Tag Archives: france

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….

Chateau Lafaurie-Peyraguey 2009, Sauternes, France

22 Saturday Jan 2022

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We had a dinner party last night and finished on this sticky, which did not go down well.  I promised myself a re-taste was in order so I reserved a glass to give it a go today.

Deep gold, nearly amber in color with shimmering legs.  The nose is almost Oloroso-like with lots of green almond.  A touch of honey, some poached apple, apricot and a hint of beeswax come through.  The nuttiness is almost overpowering.  On the palate it is sweet but not unctuous, full bodied and syrupy but lacking depth of flavor.  Medium acidity on the back end is noticed and the wine has a decently long finish.  I don’t really care for the nut profile, I was hoping for more botrytis notes.  Right now 88 points for this $50 wine, garnering 2 stars.  Next bottle coming right up………

Bottle #2- same appearance.  Less nuts, more honey, more precise and focused on rich cooked fruit and other nuances of the style.  Th palate is much better on this bottle, leading me to believe I had a slightly flawed bottle.  It still has an austere nature to it and is definitely not my style of Sauternes.  Bumping my score up to 89 points still makes it a 2 star wine.  Drink with a cheese plate, especially some Blue till 2030.  Salut….

Domaine de la Vieille Julienne Chateauneuf-du-Pape Les Trois Sources 2015, Rhone, France

11 Tuesday Jan 2022

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This Grenache blend was third up at our virtual tasting.  It showed well but was not my favorite.  Deep garnet, it was more opaque than I was expecting.  Pomegranate, raspberry, pepper, anise, kirsch, bramble and strawberry jam notes on the nose were echoed on the palate.  We also got a green olive aftertaste with cedar and charcoal on the mid palate.  Very integrated tannins, low acidity, medium bodied and a long finish made this a 91 pointer.  At $50 I was hoping it filled the 93 point hype the pros gave it, alas it was just decent.  3 stars from me.  Drink till 2025.  Salut…

Chateau de Belcier 2010, Cotes de Castillon, France

11 Tuesday Jan 2022

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Number two wine at our 23rd virtual tasting was this mature Merlot-based Bordeaux blend from the great 2010 vintage. Deep garnet with evidence of bricking in the glass.  Nose of black cherry, tobacco, graphite, musty and earthy with leather, pencil shavings, cassis and stewed strawberry.  The palate is very smooth with integrated tannins that are fully resolved.  The tertiary notes are all present alongside smoke, blackberry, blackcurrant and cedar.  The wine has a milder taste and is quite dry.  Medium bodied it has a medium length finish.  I’m going with 91 points and a drinking window up till 2025.  At $20- it’s a great intro to an aged Right Bank wine that gets 5 stars from me.  Salut….

Xavier Vignon Lirac 2016, Rhone, France

26 Sunday Dec 2021

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This blend of Grenache and Syrah is semi opaque and shows off a bright ruby color in the glass.  The legs are-a-watering- with 15% ABV that is to be expected.  The nose is quite exuberant- plums, raspberry, red licorice, blueberry pie, bacon fat, violets and charcoal.  The palate is dry with caressing tannins and medium acidity that keeps the fruit fresh.  Medium bodied- the red and blue fruits are quite pronounced and the meaty component alongside oak nuance is present as well.  The finish is medium in length and has a tannic grip for a while.  There is a slight imbalance that I cannot point a finger at that will detract a point or two.  Drinking nicely now this wine will pair with rich meaty stews, venison roasts or pasta till 2026.  90 points from me for this $20 effort makes it a 5 star wine.  Salut….

Domaine Tour Saint-Michel Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee des Deux Soeurs 2019, Rhone, France

19 Sunday Dec 2021

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This youthful blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre is semi opaque with a pretty shade of ruby/purple.  The nose is chock full of ripe raspberry, red currants, pomegranate, bacon, evergreen leaf, granite and white pepper- quite complex.  The palate is dry with pronounced flavors of red fruit, minerality, earthiness and game.  Medium bodied, this semi tannic/medium acidity wine has a nice mouthfeel with a decent length finish. Whilst young, it is offering ripe fruit enjoyment with the structure to age and develop.  I would love to have a case to document the evolution over the next 12 years.  It got high marks from the pros, I agree.  93 points for this $55 bottle makes it a 5 star effort.  I am pairing it with Venison tenderloins and an eggplant tagine.  Salut….

Domaine du Pegau Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee Reservee 2018, Rhone, France

12 Sunday Dec 2021

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Semi opaque and ruby colored, the nose has medium intensity aromas of ripe raspberries, red licorice, red currants, bacon, dried herbs, dusty earth and toast.  The palate is dry with immediate tannic grip, but not overly astringent.  Red fruit compote, plums, herbs, meaty bacon, earthiness and toast from the oak all swirl around my mouth.  It’s quite complex and nicely structured.  Medium to full-bodied, the alcohol (14.5% ABV) is well hidden but contributes to the lushness of the mouthfeel.  The finish is quite decent in length and not too dry, with just a smidge of lingering tannins.  It’s quite young but very approachable, I would estimate a drinking window till 2035.  It’s Sunday Roast Beef for dinner, nearly a perfect match.  94 points and 5 stars for this $50 Grenache/Syrah/Mourvedre blend.  Salut….

M Plouzeau Chateau de la Bonneliere Chinon Les Cornuelles 2016, Loire, France

10 Friday Dec 2021

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Chinon is a region in the Loire Valley of France where Cabernet Franc is the primary red grape.  You know how I love the varietal so I couldn’t pass this one up, especially when it was on sale for $14.  The wine itself is semi opaque and tending to garnet rather than ruby, I guess age is playing a factor here.  The nose is developed with stewed plums, black cherry, black currant pie, leather, mint and violet.  It is quite an interesting waft that got better as I swirled the glass.  On the palate this dry wine has upfront tannins, good acidity and flavors of plum, black currant, black cherry, licorice, mint and violets.  The leather and stewed plum notes are nowhere to be seen.  The tannic grip is pronounced on the back end where I get some dry gums.  It is a raw, primal wine with good fruit and structure but it is not for a big night.  A serviceable weekday wine that gets 88 points from me and should be drunk by 2026, it gets 3 stars and would go nicely with hearty stews.  Salut….

Jean Biecher et Fils Sommerberg Grand Cru Riesling 2019, Alsace, France

08 Wednesday Dec 2021

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This Alsatian Riesling is a deep shade of gold in the glass.  The nose is exquisite- tropical fruits, citrus, hints of petrol and a touch of minerality.  The aromas are very precise and clean.  The palate is dry but it has a sweetness from the tropical fruit flavors of pineapple, mango, kiwi and persimmon.  Grapefruit, lemons and tangerine round out the citrus notes and the petrol is but a faint memory.  This wine has great acidity that lurks, keeping the wine fresh yet not cutting.  I like the way the fruit flavors are layered, showing good complexity whilst the acidity is barely noticeable until the back end, where I find my jaw watering.  This is a very refreshing wine with depth that will cellar nicely yet provides immediate satisfaction.  I’m sizzling up some shrimp with garlic and asparagus on a bed of Fettuccine.  Yum.  93 points, and for $40 it’s a steal that got 96 points from the pros.  5 Stars.  Salut….