France

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Count me among those who find a certain greenness to the 2004 Burgundies.  Others at the table loved this wine and either didn't find that quality or didn't mind it.  Ruby/purple in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, black cherries, a bit of earthiness and an herbal quality hanging around the background.  It comes across as a sort fresh thyme mixed with cilantro.  Medium to full bodied.  On the palate, black cherries, some cherries, herbal notes and char.  It is also complex and layered.  It works better with food and it would be nice with fresh sashimi.  It has plenty

From magnum.  This bottle seemed to get mixed reactions from the table.  Some thought it needed a long decant and others were more positive.  I found it young, but very enjoyable.  Like many Pinots, a lot depends on what style you like best.  This seemed on the darker, more ripe side especially in this format.  Deep ruby in color, purple at the core, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has black cherries, cherries, black tea, char, and slight earthiness.  Great texture.  Good energy.  Light tannins.  On the palate, black cherries, cherries, with some char and earthiness/minerality.  Long fin

From one of the top producers of Chablis.  Impressive showing.  Light gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose has crushed shells, green apples, lemons and a slight waxy note.  Great texture.  Crisp acidity.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Crisp granny smith apples with crushed shells and slight lemon notes.  Deep and complex.  Long finish.  This drinks well on its own and is very food friendly.  Obviously shell fish but this went quite well with sweet potato sushi and even asparagus sushi.  Drink over the next ten to fifteen years.  

It was interesting to try this side by side with the Vaudesir.  While neither one could be called blowsy or showy, this has more presence and weight.  Light golden/green in color, clear and bright.  The nose is classic Chablis.  Green apples, chalky minerality, slight gunpowder and slight white flowers.  Full bodied.  Great balance.  Firm acidity.  On the palate, green apples with underlying minerality and just a hint of  flint/gunpowder.  Long finish.  This is nice on its own but needs food to really shine.  Shell fish would be ideal but it went nicely with Japanese Noodles as well.  This

Can a Grand Cru be austere and pretty at the same time?  This wine seems to answer that question in a positive way.  Green/gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose has great minerality along with peach and slight lemon peel.  Medium to full bodied.  Crisp, tangy acidity.  On the palate, there are peach and lemon lime notes that are piercing yet delicious.  Long finish.  This wine begs for food.  Shell fish would be ideal but it worked well with a sauteed mushroom dish as well.  Drink over the next eight to twelve years.  

My first time trying this wine and I was impressed.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose has great minerality/wet rocks with slight lemon candy notes.  Medium bodied.  Crisp with a slightly viscous texture.  Dry.  On the palate, this is deep.  Lemons, minerality with good acidity.  That said, no hard edges.  Very  smooth.  Very long finish.  This is drinking well now on its own and is very food friendly.  It worked well with roasted Brussels Sprouts (a difficult match) but would be great with almost any seafood as well.  Drink over the next ten to fifteen years.  

One of the world's great Rieslings.  This bottle  had been purchased on release at the winery.  Green gold in color. The nose is very expressive.  Minerality, peach, and chervil.  Great texture.  Good acidity.  Balanced.  On the palate, this is dry.  Notes of chalk with some peach and minerals. Very long finish. Not quite at peak but certainly showing some development.  Drink over the next ten to fifteen years.  Very food friendly, it would work well with Sushi and was excellent with Shishito Peppers.  

Pink/orange in color, clear and bright with a lovely mousse of tiny bubbles.  The nose is pretty with strawberries.  Medium to full bodied.  On the palate, this is starting to show some age but also has enough acidity to keep things lively.  Cherries, some cranberries and slight grapefruit notes.  Very deep.  Long finish.  This is delicious but also complex.  It will evolve into a mature Champagne so drink soon unless that is good with your tastes.  If so, it has another ten to fifteen years.  Very food friendly, it would be great with roasted duck.  

Probably my favorite vintage of this wine and with the escalating prices, who knows if I will get to try another one.  Light golden in color, clear with a nice mousse of lots of tiny bubbles.  The nose is clean with toast, slight lemons, and minerality.  It is tight to start but opens quickly.  Full bodied.  Crisp acidity.  On the palate, there is some lemon, lemon peel, and minerality.  Deep and complex.  Concentrated.  Long finish.  This is still showing very young, but delicious.  It should have no problem going another twenty years if well stored.  It will work wonderfully on its own, a

This is the first vintage in which the grapes for this were made using biodynamic and organic principles.  Just a gorgeous wine.  Medium golden in color, clear and bright with a nice mousse of thick, tiny bubbles.  The nose is deep with slight toast, green apples, slight lemon curd and minerality.  Full bodied.  Lots of energy.  Great balance.  On the palate, this is showing youthfully.  Lemons, slight green apples, toast and chalk.  Long, long finish.  Delicious.  This is wonderful on its own, and would work with most foods.  It would be great with shellfish.  Drink over the  next ten to f