France

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I get excited about finding great bottles and inexpensive prices.  One of the best ways to make those discoveries is to look for the inexpensive Bordeaux in great vintages.  2015 is the first great vintage since 2010.  This wine retails for about $10.  That is a great value.  Purple/ruby in color.  The nose has black cherries, slight earthiness and bit of tobacco.  On the palate, ripe red fruits; cherries, dark cherries and slight cassis.  Also a slight earthiness that should become more prominent with age.  Yes, I would not hesitiate to aly a few bottles down for 5 to 10 years and it shoul

A blend of Syrah, Carignane and Grenache.  I could find no vintage designation on the label (so its probably there in extra large font ;-) )  A very nice value wine.  Purple in color.  Black raspberries, pepper, cherries and plums.  Also some spice.  On the palate, this is medium bodied.  Very tasty.  Easy drinking.  Some complexity as well.  Good finish.  Nice value but more than that.  

Purple/ruby in color.  The nose has dark cherries.  On the palate, more like black raspberries.  Slight tannins.  Tart acidity.  Should be great with food.  Good value.  

Light salmon pink in color.  The nose is nice with strawberries.  On the palate, this is very refreshing.  Lively strawberry fruit.  Good texture.  Fresh.  Easy drinking but even a bit more.  

Opened and allowed to breathe for 10 hours, decanted for sediment and served.  That seemed to be about the right amount of air.  This was drinking well but still has years left of course.  Purple in color.  The nose has that traditional funk but a lot blew off quickly when poured into the glass.  Also, plenty of cassis, some cigar and a bit of cherry.  On the palate, this has nice balance.  Cassis, tobacco and earthiness on the palate.  Tastes like classic Bordeaux.  Has tight layering that unwinds in the glass.  Worked with with dinner.  Nice finish.  Everything it should have been.  

Deep sort of pink/orange in color.  Interesting.  On the palate, cranberries and some strawberries.  Nice mousse.  On the palate, this is more than just pleasant but not mind blowing.  Of course, neither is the price.  Some depth.  Nice cherries, minerals and slight chalkiness to it.  Good finish.  I wouldn't mind more cut to it, but there is enough.  It was a nice way to start an evening.  A Lyle Fass wine.  If you don't know this direct importer - Google him and sign up for his e-mails.  Great wine at reasonable prices.  

Always one of the better Sancerre's from the home of Sauvignon Blanc.  This one is a bit surprising though.  Blind, I might have guessed New Zealand.  The nose has that gooseberry quality and very fresh.  On the palate, the gooseberry continues thru.  Nice acidity.  Plenty of verve.  Should be great with food.  Nice finish.  Always a nice value.  

Quite nice.  Light golden in color.  Nice mousse with a lot of tiny bubbles.  On the nose this is a bit nutty with green apples.  Crisp acidity on the palate.  The apples carry thru along with a refreshing minerality.  Long finish.  Rerally a very nice Champagne for the money.  

Nice Champagne at a reasonable price.  Light golf in color.  The nose has biscuits and a slight lemon note.  A nice mousse with fairly small bubbles.  On the palate, this has a nice acidity.  Slightly yeasty, slightly biscuit.  More mineral than fruit.  Good finish.  Very nice.  

A nice wine considering the vintage.  Purple in color.  The nose has nice cassis, slight tobacco and slight bell pepper.  On the palate, this is medium bodied with good cassis fruit.  Not a lot of tannins nor depth or complexity.  Perhaps with some cellaring it gains weight and complexity.  Nevertheless, it is very good right now.  Plenty of sinewy cassis fruit with underlying tobacco.  Nice acidity.  If found at the right price, it might be worth laying a couple of bottles down for a few years to see what develops.