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 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.  

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.  

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.

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.  

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.  

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.  

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.  

These wines are some of my favorite expressions of Sauvignon Blanc from anywhere.  At age 9, this is still on the young side but drinking well.  Green/gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose has limes, minerals, salinity and slight hay notes.  Medium bodied.  Crisp acidity.  On the palate, tart limes, slight yellow grapefruit with underlying minerals.  Long finish.  Delicious.  This drinks well on its own and will work well with seafood or lighter salads.  Drink over the next ten to twelve years.  

This is a blend of 70% Chardonnay and 30% Pinot Noir.  Straw gold in color.  A steady bead of tiny bubbles.  The nose is nice with apples, slight peach, spice and a bit of baked bread.  Full bodied.  Firm structure at age 16.  On the palate, red fuji apple, some green apples, some salinity and minerality.  Lots of depth, it unwinds in the glass to show a delicious complexity.  Long, tart finish.  This wine drinks beautifully on its own and will work well with just about any food.  Fried foods would be perfect.  Drink over the next ten to fifteen years.  

A nice solid Champagne.  Light golden in color with a persistent stream of tiny bubble.  The nose has toast and limes.  Medium bodied.  Good acidity.  On the palate, nice lemon lime notes. Clean finish.