Tag Archives: france

Francois Cotat Sancerre Les Culs de Beaujeu 2013, Loire, France

31 Thursday Aug 2023

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I recently travelled to the UK where I had dinner with a fellow wino.  He pulled this maturing Sauvignon Blanc out for openers- it was probably the best Sancerre I have ever tasted.  My notes were crude but you get the idea.

Viscous, pale lemon- surprising with medium viscosity (13% ABV). Intense aromas of gooseberry, lime verbena, jalapeño, asparagus.  High acidity, medium (+) bodied with a very unique opening- vegetal medley with a smoky note, perhaps a bit reductive?  Burnt sulphur that should ease off once in air.  Stunning and young- till 2030. 93 points for this $100 bottle makes it a 4 star wine in my books.  Salut….

Chateau Destieux 2015, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, France

14 Monday Aug 2023

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Deep ink/ruby colored with high viscosity (14.5% ABV) and slight staining on the walls. The nose gives me aromas of blackberry compote, charcoal, black raspberry, mint, rooibos tea, blueberry jam and vanilla bean.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and high tannins.  A full body with lush flavors of ripe black fruit, oak influence and some tea- rooibos and black.  The tannins are a touch chalky and young.  There is a tartness on the mid palate that carries through to the long finish.  This wine has a good pedigree that will allow it to age gracefully, for now it is still youthful.  Drink this 92 point Merlot blend till 2032.  I’m grilling super thick Strip steaks on the charcoal and pairing some roasted King Oyster mushrooms.  We bough this bottle in St. Emilion, a beautiful town btw.  It’s not widely available but if my memory serves- $60 making it a 4 star wine.  Salut….

Chateau Larcis Ducasse 2009, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, France

07 Monday Aug 2023

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This stunning Bordeaux was the last wine of the 32nd virtual tasting- everyone loved it (except the lawyer, she’s funny).  Deep ruby/garnet with high viscosity legs and slight staining (14.5% ABV).  The nose blew me away- leather, tobacco, forest floor, stable yard, stewed tomato, dried blackberry and that tell-tale aroma I love…. Cassis.  The palate had medium acidity, medium tannins that were so finely integrated and a full body- it was super rich.  The flavors and aromas matched and this wine was seamless and balanced.  A real treat to drink a 14 year old wine that is at peak and delivers such ethereal sensations.  By far one of my most memorable bottles.  I gave it 20 points on our score sheet and would echo the pro’s- this is a 95-96 point wine for sure.  It will drink beautifully over the next decade.  I would pair this Merlot based blend with braised beef cheeks or another hearty dish worthy of its power.  At $130, it’s a bit pricy but hey…. you only live once.  5 stars. Salut….

Jean-Marc Lafont Domaine de Bel Air Brouilly Briante 2020, Beaujolais, France

26 Monday Jun 2023

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Medium purple colored with medium viscosity (13% ABV). The nose reminds me of Paris, where I drank this style of Beaujolais by the bucketful in the cafes and restaurants.  I get aromas of candied black cherry, tons of florals, strawberry and redcurrant.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and medium tannins that are powdery and integrated.  Medium to full bodied- this Gamay based wine takes on a touch of bitterness right off the bat that is offset by ripe red fruit- strawberry, black cherry and currants.  The main floral component is lavender but there is a black tea note coming through on the mid palate.  The wine finishes a touch tart but its length is quite impressive.  The tannins very gently caressing and the acidity ever-present.  This bottle is a magnum and will last till 2028, regular bottles retail for $25.  It gets 90 points from me- 4 stars.  Salut….

Chateau Pierre de Montignac 2019, Medoc, France

25 Sunday Jun 2023

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Deep ruby with a brown tinge, medium staining and medium viscosity (13.5% ABV).  The nose has classic left bank Bordeaux cassis, tobacco, spice box, black cherry, blackberry and dark raspberry.  There’s a sweet component to the nose that conjures the thought of very ripe fruit, red and black.  The palate is decidedly dry though with medium (+) acidity and medium (+) tannins that are well balanced.  The dark black fruit is evident as is the oak influence- spice box, leather, chocolate, tobacco but the cassis is the one thing that I love about this region and it’s evident on the palate.  The body is full and the wine finishes with a long thrust that is quite tannic yet inviting for another sip.  I like this Cru Bourgeois Supérieur level wine that is a blend of Cab Sav and Merlot.  It will drink nicely till 2028 and I’m pairing mine with grilled Flank steak and roasted squash.  92 points and for $23- 5 stars.  Stock up on this gem.  Salut….

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….