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 was purchased on release during a visit to the winery.  It has improved a bit in the intervening four years.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose has a lot of lemons with underlying minerality.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, this is dry.  Great minerality with a bit of lemons.  It has some depth though still drinking youthfully.  Very concentrated.  Nice finish.  This went great with Thai food.  It will drink fine on its own but would work better with food.  Drink over the next ten to twelve years.  

This sweet Chenin Blanc from the Loire Valley in France so no signs of ageing at all.  Light yellow/gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose has pears, honey, white peaches, with a bit of crushed shells and salinity.  Full bodied.  Slightly viscous.  On the palate, this is sweet but just a bit, certainly not cloying.  Good acidity.  The honey, peaches and and minerality come thru.  A very long finish.  This wine is deep and stops the drinker in his or her tracks.  It drinks great on its own and might be harder to match with food.  A not too sweet shortbread cookie or a soft goat cheese wo

This is an inexpensive 100% Merlot.  In good vintages, these are great places to look for values and nice wines that are accessible.  And this one, hits all the marks.  Deep ruby in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has raspberries, plums and slight spice.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, the raspberries continue along with some black cherries.  Moderate finish.  This is a tasty, fruit forward style of Merlot.  It improves with a bit of air.  Drinks fine on its own but will work better with some food.  Roasted veggies or fowl would be a nice match.  Drink over the next three to five

Tasted over two nights, it was better on the second.  This carries the name Pinot Noir on the label as well.  Ruby in color, clear and bright.  The nose has raspberries, rhubarb and slight cherries.  Also, a slight dill note.  Odd as this sees no wood at all.  On the palate, the red fruits carry thru if a bit thin.  There is a green note especially on the finish.  This was disjointed on opening but with air settled a bit.  It is an easy going Pinot Noir that is unremarkable in most aspects.  It will work better with some lighter food, perhaps chicken salad.  Dirnk over the next couple of ye

Gorgeous wine.  Pop and pour, this kept improving.  Still needs another ten to twelve years to maturity.  Ruby in color with slight brown hues, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is great with cherries, black cherries, black tea, and moist earth.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this is layered but tight.  Complex layers of earth, cherries and spice.  Light tannins.  Still has plenty of fruit and also oak to  integrate.  Long finish.  Delicious.  This should easily go another twenty to thirty years.  Drink on its own or with any fowl or hearty sea food.  This could easily work with a roast or

Splendid bottle consumed while still youthful but showing some maturity.  Ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is great with cherries, macerated cherries, slight earthiness, just a hint of oak spice.  Medium to full bodied.  Layers of cherries, black cherries, funk and spice.  Light but present tannins.  Yes, some funk and oak but overall very clean.  Enough fruit to finish the job in another five years, but great now.  Long finish.  Contemplative on its own, this will work well with food as well.  Anything from roasted duck to Kung Pao Chicken.  This should easily go another f

Always one of the top Chateauneuf's and also a bit different than most due to the higher amounts of Mourvedre in the blend.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is classic Beaucastel which can be polarizing.  Black cherries, plums and a fair bit of barnyard.  Very earthy.  Full bodied.  On the palate, lots of black cherries and plums but cleaner earthiness than the nose.  Complex, deep and layered.  Long finish.  This is at peak right now if well stored.  Drink over the next seven to ten years.  This drinks well on its own but will be better with food.  Braised meats or roasted ve

One of the top producers in Chateauneuf, at age 15, this is singing.  Deep garnet in color, clear and bright.  The nose is great with cherries, kirsch, licorice, slight dried flowers and spices.  Medium to full bodied.  What a great texture.  Lush yet energetic.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Lots of kirsch notes with underlying clean earthiness.  Complex and layered.  Long finish.  Sure seems just about at peak but should drink well for another ten years.  Great on its own, even better with food.  Stews or roasts would be great.  

Alsace is a nice source for affordable dry Rieslings.  This one is light gold in color.  The nose has grapefruit, slight peach and minerality.  Medium bodied.  Dry on the palate.  More about minerals than fruit.  Easy to drink.  Nice finish.  This was under $20 and certainly worth the price.  Drink over the next five to seven years.  This will work well with Thai food.  

Another new winery for me.  This was quite good.  A blend of 75% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 5% Mourvèdre.  Deep ruby in color with purple swirls.  Great nose of cherries, black cherries, floral notes, and spice.  Clean.  On the palate, this is medium bodied and quite concentrated.  Black cherries and cherries over a clean spice and earth.  Nice balance.  Good finish.  This still needs three to five years to maturity and should be good for ten after that.  It worked well with vegetarian chili.