France

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This is an inexpensive Rose by the makers of Whispering Angel Rose.  It is nice but definitely a step or two down from its big sister.  12.5%  ABV.  A blend of Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault.   Very pale pink/orange in color, clear and bright.  The nose has some watermelon and a hint of strawberries.  Light bodied.  On the palate, the strawberries are more the driving force.  There isn't much acidity here, so it drinks better on its own or with light foods.  Drink over the next year.  

Another great bottle from this, arguably the best, producer of Vouvray.  This is Chenin Blanc at its best.  Light golden/silver in color, clear and bright.  The nose is great with quince, slight peach, saline, and lots of crushed shells and minerals.  Medium bodied and slightly viscous texture.  On the palate, this is dry.  Peach, quince with minerals underneath.  well balanced acidity.  Very smooth.  Long finish.  This is delicious.  Of course, this is quite young but it comes out firing on all cylinders.  It should drink well for the net twenty years.   This drinks great on its own (it to

Purchased on release and well cellared, this has help up great.  Deep garnet in color with some purple hues, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, slight earthiness, a hint of floral notes.  Uncharacteristically for this winery, this was clean with no animal or barnyard notes.  Medium to full bodied.  Lively.  No sign of age.  On the palate, vibrant cherry and black cherry fruit with a modicum of complexity.  Long finish.  Different bottles will vary at this stage, so it probably should be drunk sooner than later, but this bottle would have gone another ten.  Nice with food than

This is yet another example of why to buy top producers in less than top vintages.  At age 17, this was drinking amazingly well.  Purple in color with ruby swirls and ruby at the rim, mostly clear and bright.  What a nose.  Black cherries, leather, slight earthiness/barnyard and even a hint of floral.  Full bodied.  Lush texture.  On the palate, this is delicious and complex.  Layers of black cherries, earth and spice.  Great balance.  Long finish.  The would appear to be at peak, so I would drink sooner than later but it should drink well for another ten to twelve years as it moves past pe

The basic Châteauneuf from this producer from a very HOT vintage.  Truthfully, I was surprised to find this in the cellar and wasn't sure it would have held up.  Wrong.  It drank great.  Perhaps not the complexity of other vintages, but lots of delicious fruit made for a very nice drink.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose offers up plums, black cherries, some spice, and a bit of black olive.  Medium bodied.  Tannins all resolved.  Full bodied, smooth texture.  On the palate, plums, cherries and black cherries with slight char.  Nice finish.  This needs to be consumed sooner than

This is a wine from the right bank of Bordeaux appellation Pomerol that was new to me.  It is 100% Merlot.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, plums, black raspberries, cedar and spice.  Medium bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, lots of red and some purple fruits with layers of cedar and slight earthiness.  This should continue to mature and improve over the next decade and drink well for ten to twelve more after that.  This would go well with roasted eggplant dishes.  

 This is the second wine of Château Tour Baladoz.  It is produced made from the youngest vines and consists of 90% Merlot.  Deep ruby in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cherries, slight milk chocolate and spice.  Full bodied.  On the palate, there are light tannins.  The cherries and chocolate come thru with slight earthiness.  Nice finish.  Not profound but tasty and easy drinking.  Drink over the next five to ten years.  This drinks well on its own and would be a nice match with stuffed peppers.  

This is a blend of Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris grapes.  Deep salmon pink with orange hues.  There are a lots of tiny bubbles making a nice mousse.  On the nose, there is orange peel, slight strawberries, and apples.  Medium bodied.  Good acidity.  On the palate, cherries and apples with a bit of minerality.  Long finish.  This is very tasty.  Drink over the next few years.  This will work well with a wide variety of foods.  Pulled pork sandwiches to grilled tuna would work.  

Always a privilege to be able to drink Yquem.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  Great nose with honey, slight caramel, apricots, slight pineapple and slight ginger.  Full bodied.  Viscous.  Sweet not cloying with good acidity.  On the palate, honey, slight mandarin orange, apricots and a bit of burnt sugar.  Long, long, finish.  Stunning if young.  Drink this over the next fifty years.  This will work with some desserts but really deserves to be served on its own.  It will improve a bit as it matures.  

Crazy history on this winery but I am not going into that here.  This particular bottle was very nice.  Deep ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is nice with cherries, spice, and slight smoke.  Maybe a hint of funk.  Medium bodied with slight tannins.  On the palate, this is mature and drinking well.  Cherries, slight rhubarb and earthy undertones.  Good acidity.  Nice finish.  This should continue to drink well for another eight to ten years.  Lamb chops would work well.