Tag Archives: france

Tremblay-Marchive Vau de Vey 2019, Chablis Premier Cru, France

03 Friday Sep 2021

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As summer comes to a close I am looking forward to some hearty reds yet still have a few chilled whites to taste- here goes as we are having sushi tonight and this Chablis might just fit the bill.

It’s a medium intensity lemon color with a nice citrus nose compounded with pineapple, blossom and wet stone- it’s a steely affair as expected from this region.  The palate is crispy with juicy acidity.  This Burgundian Chardonnay is a dry wine that has a good body and quite pronounced flavors of lemon, lime, grapefruit and pineapple.  The stony, mineral component is most definitely apparent on the mid palate and the wine finishes with good length.  I like the floral notes throughout and nearly wince at the acidity- it’s very crisp and tangy.  A perfect match for seafood, especially a Mackerel sushi.  I am thinking it is a 91 point wine and at a retail price of $65, it’s a rather steep but delicious white to enjoy till 2028.  4 stars from me, Salut….

Chateau Freybernat 2020, Bordeaux, France

29 Sunday Aug 2021

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This Sauvignon Blanc is pale lemon in the glass. Medium (+) intensity aromas of lemon zest, geranium, grapefruit, grass and passion fruit.  It is still youthful with a dry palate and medium (+) acidity, medium alcohol, medium (-) body and medium intensity flavors of citrus and some floral notes.  I like the medium (-) length finish, it’s very refreshing and crisp.  Something to drink now as it won’t age much longer.  89 points and for $10 it’s a good deal that gets 4 stars.  Salut….

Domaine Sangouard-Guyot Pouilly-Fuisse Authentique 2020, Maconnais, France

28 Saturday Aug 2021

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Medium gold color. Pronounced aromas of lemon, lime, apricot, biscuit and bread.  The palate is dry with citrus and floral flavors plus more of that bakery hint and some nice toasty oak notes.  Medium acidity keeps the wine fresh and the finish is medium in length.  There’s a flavor that most Chardonnay’s have that I get on the back end, I’m not a huge fan but it is to be expected.  Overall a very nice tipple on a hot summer evening that gets 91 points from me.  I’m pairing it with grilled chicken, rice pilaf and Marsala sauce.  Drink till 2025.  I think you can find it for around $20, pretty reasonable and worthy of 5 stars. Drink till 2025.  Salut….

Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte ‘Le Petit Haut Lafitte’ 2015, Pessac-Leognan, France

28 Saturday Aug 2021

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The second wine of Chateau Smith Haut Lafite, this vintage is highly rated so I had to pick up this bottle.  It’s a deep garnet, showing a bit of bottle age.  The nose is quintessential Bordeaux- graphite, plum, cassis, blackberry, smoky oak and black tea. The palate is a little awkward at first, the somewhat green tannins are fighting me with a hint of astringency.  Once I get past the onslaught of black tea on my gums I get the classic fruit flavors along with medium acidity.  The finish is mid length but the grip of those tannins is ferocious, lingering for a good minute.  This wine is a bit young and disjointed right now but it holds promise for cellaring.  Overall I think it warrants 89 points and for $45, it is a good introduction to the Graves appellation.  3 stars, drink from 2024-2030.  Salut….

Boeckel Zotzenberg Gewurztraminer 2017, Alsace Grand Cru, France

02 Monday Aug 2021

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I’ve been cooking Sous Vide Pork Belly steaks in a fiery Sambal Oelek sauce for the past 18 hours, it’s going on a fried rice dish.  The spice of this dish needs an aromatic white I do believe, so this Grand Cru Alsatian is getting the nod.

It is deep lemon in the glass and has pronounced aromas of lychee, rosewater, strawberry, blossom and some nuttiness.  On the palate it is semi-dry with medium acidity, medium (+) body, medium alcohol and medium (+) intensity flavors of lychee, rose, strawberry, honeysuckle and blossom.  The nutty note comes on the back end, where the finish is medium in length.  It’s a flavorful, yummy wine that has a touch of residual sugar to help offset the chilies in the marinade.  The floral and tropical fruit will meld well with the white meat and veggies.  This wine seems like it will develop some more in the bottle, so there’s no rush to pop’n’pour.  I’m really enjoying it and think it is a 91 pointer.  At $40 it’s a serious player that gets 5 stars.  Salut….

F E Trimbach Pinot Gris Reserve 2014, Alsace, France

02 Monday Aug 2021

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My little group of virtual wine tasters insisted on a mid-summer gathering so I picked some real beauties, starting with this Pinot Gris which we tasted at room temp and chilled.  Being a Reserve, it offered depth and complexity that many were not expecting- it was a hit.  In the glass it showed pale gold to light yellow, depending on who was commenting!  Aromas of pear, pineapple, blossom, honey, ginger, elderflower and nectarine were noted.  On the palate, flavors of honeysuckle, lime, and orange blossom coupled with a vegetal aftertaste.  I noted that it had good acidity, getting 92 points from yours truly.

The chilled version was more precise with some minerality on the nose coupled with cotton candy, marzipan, passion fruit, honey, ginger and peach- a whole different animal!  On the palate we got a fuller bodied wine with flavors of pronounced orange, less lime this time but lemon drops, ginger and Welch’s white grape juice.  Medium (+) finish btw.  I was consistent with the 92 points and for $25 it is a great intro to a higher quality Pinot Gris.  5 stars, pair it with shellfish and perhaps cellar for a few years.  Salut….

Domaine Bourillon Dorleans Vouvray La Coulee d’Argent Vieilles Vignes 2019, Loire, France

02 Monday Aug 2021

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Bright yellow in the glass.  Nose of floral and tropical fruits with some elderflower.  It almost smells sweet….

On the palate it is dry, crisp and full flavored.  Stone fruit, flower blossoms and pineapple.  There’s a green almond hint on the mid palate and medium acidity on the jaw.  I picked this wine to pair with Sous Vide chicken confit- the crispy skin is going to go beautifully with this rich, full bodied Chenin Blanc that gets 89 points and for $ 20- 4 stars.  Drink till 2024.  Salut….

 

 

Chateau Mayne Guyon 2014, Blaye Cotes de Bordeaux, France

27 Tuesday Jul 2021

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My friend Tracy got this at Trader Joes, for $8.  I am absolutely blown away.  Seriously delicious, with cellaring capacity and yummy flavors.  Opaque, purple, inky.  The nose is exactly what I expect from a 7 year old Bordeaux- some cassis, cedar, earth, game and black plum.  Tertiary flavors are coming out whilst primal fruit is still very fresh.  The palate is silky with nicely integrated tannins, a touch of acidity and layered fruit.  A medium length finish makes for a delicious, tidy package of rich fruit and good structure.  Yummy stuff to drink till 2025.  91 points!  Yup, for $8 at TJ’s, this is probably my bottle of the year when it comes to QPR (quality price ratio).  5 stars, only cause I can’t go 6.  WAY TO GO!  Salut….

Chateau Miraval Cotes de Provence Rose 2019, France

11 Sunday Jul 2021

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We kicked off the 19th Virtual Wine Tasting with this French rosé, served at room temp and chilled for comparison. The wine is a lovely pale orange in the glass. The tasters found aromas and flavors of apricot, almond, tangerine, strawberry, citrus, marzipan and pink grapefruit. The chilled version was more intense with peach, quince, citrus, honeysuckle and green pear on the nose and peach, rhubarb (?), orange and crab apples on the palate. We felt the wine was a touch sour with a bitter aftertaste. The room temp version had medium acidity whilst the chilled one was more acidic. Overall I give the wine 88 points. Drink now with smoked salmon, shrimp cocktail or a salad Nicoise. At $20 per, it gets 3 stars from me. Salut….

Chateau Lynch-Bages 2001, Pauillac, France

07 Wednesday Jul 2021

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My friend Jimbo is in town and I promised him some good wine. Back in 2003 I bought three cases of this stuff and now I am opening bottle #26, having tasted the evolution over the past 15 years or so. This was a spectacular example of perfectly aged Bordeaux. It is at peak right now, showing layers of tertiary fruit, rich cassis, gentle acidity and soft tannins. Balanced perfectly with a sublime mouthfeel. I’m super happy with the results of my patient cellaring. I believe this cost me $59 back in the day, now it will run over $100. A good deal if you ask me that gets 92 points and 5 stars. Probably need to think about the rest of the case as I don’t think there is much left in the tank with this claret. Here are my class notes. Salut….

Chateau Lynch Bages 2001, Pauillac, France 13.0% ABV

  • Appearance- Deep garnet
  • Pronounced nose of dried blackberry (Cassis), leather, earth, tobacco, cedar, forest floor.  Fully developed.
  • Palate- dry, medium (-) acidity, medium (-) tannins, medium alcohol, medium body, pronounced flavors of dried blackberry (cassis), tobacco, leather, forest floor and charred wood.  Long finish.
  • Conclusion- outstanding quality, drink now: not suitable for aging or further aging.