France

• Alsace
• Bergerac
• Bordeaux
  • Barsac
  • Bordeaux Supérieur
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  • Sauternes
• Burgundy
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  • Minervois
• Loire Valley
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  • Muscadet
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  • Sancerre
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  • Savennières
  • Touraine
  • Vouvray
• Rhone (Rhône)
  • Châteauneuf-du-Pape
  • Cornas
  • Crozes-Hermitage
  • Gigondas
  • Hermitage
  • Lirac
  • Saint Joseph
• Provence
  • Bandol
• Savoie
• Tavel

This is 80% Tannat and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon from the southwest of France.  It is still young and in need of time.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cherries, black cherries, spice and black licorice.  Full bodied with firm tannins.  On the palate, this is deep and complex if hiding behind the tannins.  Black cherry fruit with some black cherries and licorice.  Strong acidity.  Long finish if a bit drying.  Give this wine another five years and then drink over the next ten to fifteen.  It needs big food.  Coq au Vin would work well.  Plenty of upside to the score with

From the home of the Tannat grape.  This wine is 100% Tannat aged for two years in steel tanks.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has strong X-mas spice notes along with black raspberries and a slight saw dust note (interesting as the wine sees no oak).  It has a lush texture with strong acidity.  Fresh black cherry fruit.  Firm tannins.  Long finish.  The question for this wine is whether the tannins fade before the fruit.  It will work better with heartier foods such as a beef stew or vegetarian chili.  Drink over the next four to seven years.  

This is made from six of the seven authorized grapes in Champagne.  Pinot noir, Pinot Meunier, Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, Arbane, and Petit Meslier (Pinot Gris (called Fromenteau in Champagne is the one not used).  Golden in Color with a lot of tiny bubbles, clear and bright.  The nose is strong with a tad of oxidation.  Caramel, Vernor's Soda, and slight nuttiness.  Perhaps a slim touch of lemons.  A strong backbone of acidity on the palate.  A bit toasty with apples and some nuttiness comes thru.  Medium length finish.  This is very good on its own but would work better with food.  Soft che

Yes, it is just a Bourgogne, but it is Leroy, and she makes some of the best Bourgogne Blancs.  Golden in color, clear and bright.  This has a great nose with Vanilla and Fuji apples.  Slight smoke.  Medium bodied.  Good acidity.  On the palate, this is rich with nice minerality.  Lemony notes.  Long finish.  This got better with air.  This should drink well for the next decade at least.  It will work on its own and will be great with sea food.  

This is a sweet wine from Alsace France.  At just shy of 25 years old, this was beautiful.  Golden in color, a deep in color, clear and bright.  What an exquisite nose.  Is there a better nose on a wine than aged Gewurztraminer?  Lychees, honey, slight grilled grapefruit (think caramelized) and saline.  Full bodied.  Viscous.  Sweet but not cloying.  On the palate, lychees, and honey with underlying minerality.  Long finish.  Just delicious.  This is contemplative on its own but will work with more savory (or at least less sweet) fruit desserts.  Mature, but this could easily go another dec

This is a commemorative bottle for the release of the James Bond movie, No Time to Die.  Golden in color, clear and bright, with a steady stream of tiny bubbles.  The bubbles disappear quickly in the glass though.  The nose is toasty with a bit of nuttiness and brioche.  Also some smoke and slight apple.  Tart green apples on the palate.  Some depth.  Easy drinking with a long finish the begs another sip.  This is a fun wine and for a James Bond themed party would be great but at the same time, this is $20 more than the regular version and really not as good.  It is very food frien

From a 375ml bottle.  Amber/gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose is great.  Pineapples, honey and an herbal note.  Slightly sweet (but less than expected).  Good acidity.  Viscous.  On the palate, oranges and honey.  Long finish.  Very tasty.  This went well at the end of the evening all on its own but will work well with citrus or less sweet baked desserts.  Drinking great now, this will drink well over the  next twenty years.  

Once again demonstrating how long the 2005's are taking to come around.  Pop and pour (for logistic reasons), this was just starting to open at the two hour mark.  Still, a great showing though.

This is apparently available in the market and I would love to know the back story.  The 1973 has been reviewed a couple time here recently as well.  It has a Rose/pink/orange color to it, clear and bright.  The nose has apricots, butterscotch and caramel.  Viscous.  On the palate the apricots and butterscotch come thru.  Solid acidity.  Nice finish.  This is very nice and drinking well at age 49.  This would be a great birth year wine for anyone born in 1972.  It would work well with blue cheese or just in a glass by itself.  

A classically styled CdP, the word "rustic" no doubt comes to mind.  It is a blend of 65% Grenache, 15% Mourvèdre, 15% Syrah, and 5% (Cinsault, Clairette, and others).  Ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, funk and garrigue.  Full bodied.  On the palate slightly silky texture.  Medium tannins.  Cherries and black cherries with some earthiness.  Black licorice on the finish.  Drink over the next ten to fifteen years.  Great on its own, this will work nicely with braised beef.