France

• Alsace
• Bergerac
• Bordeaux
  • Barsac
  • Bordeaux Supérieur
  • Margaux
  • Graves
  • Haut-Medoc
  • Listrac
  • Pauillac
  • Pomerol
  • Saint Emilion
  • Saint Estephe
  • Saint Julian
  • Sauternes
• Burgundy
  • Beaujolais
  • Bourgogne
  • Chablis
  • Côte de Nuits
  • Mercurey
• Cahors
• Champagne
• Cognac
• Corsica
• Gascony
• Jura
  • Arbois
• Languedoc-Roussillon
  • Minervois
• Loire Valley
  • Bourgueil
  • Jasnières
  • Muscadet
  • Mont Louis
  • Sancerre
  • Saumur
  • Savennières
  • Touraine
  • Vouvray
• Rhone (Rhône)
  • Châteauneuf-du-Pape
  • Cornas
  • Crozes-Hermitage
  • Gigondas
  • Hermitage
  • Lirac
  • Saint Joseph
• Provence
  • Bandol
• Savoie
• Tavel

This is a white wine from the east central part of France along the Swiss border.  Green/gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose is fragrant, almost "skunk weed" (think summer outdoor concerts) along with a bit of minerality and a slight oxidized peach note.  Medium bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, this is a bit sweet.  Slight pineapple, honey and minerality.  Strong acidity.  It takes some getting used to but then delivers nicely.  It would be better with food and went well with a variety of cheeses.  Drink over the next few years.  This is a wine to serve to wine geeks and prob

This is a sparkling wine made in the traditional method from 100% Chenin Blanc in the Loire Valley.  Light golden in color with a nice mousse of medium to smaller bubbles.  The nose is nice with good minerality along with a bit of red apples.  Medium bodied.  Good balance.  On the palate, this drinks easy.  The slightest bit of sweetness makes it nice on its own but is still food friendly.  It would work with most foods.  Fried chicken should work well.  Drink over the next couple of years.  

This is 80% grenache with 10% Syrah and 10% Cinsault.  It is a more traditionally styled CdP.  Garnet in color, mostly clear and bright with some purple swirls.  The nose has black cherries, cherries, black raspberries, slight floral notes, and spice.  Medium bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, this has flavors of black cherries, black raspberries, slight earthiness and spice.  This seems about fully mature but should drink well for another five to eight years.  Better with food, this worked well with assorted pizzas.  

This is a Rosé wine from master Rhone producer Michel Chapoutier.  It is a blend of 60% Cinsault and 40% Grenache aged in stainless steel.  Salmon pink in color with some pale orange hues, clear and bright.  The nose is great with strawberries, cherries, slight watermelon and a bit of dry earth.  Medium bodied.  Very lite but present tannins.  On the palate, this is crisp and dry and refreshing.  Flavors of strawberries and watermelons.  Easy to drink.  Moderate finish.  This is a great summer sipper on its own and will work well with lighter foods and would be a nice wine with grilled fish

This is a blend of Grenache 75% and Syrah 15% along with ten percent Cinsault, Mourvedre, and Carignan.  Deep garnet with purple swirls, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is lovely with cherries, black cherries, spices, black pepper, slight black olives and black raspberries.  Medium to full bodied.  Slight tannins.  On the palate, juicy black cherries and cherries with spice and char.  Nice finish.  This drinks easy on its own and will work well with grilled meats, fowl or veggies.  Drink over the next three to five years.  

Another great value in Cotes du Rhone.  Purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is great with black cherries, cherries, floral notes, spices, and black olives.  Medium bodied.  Good acidity.  On the palate, this has nice depth and some complexity.  Black cherry fruit with some cherries and just a hint of strawberries.  Nice texture.  Light tannins.  Good finish.  This is delicious on its own and will work well with food.  This would be a classic match with cassoulet.  Drink over the next three to five years.  

Cotes du Rhone wines have been and continue to be some of the best values in wine.  This is a blend of Grenache, Carignan and Syrah.  Purple in color with some ruby hues, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is interesting and nice with black cherries, black raspberries, spices, slight purple flowers and slight chocolate.  Great full bodied texture.  Good balance.  On the palate this is delicious.  It has depth and some complexity.  Flavors of black cherries, black raspberries, spice and char.  Nice finish.  This is great on its own and will work well with food.  This is a great choice for g

Very nice value in Chablis.  Light gold in color with some hay hues, clear and bright.  The nose is great with lemons, slight Granny Smith apples, and a bit of crushed shells.  Medium bodied.  Nice texture.  Good balance.  On the palate, this is nice.  Nothing profound but good wine that is drinking well.  Flavors of green apples with slight lemons and minerality.  Long finish.  This is nice on its own but better with food.  A nice choice for grilled Halibut.  Drink over the next five years.

Having recently tried the 2022 (https://www.intowine.com/reviews?region=&varietal=&uid=Loren+Sonkin&scor...) it was great to be able to try the 2023 version.  it is a  blend of Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah, Mourvedre, and Rolle grapes.  Salmon pink in color with some orange hues, clear and bright.  The nose is great with plenty of force. 

This is a blend of 60% Grenache, 35% Syrah, and 5% Viognier from southern France.  Salmon pink/orange in color, clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, slight strawberries, floral notes, salinity, and slight citrus.  Light to medium bodied.  On the palate, pink grapefruit comes out along with a touch of strawberries.  There is some residual sugar here making this almost demi-sec.  Tasty.  Good finish.  This is a light and breezy wine that is drinking well and reasonably diverse as far as food pairings.  It would be great with a Beet and Roasted Goat Cheese Salad.  Drink over the next year