France

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• Tavel

From a tremendous vintage, but this Sauternes is great in just about any vintage and one of the more reasonably priced ones at that.  This was purchased on release and well stored.  Medium golden/orange in color.  The nose is great with honey, slight pineapple, slight saline and canned peaches.  Medium to full bodied.  On the palate, this is sweet not cloying.  It has dropped some of its sweetness in the 19 years since release.  Lots of depth and complexity.  Layers of peaches, minerals and honey.  Good acidity.  Nice finish.  This is great on its own and will work with a not too sweet frui

Always one of the great value whites, it had been a few vintages since I had tried this.  Still quite good.  It is a blend of 40% Sylvaner, with Pinot Blanc Auxerrois, Riesling, and Pinot Gris, and a little Gewürztraminer, Muscat Ottonel and Muscat d’Alsace. The name Gentil is therefore reserved for AOC Alsace wines fulfilling the superior-quality blending standards.

From a tremendous, if very ripe, vintage.  Deep ruby in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cherries, black cherries, cola and slight earthiness.  This has a great lush texture.  The black cherry fruit comes out on the palate with some cherries and underlying minerality.  Clean.  Nice balance.  Long finish.  Tasted blind, one might think California but on the more elegant side.  Still on the youthful side, this should develop a bit more.  drink over the next ten to fifteen years.  This will work well with roasted foul or slow cooked braised meat dishes.  

This was popped and poured but it took about an hour to blow off some bottle stink and another hour to really get into gear.  It would have been better served to pop the cork and allowed to breathe for a few hours.  Luckily, we had the time to wait.  Ruby in color, clear and bright.  The nose (after a couple hours) is nice with cherries, earthy funk and slight floral notes.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, this has cherries layered with earthiness.  Slightly soft.  Deep.  Nice finish.  This is drinking well now and will not get better.  From a very good if not great vintage.  Drink over the

A phenomenal wine in a phenomenal vintage.  Dom really nailed it in 2008.  Light green/gold in color with lots of tiny bubbles.  The nose has lemons, brioche, and slight smoke.  On the palate, this is seamless.  Smooth.  Tart lemons, chalk and crushed rocks.  A very long finish.  Delicious and deep.  This is still young with lots of energy.  It should drink like this for another ten years before starting to mature for another twenty to thirty after that.  It will work with virtually any food.  An incredible wine.   

Another gorgeous bottle from one of the top producers of Vouvray.  Light golden in color.  The nose is great.  Lots of minerality with pears, quince and saline.  On the palate, this is medium bodied.  Ripe quince and orange peel with underlying minerality.  Great smooth texture.  Nice balance.  Long finish.  This is slightly sweet but certainly not overt.  This should last for a couple of decades although Huet has had some issues with random bottles prematurely oxidizing.  Still, laying a few down and drinking some young is a nice strategy.  This drinks great on its own and would work well

It can be really fun to taste older wines.  At age 47, this one is drinking nicely.  Deep golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose shows just a hint of oxidation with apricots and honey and white raisins.  Full bodied and slightly viscous.  Nice acidity.  On the palate, this is sweet with honeyed apricots.  Nice finish.  The bottle was then stuck in the fridge for a few weeks.  Upon re-tasting, it was still fresh and vibrant.  Who know how long this may last.  Drinks well on its own and worked well with various cheeses.  

This winery calls itself the first garage wine from Margaux.  Deep ruby with some purple at the core.  The nose is very nice if a bit more earthy than what I think of for Margaux.  That is it has cassis, barnyard funk, blueberries and spice.  Full bodied and a luxurious mouthfeel.  On the palate, cassis and blueberries with underlying funk.  This is showing some maturity but not fully there.  Maybe another few years, but this should drink well for at least another decade.  Medium tannins.  Nice finish.  A delightful wine to drink on its own, it will also work well with roasted meats, fowl o

By.Ott is a third line of wines from Domaines Ott, the venerable producer of wines in southern France.  These are a tad less expensive but still on the pricier side of Provence rosé's.  The blend is 60% Grenache, 25% Cinsault, 10% Syrah and 5% Mourvèdre.  Pale pink in color, shimmering bright and clear.  The nose is very pretty with cherries, strawberries, minerals and slight grapefruit.  Light bodied.  Very refreshing.  Easy drinking.  The cherries and citrus carry thru to the palate.  This should be consumed in the next couple of years to enjoy its freshness.  This drinks well on its own

A lovely wine.  Light golden in color.  The nose is gorgeous with honey, quince, slight orange peel.  On the palate, this is viscous.  Sweet not cloying.  Lots of depth with enough acidity to keep things lively.  The honey and quince carry thru to the palate.  A very long finish.  This is delicious but also contemplative.  It drinks great on its own and would work with less sweet desserts.  This should continue to evolve and drink well for the next thirty years.  A real treat.