Tag Archives: france

E. Guigal Cotes du Rhone 2018, France

23 Wednesday Mar 2022

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I was at a wine class last night and this GSM blend was one of the wines we tasted.  Having recently tried the 2016 vintage I wanted to re-visit this as a follow on.  It is deep ruby, bordering on purple.  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of black raspberry, black plum, blackberry, mint? and white pepper.  The palate of this dry wine has medium tannins, medium (-) acidity, medium body, medium (+) intensity flavors of the black fruit already mentioned and a cassis-like sweetness on the mid palate.  There is very little oak influence that I can sense.  The finish is mid length and grippy.  I like this very serviceable wine that runs $15 and gets 91 points from me.  I would drink this with strip steak till 2026.  5 stars.  Salut….

 

Xavier Vignon “SM” Côtes du Rhône NV, Rhone, France

15 Tuesday Mar 2022

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I’m having Cassoulet for dinner.  For grins I went online to see what others would pair with this rustic French dish of white beans, Duck Confit and sausage.  Well, well- they all recommended a French wine, with deference to the southern regions.  This bottle is a 50/50 blend of old vine Grenache and old vine Syrah from the North and Southern Rhone.  It is slightly cloudy and a deep shade of ruby.  The nose has pronounced aromas of black plum, black raspberry, smoke, meat, licorice, espresso, açaí and black pepper.  That’s quite complex for a $20 bottle!  The palate is tannic right off the bat.  Black fruit and red fruit combine with spice and oak nuance that are all enveloped in a mouth coating dryness from the tannins along with juicy acidity.  Full bodied, this 14.5% ABV wine is a not for the feint of heart- it is full throttle with the fruit, the tannins, the acidity and the mouthfeel.  It has a mid length finish that remains quite mouth-puckering from the relentless tannic grip.  I hope my dish mellows this 92 point wine out somewhat!  Being an NV, I am not sure when it was made but this bottle will last till 2030 at the least.  5 stars.  Salut….

M. Chapoutier Banyuls 2016, Languedoc-Roussillon, France

13 Sunday Mar 2022

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This is a first for me- Banyuls is a sweet, dessert style red wine that has been slightly fortified to halt the fermentation which leaves residual sugar.  This one is six years old and displays a deep garnet color in the glass with loads of legs showing off its 17% ABV.  The nose is quite pronounced with aromas of stewed plum, cooked red cherry, walnuts, charred oak, raisins, orange peel and strawberry tart.  The palate is off-dry and a bit furry.  Tight grained tannins coat my mouth and my upper palate immediately.  Green almonds come to mind.  I get really juicy flavors of the cooked/stewed red fruits, oak influence, nuts and orange peel.  These flavors are slightly offset by the astringency I feel throughout the whole mouthfeel.  I sense it is somewhat ‘green’, yet quite zesty, versus the silky nature of Port, which it closely resembles.  I like it, and considering it is often served as an aperitif- I can see why.  It is medium (+) bodied with a medium finish and medium (+) acidity which is a bit strange considering the grape varietal (Grenache).  Then again it’s also more tannic than expected.  The palate feels like I have been coddling a black tea pouch inbetween my cheek and gums- the intensity of the tannins is that great.  I guess that will stead the wine well in the cellar and allow it to mellow over the next 10-15 years.  I like this wine and think it is a nice intro to the style of Vin Doux Naturel.  I paid $30 for the 500ml bottle that gets 90 points and 4 stars.  Drink as an aperitif or with some soft cheese after dinner.  Salut….

Chateau Raymond-Lafon 2014, Sauternes, France

12 Saturday Mar 2022

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As I poured this medium gold colored elixir I couldn’t help but notice its viscosity.  The nose has delightful aromas of honey, apricot jam, geranium, hibiscus, citrus extract and a very unique burnt smell.  It may be from the sulfites??  The palate is sweet but not cloying.  The flavors are pronounced in strength and display textbook Botrytis notes of honey, apricot, florals, a touch of bread/yeast and nuts.  The acidity is medium and the body is full.  The honey component really shines on the mid palate along with the ripe stone fruit. The finish of this dessert wine is medium in length and really coats my mouth with sweet yummy goodness.  I love drinking this wine right now and am happy I have more bottles to watch the evolution.  It will drink well into 2030’s and gets 93 points from me.  I believe you can find a half bottle for around $30 making it a 5 star effort.  It cries for Blue cheese or Foie Gras.  Salut….

Domaine la Soumade Rasteau 2016, Rhone, France REVISITED

10 Thursday Mar 2022

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I last drank this wine three years ago and did not care for it- 88 points with the disclaimer to try again.  Well, I opened another bottle last night and was pleasantly surprised- and I figured out why.  It’s a blend of 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 10% Mourvedre.  That last component is what threw me initially.  Mourvedre has a meaty, gamey, herby flavor profile which sets it off from other varietals, especially when young.  I think it was not expected back when I first tasted it nor did I care for the flavor.  I have matured somewhat in tasting wine and definitely expanded my palate somewhat.

Inky and opaque, this wine is a deep purple color.  The nose has pronounced aromas of black fruit, game, green herbs, charred oak, licorice and white pepper.  The palate is dry, with gripping/young tannins.  The acidity is quite high in this full bodied wine. The bold, black fruit flavors are enveloped in searing tannins on the mid palate.  The oak influence and gamey notes play second fiddle to blackberry, black plum and graphite.  This is not a wine to serve to the uninitiated- it’s not a sipping wine either.  It needs a big, juicy hunk of meat, either beef or lamb to mellow out the tannins and complement the bold flavors.  I can see why the pros went upwards of 95 points on this $20+ wine.  I’m thinking 92.  It gets 5 stars technically, but like I said, be ready for a different beast with this one.  Drink till 2030.  Salut….

Domaine Faiveley Gevrey-Chambertin 2006, Cote de Nuits, France

24 Thursday Feb 2022

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I was reading an olde book about French wines, written a few years ago and chock full of iconic classics.  I stumbled across a Burgundy wine that I recognized so I checked my cellar and sure enough I had a bottle or two of this 2006 Gevrey-Chambertin.  My mind was instantly made up- Duck Confit and a glass of this aged Pinot Noir would fit my dinner plans perfectly.  I needed help getting the cork out, the Ah-so was a savior…

For a 16 year old Burgundy there is plenty of medium ruby color with virtually no sign of bricking.  The nose is exactly what I was hoping for.  Stewed cherry, barnyard, garigue, dried herbs and cooked strawberry essence.  Very little oak is evident but the tertiary notes are singing.  On the palate it is very smooth, tart, dry and still very tannic.  Medium (+) intensity flavors of cooked cherry dominate with supporting notes of raspberry, strawberry and rhubarb crumble.  The barnyard/garigue and dried herb components are present but the tartness is a bit much.  It is medium (-) bodied and has a mid length finish.  This is still a young wine with more evolution left, which contradicts the original assumptions that it would peak in 2013.  There is plenty of structure and fruit to last until 2028 at the least.  Under-scored and under-estimated- this $80 wine gets 92 points from me and 5 stars.  Glad I cellared a few bottles, looking forward to more evolution.  Salut….

Lillet Blanc NV, France

23 Wednesday Feb 2022

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In my wine studies I have started to explore the nether-regions of the grape.  I’ve been trying out Port, Sherry, Vermouth and today I am looking at a white aperitif called Lillet that is made from 85% white Bordeaux blends and 15% macerated fruit liquors that fortify the wine to 17% ABV.  Served alone or mixed with a myriad of seltzers and sparklers it can make some very refreshing summer drinks or even to spice up a Martini a’la 007.

This offering is medium gold in the glass and has pronounced aromas of blood oranges, blossom, candied orange peel, honeysuckle and a pink grapefruit spritz.  Very citrus-and-floral driven.  The palate is off-dry and smooth.  I can sense the alcohol on the initial palate, but then again I am tasting it at room temperature versus well chilled as advised.  Medium (+) intensity flavors of said citrus and floral notes plus a full bodied mouthfeel make for quite an entrance.  It has medium acidity and a long finish.  I do sense the alcohol burn on the back end which will theoretically not matter much if you dilute it with seltzer or beef it up with Gin or Vodka.  By itself this one should be chilled and enjoyed over the rocks perhaps?  I like it and now that the bottle is open I must consume it forthwith or else it will oxidize.  For $20 it’s probably a good addition to any well stocked bar.  Salut….

Gustave Lorentz Riesling Vieilles Vignes Altenberg de Bergheim 2015, Alsace Grand Cru, France

14 Monday Feb 2022

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It’s Valentine’s Day and we are steaming up some Lobster tails with drawn butter and baked potatoes.  Need I say more?  A Riesling is about as perfect a pairing for that combo as I can imagine.  This one happens to be a Grand Cru that was recommended to me by a wine-drinking friend.

It is pale gold in the glass.  The nose has pronounced aromas of lemon zest, tangerine, lime cordial, honeysuckle, jasmine, quince and white peach- mesmerizing.  The palate is dry with bracing acidity, medium (+) body, long finish and generous mouthfeel.  The palate is chock full of citrus and florals with some white peach and ginger. The acidity is immense on the back end where the fruit flavors manage to survive the onslaught.  This wine begs for the butter I am about to throw at it, it is so crisp.  Delicious now, this one will last a long time in the cellar and hopefully develop tertiary notes that good Rieslings are known for- I feel like I committed wine infanticide.  92 points from me for this $50 treat makes it a 5 star wine.  Salut….

Domaine du Viking Vouvray Tendre 2016, Loire, France

01 Tuesday Feb 2022

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I have always enjoyed wine from the Vouvray appellation where they make great Chenin Blanc, the majority of which is sparkling.  This one happens to have a bit of bottle age and is a stunning deep gold color.  12.5% ABV shows off barely a leg in the glass but the color is exquisite.  The nose has pronounced aromas of pineapple, pear, green apple, acacia and quince.  I’m also getting a touch of honeysuckle.  The palate is off-dry and full bodied.  Wow, the fruit just coats my mouth.  The acidity is medium (+) and the flavors are persistent- really ripe pineapple, green apple, fresh grated ginger, quince and floral notes of acacia and honeysuckle.  The back end is stunning- ripe fruit, great acidity and tremendous balance that goes on for a while.  This is a blockbuster of a white wine that will pair well with hearty fowl, Asian dishes, cheese boards and full throttle fish like Mackerel.  93 points from me make this $24 wine a no-brainer 5 point wine that will drink nicely till 2026.  Salut….

Edmond Cornu et Fils Les Bons Ores Chorey Les Beaune 2014, Burgundy, France

27 Thursday Jan 2022

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I’m roasting a rustic chicken so Pinot Noir is my choice of red.  This Burgundy is pale garnet, showing off its 7 years of age.  The nose gives off a decent amount of sour cherry, some mushrooms, a bit of earth, stewed strawberry and pomegranate molasses.  The palate is quite tart with sour cherry notes, that earthy funk and a hint of the strawberry.  The wine is dry but very light on the tannic structure.  They are very well integrated.  The mouthfeel shows light to medium body and it finishes with a sour twist that lasts a good long while.  I get no evidence of new oak in this wine, nor is there much complexity.  It is a basic, everyday wine that fits in nicely with my Coq dinner.  I would also pair it with lighter meat dishes, pasta with red sauce or even a stew.  88 points for this $35 effort makes it a 3 star effort to drink by 2028.  Salut….