On the palate, this has nice black raspberry fruit. A bit of earthiness to it. Easy drinking. Enough acidity to carry food. Long finish. Available for under $15, its a very nice bottle. Should last a few years. I suspect the 2015 and 2016 vintage will be even better.
Wow, is this good. $30 retail and a great value at that price. Ruby in color with some purple swirls. The nose has sour cherries, cherries, anise, slight spice. On the palate, this has a wonderful texture. Medium bodied but lush. Great acidity. Juicy black cherry fruit. Deep and some complexity. Light tannins. Great with food. It is delicious.
