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

2021 Domaine Chavy-Chouet Bourgogne Blanc Les Femelottes, France, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$35.00USD

Very pale yellow gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose is very nice.  Some lemon drop candy with a bit of an herbal note (Chervil?).  Slightly viscous texture.  A nice backbone of acidity.  On the palate, lemon, and lemon candy notes with a bit of Granny Smith apple notes.  Long finish.  This is nice on its own but better with food.  It went well with an Israeli styled salad, but would be better something a bit richer so that the acidity could really stand out.  Perhaps grilled Salmon with a rich sauce.  It is young but drinking well.  It should have no problem going another seven to t

NV Brice Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut, France, Wine Review

Score: 
91
Grade: 
Current Price: 
$60.00USD

100% Chardonnay from two parcels in Bouzy (Le Mont de Tours and Les Ramonnieres) and Grauves.  Pale gold in color with a nice mousse of small bubbles.  The nose is very clean with some red apples and a bit of yeasty dough.  Medium bodied.  Good acidity.  On the palate, this is crisp and leaner in style.  Granny smith apples with some minerality.  Long finish.  Very nice on its own, this is very food friendly.  It was a nice foil to baked tofu made in a "Buffalo Wings" style.  Drink over the next few years.  

2021 Château Virgile Costières-de-Nîmes Cuvée l'Énéide, France, Rhone, Costieres de Nimes

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-

This is a GSM blend of 60% Syrah, 30% Grenache and 10% Mourvedre.  Purple core with ruby swirls, mostly opaque and bright.  Nice nose of fresh black raspberries, cherries and spice/garrique.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Good acidity.  On the palate, black raspberries, black pepper and some spice.  Nice texture.  On the palate, black raspberries and black cherries with some underlying char.  Long finish.  This is an easy drinking red that is a step above and should get a bit better with age.  Drink over the next ten years.  Very nice on its own, this would work well with a bowl of chilli.

2010 Château Bellevue Gazin Cuvee Tradition, France, Bordeaux, Cote du Blaye, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2010
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-

Bordeaux is famous for its amazing wines that come with amazingly high prices.  There is also a sea of wine made for very affordable prices.  This is a lovely wine from a great vintage.  Deep garnet in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is spicy with cigar box, black cherries and cherries.  Medium bodied.  Firm tannins (true to the vintage).  On the  palate, black cherries, cassis, anise and char.  Good finish.  Overall, a very nice showing.  Drink over the next five to seven years.  Nice on its own and would be a great meatloaf/burger wine.  

2018 Pierre-Marie Chermette Fleurie Les Garants, France, Burgundy, Beaujolais, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$33.00USD

A personal favorite of mine, from an excellent vintage.  This wine still needs some time to come together, but I think it will.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is tight.  It does open to show black cherries and black raspberries with a bit of spice. Medium to full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, black cherry fruit.  Lush texture.  Good acidity.  Nice finish.  Give this wine a nice decant or cellar for a few more years.  Drink over the next ten years.  Nice on its own, this will work well with food.  Roasted duck or other fowl would be a good choice.  

2005 Olga Raffault Chinon Les Picasses, France, Loire, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2005
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$65.00USD

Ruby in color, purple swirls, mostly clear and bright.  The nose brings the barnyard funk but also some black cherries and a bit of cigar box.  Medium bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, this has depth and complexity.  Much cleaner on the palate, but still some Brettanomyces.  Black cherries with some leathery notes.  Menthol on the finish.  This is very nice on its own but probably a bit better with food.  It would work well with Lamb Stew but also Roasted Vegetables.  At or past peak, this should be consumed over the next five years or so.  

2016 Domaine des Baumard Savennières Clos du Papillon, France, Loire, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$40.00USD

I used to drink a lot of this but somehow it fell off my radar.  Tasting this, I am reminded how good it is.  Made from Chenin Blanc grapes.  Pale, silvery gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose is expressive with flint, some chalk, some green apples and a bit or orange rind.  Full bodied.  Lovely texture.  Great acidity.  On the palate, the chalk and green apples come thru along with some herbal notes.  Clean.  Persistent finish with some heat.  This is delicious on its own and will work well with lighter foods.  An interesting match would be chicken salad.  

2021 Alain Gras Saint-Romain Blanc, France, Burgundy, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$51.00USD

Green/gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose is nice with pineapple, very slight oak and a bit of minerality.  Medium bodied.  Slightly oily texture.  On the palate, an interesting combination of some pineapple and some green apples.  It works.  There is a nice depth despite its youth.  Long, persistent finish.  This is lovely on its own, but seems very food friendly.  Sea food of course, but also a nice wine with say Hummus.  

NV Dartigalongue Bas Armagnac XO, France, Wine Review

Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$45.00USD

Orange/gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose is  nice.  Nutty, slight vanilla and a "Bourbon" note.  Full texture.  Warmth on the palate with a smooth nuttiness.  Also some warmth on the finish.  A little goes a long way, but this was a nice way to end a meal.  

2005 Château Margaux, France, Bordeaux, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2005
Score: 
98
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$750.00USD

A First Growth in a top vintage?  Yes, please.  This is a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot, and 1% Cabernet Franc.  Purple in color with some ruby at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with cassis, leather, perfume, slight cigar box and spice.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, this is tight and young but delicious.  Cassis, black cherries, spice and slight chocolate.  Great balance.  Long finish.  This is drinking well but will get better with further cellaring (or air).  Drink over the next twenty to thirty years.  For now, it will be a t

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