France: Wine, French Wine Regions, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, & More Profiled
Wow. Stunning showing and WOTN at our tasting group's annual holiday party. This seems to be about at peak, but it also has some youth so perhaps it will get better. Ruby in color, if a bit flat. The nose is gorgeous with cherries, cinnamon, slight wet tobacco notes and just a bit of woodiness.
This is the second wine of Beaucaillou. I have always thought that as second wines go, this is one of the best. This is drinking beautifully right now. Purple/ruby in color. No real sign of it being 23 years old. The nose is dusty with cassis, slight cedar and just a bit of tobacco. There is also some volatile acidity. On the palate, this is surprisingly fresh and lively. It has a lovely texture. Plenty of cassis fruit. Medium tannins. Some depth. Moderate finish. This drinks more youthfully than expected. If this bottle is representative, this should easily go another ten to
This was a good showing for this wine from what is a very hard and slow to mature vintage. At age 24, however, this one seems to be about at peak. Ruby in color with some browning. The nose is tight but eventually shows cassis, dust and slight soy sauce. On the palate, this again takes some time to open. This was pop and pour, but an hour decant might have been a good idea. Eventually, it shows cassis over a forest floor. It unwinds in the glass showing nice layering. Mild tannins. Medium finish. This should certainly drink well for the next decade. It works better with food and
This has always been a controversial style. Perhaps it is because it was release in an excellent vintage and a ripe one at that, but is made in an older, less ripe style. It depends on what you are looking for. Ruby in color with some browning. The nose is very earthy with tobacco, slight bell pepper and black cherries. On the palate, this has light tannins, cherry fruit and some complexity. The bell pepper returns a bit on the finish. It is quite enjoyable but certainly not a thrill ride that Mouton can, at time, provide. It won't get any better from here and is either at peak or a
This was initially very dusty on opening. I thought there might be some TCA, but it was just bottle stink as it blew off. After that, it kept getting better for the next couple of hours. Ruby in color with some browning, a bit flat. The nose had dust, cassis, dried currents and a bit of funk. On the palate, this has slight tannins still. Cherries and dried cherries. Some complexity. Probably a bit past peak but still drinking quite well. It works better with food and was excellent with stuffed mushrooms. This probably needs to be consumed sooner than later although it should still
Any time one gets a chance to drink Mouton it is special. Even if it wasn't from a stellar vintage. Such is the case here. Sort of a dark brown/ruby in color. The nose has cinnamon but not really much else going on. On the palate, this has tart acidity. Slight dried cherry fruit. It does have a nice texture. It is certainly drinkable if old. No point waiting on these any longer. It will work better with food. This was consumed with a group and a couple of them really enjoyed it. Such is wine.
Yowza. This is certainly a step up from the 2000 P2 and the regular 2002 version of this wine. The P2 signifies that is saw about another 8 years of bottle ageing (under cork) before its final dosage. The dosage is also less sugar than the regular version. Just a stunning and youthful wine. Light golden in color. The nose is great. It has this quality not too unlike homemade pie dough. Not yeasty but doughy. Also some tart lemons and minerals. On the palate, this has a lemon candy quality with minerals underneath. Tart lemons on the finish. This is persistent and lengthy and see
I opened this to drink blind to start off one of my tasting groups annual parties. Although it obviously has some age to it, it is drinking very well.
Every once in a while you open a bottle and its at peak. It is a great feeling. This was one of those times. Deep ruby in color. The nose is great with black cherries, minerals, slight floral notes and garrique. On the palate, this is layered and complex. At the same time it drinks fresh and with vibrancy. Plenty of black cherry fruit, some black licorice, and charred earth. Long finish. This is delicious on its own and will work great with casseroles and roasts. It should be here for three to five years and then slowly fade while still great for another ten or so.
I don't buy much white Burgundy anymore, but this one was reasonably priced and meant for short term drinking so I tried. Glad I did. Light golden in color. The nose is slightly buttery with red apples and slight smoke/minerality. Medium bodied. On the palate, this is crisp with red apples and slight lemon. Good finish. This is enjoyable if not really showing a "sense of place". It will work well with sea food and fowl dishes or buttery pasta. Assuming no pre-mature oxidation, this should last for ten years at least.
