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

2021 Caves d'Esclans Whispering Angel, France, Cotes de Provence, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$25.00USD

Excellent Rose from the south of France.  A blend of mostly Grenache, Cinsault and Vermentino grapes.  Pale salmon pink with a touch of orange in color, clear and bright.  The nose is lovely with strawberries, watermelons and a touch of salinity.  Light bodied with no tannins.  Crisp and delicious.  On the palate, nice strawberry notes turning to watermelon on the lingering finish.  There is a nice depth and complexity not often found in Roses.  This is great on its own and would work well with all but the biggest beef dishes.  Try with roasted chicken.  

2016 Château de Ribebon Bordeaux Supérieur, France, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$19.00USD

Another example of the wealth of fairly priced wines that Bordeaux produces once one gets past the trophy wines.  Purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has spice and cherries.  Light tannins.  On the palate, cherries with some tobacco and spice.  Good balance.  This drinks well on its own and will work well with meat, fowl and pork.  Lamb stew would be perfect.  Drink over the next five to eight years.  

2018 Domaine de l'Ecu Muscadet de Sèvre-et-Maine Granite, France, Loire, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$21.00USD

Muscadet remains one of the best values in wine today.  Silver/gold in color, clear and bright.  The now is all about minerality although there are lime nuances.  Medium bodied.  Nice backbone of acidity.  On the palate, lots of crushed rock and minerals along with some salinity and a bit of limes.  Long finish.  Lots of energy.  This is lively.  Dry.  It is great on its own and very food friendly.  While it will match with a wide vairety of food, oysters or any shell fish is a great idea.  Drink over the next ten years.  

2005 Château Bel Air-Marquis d'Aligre, France, Bordeaux, Margaux, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2005
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A

In a great place right now.  Purple in color with ruby swirls, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with cassis, black cherries, tobacco, balsamic and spice.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this is pretty close to mature.  Cassis, spice, with underlying earthiness.  Great balance.  Light tannins.  Nice finish.  This should drink well for another ten to fifteen years.  It would match well with Lamb Stew.  

2016 Frédéric Lambert Côtes du Jura Trousseau, France, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-

This is made from the Trousseau grape in the Jura, France's smallest wine region.  Pale ruby in color, clear and bright.  There are many Rose's that are darker in color.  A very unique wine.  The nose has cherries, confectioner's sugar and a slight herbal note.  Medium bodied.  A very soft texture yet also tart acidity.  Lots of cherry and strawberry fruit with a white pepperiness to it.  Can a wine be elegant and rough at the same time?  This one seems to be.  Complex.  It works better with some food to tame the acidity.  It should probably be drunk over the next five to ten years.  This w

2019 Mas de Valeriole Beauduc, France,

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
85
Grade: 
B
Current Price: 
$18.00USD

This is labelled as a Vin de Pays des Bouches-du-Rhône Terre de Camargue from the southern part of France near Arles.  It is made from the Marselan grape which is a crossing of Grenache and Cabernet Sauvignon.  Fermented in stainless steel with indigenous yeasts, no sulfites were utilized.  Purple/ruby in color.

2009 Domaine Frédéric Lambert En Beaumont Chateau-Chalon, France, Jura, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2009
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$65.00USD

Fascinating wine.  This is Vin Jaune (Yellow Wine) from the Jura (near the Swiss border in France).  It is made in a dry, oxidative style utilizing late harvested Savagnin grapes.  The wines are made similar to Sherry where a blanket of yeasts forms over the top as the wine is ageing for a minimum of 60 months.  This does not appear to be fortified as the label lists 14% abv.  It comes in a .625L squat bottle known as a Clavelin with a yellow wax over the cork.  Supposedly, this size allows the winemaker to start with 1 Liter which after the minimum of six years before release has reduced (

2020 Fête des Fleurs Rosé, France, Cotes de Provence, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$19.00USD

This an attractively packaged Rose from the South of France (Provence).  It is a blend of 40% Grenache, 35% Cinsault, 10% Carignan, 10% Syrah, 3% Mourvèdre, and 2% Rolle (Vermentino).  Pale pink/orange in color, clear and bright.  The nose has slight cranberries, cherries, thyme and slight salinity.  Light to medium bodied.  On the palate, this is refreshing.  Well balance, this drinks easily.  Cranberries and light cherry fruit.  Clean.  Slight bitter cherry notes on the finish.  This is nice on its own and will work well with salmon or tuna.  Drink over the next few years.  

2019 Art of Earth Vin de France Rosé Wine, Vin de France, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$14.00USD

This is a Rose blend of 70% Grenache and 30% Syrah from France.  13% abv.  This is a very tasty wine that represents a nice value.  It is a deep salmon pink/orange color, clear and bright.  The nose is nice with strawberries, slight pomegranate, with a hint of dried herbs.  Slightly oily texture.  On the palate, raspberries with pomegranate.  Clean.  Good acidity.  Nice finish.  This drinks nicely on its own and will work well with lighter foods but also fried chicken.  Drink now.  

2010 Dominique Laurent Chambertin-Clos de Bèze Vieilles Vignes, France, Burgundy, Cotes de Nuits, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2010
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$509.00USD

Pop and pour, this was surprisingly open and accessible.  Deep ruby in color, clear and bright.  This is big and bold.  On the nose, cherries, sandalwood, some black cherries and baking spice.  Full bodied.  On the palate, lots of fresh cherries and sour cherries with some underlying char.  Delicious and vital.  Long finish.  This seems to be a five to ten years from full maturity but drinking well.  It is great on its own and would delicious with salmon or tuna.  

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