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Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle, Rhone, France

04 Saturday Jul 2026

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The last wine in the virtual wine tasting series was this stunner.  I picked three different level Rhône wines and our tasting culminated in this legendary Hermitage.  Deep ruby colored with high viscosity (15.5% ABV).  Intense aromas of ripe blackberry pie, smoked brisket, black grape jam (jammy jam as one taster joked), leather, tobacco, etc.  The palate was dry, with medium (-) acidity, a full body, and medium (+) tannins.  Intense flavors and a long finish is all I could write as I sat there and contemplated life, wine, happiness, perfection and richness of flavor and balance.  This is an immense wine, with a structure built to last decades, even the cork was extra long.  An amazing wine that showcases the best of Rhône Syrah.  I gave it a perfect score on our tasting sheet and reckon it’s in the top 3 wines our group has ever drunk- over 175 bottles and counting.  From a technical point of view, this $153 effort gets 95 points at the minimum, maybe higher, earning it a 5 star rating.  I realize it is expensive, but this is such a treat that’s drinking beautifully yet will evolve over time to be even better.  I wish I had a long term cellar so I could stuff a few away.  Salut….

Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle

Paul Avril Clos des Papes Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2021, Rhone, France

04 Saturday Jul 2026

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Continuing with the Rhône theme at our 44th virtual wine tasting- this Chateauneuf-du-Pape was a hit.  Medium (+) intensity garnet colored with medium (+) viscosity (15% ABV).  The nose had medium (+) intensity aromas of chocolate covered cherries, cherry coke, funk, creme brûlée, black cherry compote, black raspberry, tobacco, hay, barnyard, bacon fat and a slightly vegetal note.  The palate was dry, with medium acidity, a full body, and medium tannins.  We really enjoyed the medium intensity flavors and the medium length finish of this $85 blend of mainly grenache.  It will cellar nicely for a decade or two and scored 92 points technically with 18 points on our tasting sheet garnering 5 stars. Salut….

Paul Avril Clos des Papes Chateauneuf-du-Pape

Michel & Stephane Ogier d’Ampuis Plan de Dieu Le Temps est Venu 2020, Cotes du Rhone Villages, France

04 Saturday Jul 2026

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The second wine of the 44th tasting was the opener in the Rhône series.  From the broader AOC, Côtes du Rhône came this little number that runs $18 and provided us all with great pleasure.  Medium ruby/garnet colored, and a high viscosity (14.5% ABV).  The nose had medium intensity aromas of stewed strawberry, black cherry, black pepper, funk, compost, sage and garigue.  The palate was dry, with medium (-) acidity, a medium (+) body, and medium tannins.  Medium intensity flavors of black pepper, tobacco, ashtray, black cherry and funk led to a medium length finish.  The tasting group enjoyed this entry-level grenache blend and I gave it 90 points on a technical scale, 14 on our tasting sheet.  For the price- it gets 5 stars.  Drink till 20230.   Salut….

Michel & Stephane Ogier d'Ampuis Plan de Dieu Le Temps est Venu

Kirkland Signature Côtes de Provence Rosé 2025, Provence, France

13 Saturday Jun 2026

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Pale strawberry colored, with a watery sheen (12.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of lemon pith, tangerine zest, macerated cherry, white strawberry, orange blossom, and a touch of crunchy cranberry.  The palate is dry, with high acidity, and a medium (-) body.  Medium (+) intensity flavors are citrus driven, but the strawberry/cranberry notes are present.  The finish is medium (+) in length and zesty from the acidity, which keeps the wine very refreshing.  On the very back end there is a touch of bitterness, probably from the skin contact, it’s an interesting addition to this delightful wine.  A blend of Grenache (39%), Consult (26%), Syrah (18%), and Vermentino (17%).  I paid under $9 for it and will go with 88 points, making it a 4 star effort to enjoy on a hot summer’s day.  Drink now.  Salut….

Kirkland Signature Rose' Cotes du Provence

Louis Jadot Bourgogne Pinot Noir 2023, Burgundy, France

28 Tuesday Apr 2026

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Pale garnet colored, with medium viscosity (13% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of pomegranate, cherry, cranberry, rhubarb, bark, with a touch of some herbal/vegetal notes.  The palate is dry, with medium (+) acidity, a medium (-) body, and medium tannins that are surprising.  Medium intensity flavors of red fruit coupled with the lively mouthfeel make for a delightful, if somewhat one-dimensional experience.  The finish is medium (-) in length.  Overall, a very serviceable Pinot that runs $16 and gets 89 points from me making it a 4 star effort.  It’s a midweek pop-n-pour, no cellaring required or warranted.  Salut….

Louis Jadot Bourgogne Pinot Noir

Cos D’Estournel 2001, St. Estephe, France

20 Monday Apr 2026

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For my birthday weekend I opened/will open some treasures from the cellar, including the 2001 Cos.  I did not take real notes as I wanted to enjoy my family, and the wine.  It was stunning.  I remember the day I purchased the case, back in 2003?  I have tasted this wine’s evolution and it is at peak.  Delivering aromas and flavors of  everything you could image a Left Bank wine of such pedigree could offer….. Cassis, tobacco, pencil shavings, plum, blackberry, baking spice, etc etc.  The intensity on the nose and palate were both amazing and the finish clocked in as medium (+) in length.  The tannins have done a good job keeping up with Father Time, fully melded yet still gripping.  Such a lovely, silky bottle with plenty of life left.  95 points from me.  Salut….

cos d'estournel

Domaine de Rocheville Saumur-Champigny Les Pierres Blanches Cabernet Franc 2023, Loire, France

13 Monday Apr 2026

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Medium ruby colored, with medium viscosity (12% ABV).  The nose has medium (-) intensity aromas of green pepper, black raspberry, a medicinal note, charcoal, red plum, baking spice, and lingonberry.  The palate is dry, with medium (-) acidity, a medium (-) body, and medium tannins.  Medium intensity flavors overshadow the somewhat light nose.  I get red fruit, spice nuances but less of the pyrazine driven capsicum. It’s got a very soft mouthfeel and I am enjoying the slight tartness balancing out the fine grained tannins.  It’s not a heavy wine, delicate is the key, so I would pair it with lighter fare- chicken, duck, veal and maybe a filet.  It’s drinking nicely now and will cellar until 2030.  91 points, and for the $25 price point- 5 stars.  Salut….

Domaine de Rocheville Saumur-Champigny Les Pierres Blanches Cabernet Franc

Chateau Carbonnieux 2020, Pessac-Leognan, France

13 Friday Mar 2026

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Deep ruby colored, with slight staining, and a high viscosity (14.5% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of black plum, blackberry, cassis, tobacco, bramble berry, ink, cedar plank, a touch of vanilla and chocolate.  The palate is dry, with medium acidity, a medium body, and medium tannins that are quite chalky.  Medium (+) intensity flavors are noted and the finish is medium (-) in length.  The tannins are really plush, the wine offering a great mouthfeel.  I like this Bordeaux blend of 60% Cab Sav, 30% Merlot, 5% Cab Franc and 5% Petit Verdot.  It gets 90 points, and at $55- 4 stars.  It would have scored higher if the finish had more to offer.  Drink till 2030.  Salut….

Chateau Carbonnieux

Lucien Albrecht Gewurztraminer Tradition 2023, Alsace, France

12 Thursday Feb 2026

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Pale gold in color, with high viscosity (13.5% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of lychee, rose water, papaya, caramelized ginger, spun honey, white blossom, and tangerine zest.  The palate is off-dry with medium acidity, a full body, and a hint of bitterness.  Medium (+) intensity flavors of tropical fruit center around the lychee and rose water theme.  The bitterness is intriguing me, either a touch of skin contact or that’s what the grape shows off.  Either way, the sweetness, of which there is very little of, is a nice counterbalance.  It’s a delicious, if not heavy wine that I opened to pair with Gumbo.  I think the fruitiness will do well against the dark roux, Andouille, and chicken.  I paid $27 for this wine that gets 92 points from me which makes it a 5 star effort.  I think it has some decent cellaring capacity if you have patience.  Salut….

Lucien Albrecht Gewurztraminer

Domaine Laurent Martray Brouilly Corentin 2022, Beaujolais, France

13 Tuesday Jan 2026

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Deep ruby colored, with slight staining , and a medium viscosity (14% ABV).  The nose has medium (-) intensity aromas of very ripe mulberry, sweet tobacco, vanilla, baking spice, blackcurrant reduction, and pine needles.  The palate is dry, with medium (+) acidity, a medium body, and medium tannins that are powdery.  Medium (+) intensity flavors make up for the lack of intensity on the nose.  The ripeness of the fruit is amazing- the flavors of which mimic the nose but in a much more concentrated way.  The tannins are really silky smooth and lead to a nice mouthfeel.  This is not your Parisian café quaffer, it’s a pretty rich, complex, balanced and age worthy wine that is compelling me to take another sip.  It’s delicious and drinking en pointe.  The finish is medium in length and yummy.  92 points for this Gamay that I paid $30 for, getting 5 stars.  Drink till 2030.  Salut….

Domaine Laurent Martray Brouilly Corentin