Tag Archives: france

O de Mer Muscadet 2021, Loire, France

15 Thursday Jun 2023

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Bright lemon colored with low viscosity (12% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of lemon peel, white flowers, pink grapefruit zest, green melon and a hint of seaspray.  The palate is dry with a slightly oily, weighty texture.  Medium (+) acidity and a medium (-) body with citrus and floral flavors along with some lanolin.  The melon hits on the mid palate that leads to a short-medium length finish that invites me to sip more.  A refreshing drink that would serve as an aperitif yet pair nicely with fresh caught seafood.  87 points for this $12 quaffer makes it a 4 star effort to stock up on and chill for this summer.  100% Melon de Bourgogne grapes with no apparent Sur lie aging that is quite common to the Pais Nantais.  Salut….

Chateau Latour-Martillac 2014, Pessac-Leognan, France

09 Friday Jun 2023

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Deep, inky-ruby colored with a medium viscosity (13.5% ABV). Classic Left Bank aromas with an intense nose of ripe cassis, pencil shavings, tobacco, cedar box, ripe blackberry and black plum.  A hint of green pepper keeps it somewhat on the rails- it’s a beautiful nose. The palate is dry with medium acidity that is a touch tart along with medium intensity tannins that are well integrated.  Medium bodied- it’s a seductive wine with good length and more cellaring capacity.  It finishes old world with slightly tart dark red fruits and tertiary notes of cedar, tobacco and pencil shavings. 91 points.  We drank this Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot from Magnum but you can find a standard bottle for around $50. Drink till 2028 with grilled Filet steak and au gratin potatoes.  4 Stars.  Salut….

Yohan Lardy Moulin-a-Vent Vieilles Vignes de 1903 2020, Beaujolais, France

27 Saturday May 2023

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The surprise WOTN at our 31st virtual tasting was this cru Beaujolais made from old vine Gamay grapes.  I was expecting a bit of tannic grip from previous experiences but it turned out just lovely.  The wine is medium garnet colored with high viscosity (14% ABV).  The nose gave us aromas of cherry coke, dark cherries, ripe/cooked strawberry and was noted as fruity- like a Jolly Rancher.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity and medium (+) tannins that are plush and well integrated.  Medium bodied- this wine had flavors of cherry, intense ripe strawberry and the aforementioned candy notes.  I suspect partial Carbonic maceration but they have vinified the bulk traditionally to maintain structure for cellaring capacity.  It’s delicious and a star of the tasting.  I gave it 16 points on our score sheet and would go as high as 92 points for this $30 wine making it a 5 star bottle to drink till 2028.  Salut….

Freres Couillaud Chateau de la Ragotiere Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine Sur Lie 2020, Loire, France

27 Saturday May 2023

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We kicked off the 31st virtual wine tasting with this Muscadet that has been aged Sur Lie.  It was served chilled and then at room temp- both of which failed to impress.  The nose lacked any evidence of the aging process, ie. brioche, yeast or any other clue.  The palate did reveal a slightly fuller body, but alas nada on the expected flavor profile.  Instead, we got a wine that had aromas of pear, crunchy yellow apple, lanolin, honeysuckle, Seaspray and tangerine peel.  The wine had medium acidity (another non-conformist point), was medium bodied and showed a medium lemon color with low viscosity (12% ABV).  I noted the wine had a short finish and was not complex at all.  Served at room temp it was more flabby and the fruit seemed bruised.  We finally got a hint of the aging process- King’s Hawaiian Roll plus some beeswax and lanolin in addition to the aforementioned flavors.  It also turned a touch bitter and pithy.  Really not my cup of tea- it got an average of 8 points on our scoring sheets and I would give this $14 effort 86 points making it a 2 star wine.  Drink now with seafood or a Cobb salad.  Salut….

Prelude a Grand-Puy Ducasse 2015, Pauillac, France

22 Monday May 2023

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Last night Moxie and I celebrated our 30th anniversary.  We dined at our favorite restaurant, L’Auberge Chez François in Great Falls, Virginia.  They have a decent wine list with emphasis on their French, more specifically, Alsatian heritage.  I was to dine on Wagyu Beef cheeks for appetizer and Rack of Lamb for mains, with a few extras in between.  Choosing a hearty Bordeaux was a no-brainer.  This wine is the Second label of the Classed Growth Grand-Puy Ducasse of Pauillac and comes from a fine vintage.  At 7 years of age it is showing primary, secondary and some tertiary flavors.  Dark brambly fruit, plums, integrated oak, medium acidity and chalky tannins greeted us.  The wine has a medium body and good length.  I was hoping for more cassis but alas, it turned out just fine.  The wine runs $40 at retail and gets 90 points from me.  Drink till 2028.  4 stars for this 60/40 blend of Cab Sav and Merlot..  Salut….

Chateau Lascombes 2004, Margaux, France

30 Sunday Apr 2023

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Dinner at a friend’s house revealed this impeccably stored Margaux.  It was so fresh and youthful I would never have guessed 18 years old in a blind tasting.  I took very basic notes:

Fresh, youthful. Deep ruby. Medium acid with smooth, silky tannins. Graphite, pencil lead, cassis, cedar, blackberry, vanilla bean and charcoal on a medium weight body ending in a long, tart finish.  91 points for this $90 bottle makes it a 4 star effort, drink till 2028.  Salut….

Anne De K Pinot Blanc 2019, Alsace, France

21 Friday Apr 2023

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Medium lemon colored with a watery sheen (12.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of lemon zest, lime peel, white geraniums pear, yellow apple and an interesting peanut scent on the top rim of the glass.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and medium (-) body.  It’s a refreshing wine with crisp citrus notes coupled with some florals and a touch of pithy bitterness.  The finish is short and clean- making me yearn for the next sip.  This is going to be categorized as a summer pool-pounder to be drunk chilled and paired with steamed shellfish on ice with sides of lemon wedges and cocktail sauce.  A tasty and uncomplicated bottle that runs $18.  I’m going with 88 points and 4 stars.  Drink now.  Salut….

Chateau Treytins 2016, Montagne-Saint-Emilion, France

06 Thursday Apr 2023

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A hazy deep ruby color with some staining on the walls and medium to high viscosity legs (14% ABV).  On the nose I get classic Bordeaux aromas of cassis, leather, pencil lead, ripe black plum, boysenberry and elderberry.  Coffee and dark chocolate with some menthol also come to mind.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, medium (+) tannins and a medium (+) body.  The brooding dark berry with coffee, licorice and dark chocolate notes are all present alongside some black tea which gives a touch of mid palate astringency.  The finish is powerful and long with grippy tannins taking center stage.  I have drunk gallons of this delicious Merlot dominant Right Bank wine over the years and am glad to revisit an old friend that runs $25 and gets 91 points from me.  Drink this 5 star wine till 2028 with a sizzling steak and some au gratin.  Salut….

Hugel ‘Gentil’ 2019, Alsace, France

04 Tuesday Apr 2023

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Pale lemon colored with medium viscosity legs (13.5% ABV).  The nose has peach, lemon, lime curd, papaya, pineapple, ginger, white flowers, orange blossom and grapefruit.  Quite a layered set of aromas!  The palate is dry with medium acidity and a medium body.  The exotic and citrus aromas are confirmed on the palate with a touch of bitterness but no ginger.  The florals are feint but present.  I start to get lychee on the mid palate from the Gewürztraminer.  This wine also blends in Sylvaner, Pinot Gris, Riesling and Muscat- the Noble grapes of Alsace.  It is a refreshing yet multi-layered wine that has a crisp, medium length finish.  It will go beautifully with our garlic Scampi but I would also pair it with salads, grilled salmon or some charcoal chicken.  It’s well worth the $15 price point and gets 90 points and 5 stars from me.  Stock up for summer y’all.  Salut….

Famille Bougrier Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine 2020, Loire, France

29 Wednesday Mar 2023

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Pale lemon with a golden accent and a watery sheen.  The nose has medium intensity aromas of lemon, lime, grapefruit, white blossom and green apple.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and a medium (-) body.  Citrus makes for a fresh and crisp mouthfeel alongside some floral notes.  The apple note is faint.  The wine finishes with a hint of phenolic bitterness and is medium in length.   I would enjoy this wine till 2024 with shellfish and charcuterie.  86 points for this $14 bottle makes it a 3 star wine for me.  Salut….