France

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Chablis continues to be an excellent source or white Burgundy especially when considering the price and the premox issues.  While Chablis is not immune on either issue, it is a bit better on both.  This is a newer-ish producer making some great wines and reasonable pricing.  Light silvery gold in color.  The nose is very nice with green apples and chalk.  Very clean.  On the palate, those flavors continue with a nice depth and complexity.  Very nice acidity.  Some grapefruit as well.  Long finish.  This will work great with salads and sea foods but also with fowl dishes.  It really does beg

Though young, this is drinking quite well and in "Burgundy" terms a good value.  Deep garnet in color.  The nose has cherries, spice, and slight black cherries.  The texture on this wine is very pretty.  Round but intense.  Lots of black cherry fruit and some underlying earthiness.  Good balance.  Nice finish.  This should continue to improve for five to ten years and be good for another five to ten after that.  It will pair well with game or fowl.  

Château de Fargues probably doesn't get enough recognition and 2001 is one of the all time great vintages in Sauternes.  This was an excellent showing and a great way to finish an evening.  A very cool looking orange/red in color.  The nose has orange peel and honey.  A bit of Crem Brulee.  On the palate, this is viscous although not as sweet as expected (which is fine).  The orange peel carries thru with good acidity.  Plenty of depth.  A very long finish.  Still on the young side, this should develop further.  

This is drinking well.  Probably at or close to peak at this point.  Ruby/purple in color.  The nose has black raspberries, black cherries, slight floral notes and garrique.  On the palate, there is some oak showing though this is brought up more in tank than barrel.  Perhaps just from concentrated old vine/stems?  Cherries, black raspberries and slight funk.  Starting to show some layering though that will doubtless expand over the next decade.  I don't think it get's better but will continue to morph, so it depends on how you like them.  Nice finish.  This is very food friendly and would

Wow.  A spectacular wine.  This is of course very young but it is so delicious and enjoyable.  It won't hit peak for a decade at least.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is peppery with black cherries, spice, soy, garrique and floral notes.  On the palate, this is viscous with a wonderful texture.  Lots of black cherry and black raspberry fruit.  A bit of liqueur.  Long finish.  This is made from 100% Grenache.  Right now it's a difficult food match but give it time in the cellar and it should be great with meats and fowl.  It you have a few though, you would be missing somethi

Beautiful showing for this thirty-one year old wine.  While I don't think it will get better, it still has plenty of life left.  Garnet in color, clear and bright.  The nose is earthy with cherries, slight funk and a bit of dried fruits.  On the palate, layers of black raspberry fruit, earth and slight funk.  Deep and complex.  Enough youth and acidity to keep things interesting.  This is at peak.  It will work better with food at this point.  Roasted meats and vegetables, stews but also Indian food would be great.  Should easily last another ten years if well stored.  

This is drinking about at peak right now.  It is a very pretty wine.  Light ruby/orange in color, clear and bright but very light.  The nose is earthy with macerated cherries and a bit of funk.  Just a bit of mint on the end of the nose.  On the palate, this is very soft with light tannins still present.  Cherries and cherry juice.  A bit of forest floor underneath.  Long finish.  A very pretty Burgundy that is everything one could have hoped for on release.  It will work with a wide variety of foods.  

This is their Estate St.

OK, this one surprised me and exceeded my expectations.  This is again what Chave calls their negociant line but they do own the vineyards.  It is about one fifth the price of the Estate Hermitage.  I am not sure what I was expecting but those expectations were low considering the above and that 2014 was not a great year in the Northern Rhone.  Well, this wine was delightful.  It may not make three decades, but for the next decade, this is an awesome Syrah.  Purple in color.  The nose is great with black raspberries, violets, black pepper and slight barnyard.  Medium tannins.  On the palate

Another wine from this relatively new producer.  This is a very interesting style of Côte-Rôtie and is what I assume is traditional.  It is a much lighter style of wine and for those looking for a low alcohol, low oak alternative for Syrah in general and Côte-Rôtie in particular, this fits the bill.  Deep garnet in color.  The nose has cherries and a bit of brown sugar.  Almost candied.  On the palate, this is very soft.  Notes of cherries and iced tea.  No tannins.  Slight black licorice on the finish.  This clocks in at 13% Abv.  It really is a food wine and will do better on the dinner t