France: Wine, French Wine Regions, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, & More Profiled

1988 Zind-Humbrecht Gewurztraminer Rangen de Thann Clos St. Urbain Vendange Tardive, France, Alsace, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1988
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A

The evening wasn't quite done and this fit the bill for a little something sweet to finish the night.  From a 375ml bottle.  Deep golden/orange in color.  The nose is pretty with lychees, oranges and slight simple syrup.  Also a nice underlying minerality.  On the palate, this is slightly viscous.  Much fresher than a bottle a couple of years ago.  Lychees, apricots with a bit of sweetness.  A nice bit of acidity to balance things out.  Long finish that was clean and without bitterness.  Just delicious and interesting to sip on its own, it would work with a slightly sweet dessert.  

2010 Domaine de la Janasse Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
98
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$200.00USD

This is still quite young and patience will be rewarded.  That said, if you have a few or like them young, then this is great now too.  This bottle was decanted for four hours prior to drinking.  Inky purple in color.  The nose is black raspberries, charred wood, pepper, spice but also a lovely little lavender.  On the palate, this is big.  Brooding but still shows black raspberries, blueberries, black pepper and slight charred earth.  Medium tannins.  A nice streak of acidity.  Long finish.  This wine begs for food.  Cassoulet, steak or roasted vegetables would be great.  Probably another

2010 Domaine William Fèvre Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos, France, Burgundy, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2010
Score: 
98
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$145.00USD

A stunning wine if still a bit young.  In a day when Grand Cru Burgs are priced crazily, this is about the best one that is almost affordable.  It certainly is not your typical Chablis in profile either.  Golden in color.  Not dark but not light either.  No noticeable oxidation.  The nose has peaches, slight chalk and a bit of pepper/spice.  On the palate, the peaches carry thru over a concentrated minerality.  Great round texture.  Good acidity but not bracing.  Nice finish.  In general, this is a big round wine that is just delicious.  Went well with St.

2008 Dom Pérignon Champagne Legacy Edition Label, France, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2008
Score: 
97
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$180.00USD

2008 is a great vintage for Champagne.  This is the first Dom I have tasted from that vintage.  Outstanding and also a bit unique.  Light golden in color with a very nice mousse of tiny bubbles.  On the nose, this has a a nice meyer lemon note along with an ever so slight nuttiness and a bit of smoke.  It opens slowly with air and never is a big nose at this point but does show bit of ginger root.  On the palate, this is excellent if still young.  Apple cider, fresh green apples, slight toast all mix together.  But what is really fun is the tension in the wine.  This is one of the liveliest

2016 Le Vieux Donjon Châteauneuf-du-Pape, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$65.00USD

2016 is a stellar year in Chateauneuf du Pape and the southern Rhone Valley.  While this wine has years left in it, it was wonderful to drink now.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose is great.  Clean with black cherries, dust, spice and slight lavender notes.  On the palate, this has a wonderful texture.  Juicy black cherry fruit.  An underlying minerality.  Lots of depth.  Good finish.  It is a big wine at the moment, but will no doubt mellow and gain in complexity as it loses some of that youthful fruit.  This easily has a decade and more left to it, but it really is worth drinki

2015 Daniel Bouland Morgon Corcelette Vieilles Vignes, France, Burgundy, Beaujolais, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A

Wow.  This is impressive.  For the Beaujolais purist this might be too much but for the rest of us, this is delicious and a great wine.  A prior review can be found on this site from a couple of years ago, but it has improved since then.  Purple in color.  The nose has black cherries, figs, slight black raspberries and a bit of spice.  On the palate, this has medium tannins.  Lots of black raspberry fruit with some black cherries and slight fig.  A bit of black olives too.  Deep and complex, this is delicious and interesting.  Still young, it has at least a decade and probably two left whic

2005 Domaine / Maison Vincent Girardin Vosne-Romanée Vieilles Vignes, France, Burgundy, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2005
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+

This is one of those bottles that is both good and disappointing at the same time.  It is a very good bottle, but considering the vintage, the region and yes, the price ($60 on release), it should have been better.  Still, it was good.  Deep ruby in color.  The nose has cherries, mushrooms/earthiness and spice.  On the palate, this has nice cherry fruit.  A bit of depth.  No tannins.  Decent acidity.  OK finish.  This will work better with food and fowl would be a particularly good match.  No real signs of development but no real sign of age either.  

2006 Clos des Papes, France, Rhone, Chateauneuf du Pape, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2006
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$90.00USD

This is in a great place right now.  It won't get better although it will continue to mature.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose is gorgeous with Black cherries, garrique, violets and tapenade.  On the palate, the texture is incredible.  Soft yet structured.  The wine just glides down the palate.  Lots of black raspberry fruit with some black cherries layered with a bit of earth.  Great balance.  Long finish.  This will go great with meat dishes and anything roasted.  No hurry, it should be at this level for a decade and even then some.  

2008 Drappier Champagne Grande Sendrée, France, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2008
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$100.00USD

This is delicious.  From an excellent vintage and drinking youthfully.  A blend of 55% Pinot Noir and 45% Chardonnay.  Light golden in color.  The nose shows green apples, some chalk and marzapan.  Very nice but tight.  More open on the palate.  Very lively acidity.  Green apples and minerals.  It starts out tight and broadens over the palate.  Long finish.  This will work with almost any food.  It is still young although drinking nicely but is likely to improve over the next tne years and be good for at least that long after that.  

2015 Thibault Liger-Belair Bourgogne Blanc Les Charmes, France, Burgundy, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$25.00USD

This is a very nice Chardonnay at a reasonable price.  It even says Chardonnay on the label.  Light golden in color.  The nose is nice.  Slightly chalky with flint and slight smoke.  Also some lemon.  On the palate, this has a nice acidity.  Lots of minerality with a bit of lemon fruit.  Clean.  Nice finish.  Worked well with an assortment of cheeses but will work with lighter and medium bodied foods.  It should last another five years but won't get much better if at all.  Depending on the price where you live, this is a very nice value.  

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