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

2015 Jean-Michel Stephan Côte-Rôtie, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A

This is a more easy going style of Cote Rotie.  Purple in color with ruby swirls, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, slight bacon fat, white pepper and some violets.  Full bodied.  Nice acidity.  On the palate, black cherry fruit with black pepper.  Long finish.  Light tannins.  This is drinking well now and should continue to drink well for another ten to twelve years.  It will work better with food than on its own.  A brisket sandwich would work well.  

2008 Château Smith Haut Lafitte, France, Bordeaux, Pessac-Leognan, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2008
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$90.00USD

Pop and pour, this is drinking very well.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with cassis, black cherries, tobacco and spice.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this has nice tight layering that unwinds in the glass.  Light tannins.  Notes of cassis, black cherries, slight chocolate, and char.  Great balance.  Long finish.  Still a bit on the young side but no harm in opening a bottle.  This will drink well for another ten to fifteen years.  Great on its own, even better with food.  Pot roast would be a great choice.  

2001 Domaine du Pégau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2001
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$129.00USD

This wine was bought on release and is exactly where it should be at age 21.  Deep ruby in color with just a bit of browning at the edges.  Clear and bright.  The wine initially has some bottle funk but that blows of to reveal a classic CdP nose.  Cherries, spice, slight barnyard, a bit of dried cherries and roasted herbs.  Medium to full bodied.  Great energy and balance.  on the palate, this is complex and layered.  Cherries, fresh and dried, earthiness and char.  Nice balance.  Good finish.  This is fully mature and probably needs to be drunk soon as it starts to fade.  Still, another fi

2021 Domaine Pierre Martin Sancerre Rosé Chavignol

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$25.00USD

This is a Pinot Noir based Rose from the Loire Valley in France.  Very refreshing at 13% abv.  Light salmon/pink/orange in color, clear and bright.  Medium bodied.  Lightly viscous.  On the palate, a bit of a sweet tart note along with some tart orange notes especially on the finish.  This wine will work better with some food to tame the acidity. A summertime watermelon and feta cheese salad would be perfect.  Drink over the next year or two.  

2017 Les Vins de Vienne Condrieu La Chambée, USA, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-

This is a bigger version of Condrieu than the more floral versions.  It sees 9 months of French Oak sitting on its lees.  100% Viognier.  The nose has vanilla, citrus and lemon verbena.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, this is slightly sweet.  Light tannins.  Slight almond notes.  Moderate acidity.  Nice finish.  Does bigger equate to more serious?  Not necessarily, but this is drinking quite well at age 5 and should continue to drink well for another five to eight years.  This will work well with Foie Gras for those who eat that but also pasta prima vera.  

2016 Chartron et Trébuchet Mâcon-Villages, France, Burgundy, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Grade: 

Unfortunately, this showed way too much oxidation for a wine this young.  While White Burgundy has had issues with premox, this also utilized an artificial closure, so what the cause was is unknown.  It had been bought on release and well stored, so that is not likely the cause.  Golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is dusty with apple juice and slight lemon.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, there is some lemon fruit but also a bitter almond note.  Not Rated.

2007 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie Château d'Ampuis, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2007
Score: 
97
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$180.00USD

Wow!  This is in a great place.  Purple in color with some ruby hues, mostly opaque and bright.  Great nose of black raspberries, roasted meats and herbs. Full bodied.  Great balance.  On the palate, this is delicious and complex. Layers of black raspberries with underlying minerality and slight char.  Tannins are mostly resolved but still present.  Long finish.  This is at peak but will go another decade at this level.  Great on its own, this would work well with braised beef.  

2009 Château Guiraud, France, Bordeaux, Sauternes, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2009
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$70.00USD

One of the better values in Sauternes. Light golden in color. The nose has with pineapples, honey and some of peach. On the palate, this is viscous and rich.  Sweet but not cloying.  Good acidity that cuts through the sweetness.  Honey and Pineapple.  Nice finish.  This is great on its own and will work with a not too sweet dessert.  Drink over the next fifteen to twenty years.  

1995 Château d'Yquem, France, Bordeaux, Sauternes, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1995
Score: 
96
Grade: 
Current Price: 
$359.00USD

Always a pleasure to drink what is arguably the greatest wine in the world.  Not the best and not the worst vintage.  At age 27, this is mature but with decades left.  Red/orange in color, clear and bright.  The nose is great with apricots, peach, honey and marzipan.  Slightly viscous.  Complex on the palate.  Moderate acidity.  On the palate, honey, Crème brûlée with just a bit of underlying char.  A finish that goes on forever.  Delicious.  This drinks great on its own and will work with a more savory dessert, but that is not necessary.  

2018 Domaine Rémi Jobard Meursault Les Narvaux, France, Burgundy, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$110.00USD

Golden green in color, clear and bright.  Great nose with lemon/lime and a slight chalk note.  Medium bodied with crisp acidity.  On the palate, this has some depth.  Grapefruit along with a touch of chalkiness.  Nice finish.  This drinks very easily on its own and works well with lighter foods, or seafood.  A nice wine with lobster.  Drink over the next seven to ten years.  

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