Tag Archives: france

Domaine la Soumade Rasteau 2016, Rhone, France

22 Friday Feb 2019

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Very dark in the glass.  The nose is plummy with sweet black currant syrup hints.  The palate has black currants, espresso and nutmeg notes.  Mouth drying tannins appear on the mid-palate where I  get big doses of coffee and charcoal.  The tannins really grip on the finish.  The wine begs for aeration or a juicy ribeye.  The acidity is there, somewhere.  I just can’t sense it.  Overall- quite tasty, young and in need of cellaring or aerating.  Drink till 2026 with hearty fare.  88 points from me which is in stark contrast with the monster 92+ points the pros gave it.  I think a re-taste is in order.  For now this $20 effort gets 3 stars.  Salut….

Chateau de Camensac 2015, Haut-Medoc, France

26 Saturday Jan 2019

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This was the fourth wine of the tasting evening, which may have included a bit of palate fatigue but we all agreed it was the nicest.  The 2015 Bordeaux vintage shows its excellence here.

Medium to dark black in the glass.  Cassis, black berry coulis and some gaminess.  On the palate it reeks of Bordeaux- cassis, dark berries, oak and grippy tannins.  The mid palate is where the astringency kicks in with a black tea component and some decent blackberry jam notes.  The finish is totally dry.  Short length on the flavors but the tannins are in full force.  90 points and 4 stars for this $45 wine. Drink till 2027. Salut….

Domaine Mazilly Pere & Fils Beaune Vignes Franches 1er Cru 2010, Burgundy, France

03 Thursday Jan 2019

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I have sat on this one for a while, letting the Burgundian volatility settle and hopefully get some tertiary flavors, a little funk all the while maintaining fruit composition and freshness.

In the glass it is somewhat darker than expected for a Pinot Noir.  On the nose- cherry, funky forest floor, mushrooms and game.  The palate is definitely on track- Garrigue, cherry, balsamic reduction and rooibos tea all come to mind.  The mid palate has an unripe cherry note, or is it sour pomegranate? And dare I say- cork taste (as in chewing on the edge of a dry crumbly cork).  Very peculiar but interesting nonetheless.  The tannins are hitting my lower gums at this point, with a hint of acidity.  The finish is full on cherry, with a pucker from some tea as the tannins are astringent, but nice.  This wine is young.  It will evolve further and the tannins will meld better.  I see some more development with the secondary flavors but hope the unripe cherry component doesn’t remain.  Overall a tasty wine that will do well with the charcoal grilled Strips and mashed potatoes I’m pairing it with.  91 points and 4 stars for this $50 effort.  Drink till 2027.  Salut….

Louis Latour Cote de Beaune Villages 2015, Burgundy, France

01 Tuesday Jan 2019

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The wine is see-through, medium purple with nice legs. On the nose it lacks immediate scents- I am swirling like crazy to finally get strawberry and capsicum. On the palate I taste kirsch, strawberry and rhubarb.  A nice crunchy acidity accompanied the fruit from the get go.  On the mid palate it is more red currants with some berry hints.  The tannins kick in on the very end where the finish is red fruits and a touch of oak. 89 points and 4 stars for this entry level Burgundy that ran $23.  Drink till 2024 with skirt steak, Cornish hen or cheese and crackers.  Salut….

Jean Biecher et Fils Pfersigberg Grand Cru Riesling 2017, Alsace, France

11 Sunday Nov 2018

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Very pale yellow, probably the lightest colored wine I have ever seen.  The nose has pineapple, quince, peach and nectarines.  On the palate it is enticing- mainly peaches to begin with.  There’s a petroleum note that typifies the varietal alongside some yellow apples.  Super tasty mind you, with some focused acidity to keep things sharp. The midpalate has some enjoyable flab, a weightiness that fills the mouth and adds to the body.  The finish gets all serious with some flinty minerality, a resurgence of the apple theme as well as the nectarines and is medium in length and smooth.  Overall this is a terrific wine that gets 92 points from me.  Drink till 2025.  $45 is rather steep, but this one’s a keeper that gets 4 stars.  Salut….

Chateau Rochecolombe Cotes du Rhone 2016, France

03 Saturday Nov 2018

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Really rich hues of purple in the glass.  The nose contains a certain funk…. not sure if that blows away.  Earthy, plum, iodine and ink all come to mind while swirling.  The initial palate is typical for the region.  Bold, punchy and full of black fruits.  Great balance between the medium tannins and acidity alongside a dollop of blackberry jam.  The midpalate is drier, more primal.  The dark fruits hold on and overcome the tannic bite, barely.  This wine is a seesaw of fruit vs. structure- I’m loving it.  The finish is long, dry with heaps of blackberry, oregano and olives.  Very much in-your-face.  91 points, drink till 2024 with charcuterie, roasted game, lamb chops or a hearty pasta.  This is tasty stuff folks.  5 stars for the $17 price tag.  Salut….

Pierre De Taille By L Hostellerie 2017, Coteaux D Aix Provence, Rose

25 Tuesday Sep 2018

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Really pretty peach color.  On the nose- fragrant and fruity with strawberry, apricot and orange peel.  The palate is refreshing, weightier than I imagined and true to the strawberry core with orange zest and quince being the primary flavors.  A very finely balanced acidity makes for a nice mouthfeel, not overly tart yet reminding me of its presence.  The mid palate has a glycerin feel to it .  The finish is orange peel and kumquat, decent in length.  89 points and 4 stars for this $12 Rose’.  We drank it with charcuterie.  Salut….

Famille Perrin Chateauneuf-du-Pape Les Sinards 2015, Rhone, France

15 Saturday Sep 2018

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Medium opacity with a lighter purple hue.  On the nose it screams black currants with some bacon fat and oregano.  There is a hint of forest floor at the back end of the nose.  On the palate – berries, medium intensity tannins, tea and olives.  The wine transitions nicely to the mid palate with the tannins providing a nice dryness to the mouthfeel.  The flavors are consistent through to the finish where I also get some licorice.  The balance is nice for a wine that is made for medium term drinking.  Perfect for a game dish, even a seasoned Cornish Hen.  Drink now till 2033.  91 points and 4 stars for this $34 blend of mainly Grenache mixed with Syrah and Mouvedre.  Salut….

Chateau Leoville-Las Cases ‘Clos du Marquis’2006, Saint-Julien, France

17 Friday Aug 2018

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I have had the 2005 Close Du Marquis, twice.  This vintage is not as solid and lacks depth.  My Danish buddy brought it to our tasting and we saved it for the finale.  Unfortunately, the best was not saved for last- the best was the Pioneer Pinot that we tasted first.

Very dark and opaque in the glass.  The nose resonates with plums, Kirsch and Pepsi cola.  The palate has a definitive edge- plums, gripping tannins, acidity and pencil lead.  Cassis appears on the mid with a blue fruit and cedar component.  The finish is somewhat short, but pleasant with kirsch and cassis dominating while the  tannins recede.  89 points and for $55, 3 stars.  Salut….

Domaine Sebastien Magnien Les Aigrots 2010, Beaune Premier Cru, France

19 Saturday May 2018

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Very light and see through, just as I would expect from Burgundian Pinot Noir.  The nose shows off bright renditions of strawberry and rhubarb compote.  The palate is somewhat different, cherry being the dominant player with backing from strawberry and ginger snap.  Crisp acidity forms a defined backbone and the wine has ever so slight tannins.The finish offers more rhubarb with a tangy sourness that I am enjoying.  This wine strikes me as young, needing some time to develop tertiary, earthy flavors that I love in aged Burgundy.  Thankfully it only sports 13% alcohol.  For now it gets 90 points from me.  Serving it with grilled chicken, blue cheese laced salad and sautéed onions.  $35 and 4 stars.  Salut….