France: Wine, French Wine Regions, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, & More Profiled

2017 Domaine William Fèvre Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos, France, Burgundy, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$160.00USD

It was interesting to try this side by side with the Vaudesir.  While neither one could be called blowsy or showy, this has more presence and weight.  Light golden/green in color, clear and bright.  The nose is classic Chablis.  Green apples, chalky minerality, slight gunpowder and slight white flowers.  Full bodied.  Great balance.  Firm acidity.  On the palate, green apples with underlying minerality and just a hint of  flint/gunpowder.  Long finish.  This is nice on its own but needs food to really shine.  Shell fish would be ideal but it went nicely with Japanese Noodles as well.  This

2017 Domaine William Fèvre Chablis Grand Cru Vaudésir, France, Burgundy, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A

Can a Grand Cru be austere and pretty at the same time?  This wine seems to answer that question in a positive way.  Green/gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose has great minerality along with peach and slight lemon peel.  Medium to full bodied.  Crisp, tangy acidity.  On the palate, there are peach and lemon lime notes that are piercing yet delicious.  Long finish.  This wine begs for food.  Shell fish would be ideal but it worked well with a sauteed mushroom dish as well.  Drink over the next eight to twelve years.  

2017 von Winning Forster Kirchenstück Riesling Großes Gewächs trocken, Germany, Pfalz, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$120.00USD

My first time trying this wine and I was impressed.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose has great minerality/wet rocks with slight lemon candy notes.  Medium bodied.  Crisp with a slightly viscous texture.  Dry.  On the palate, this is deep.  Lemons, minerality with good acidity.  That said, no hard edges.  Very  smooth.  Very long finish.  This is drinking well now on its own and is very food friendly.  It worked well with roasted Brussels Sprouts (a difficult match) but would be great with almost any seafood as well.  Drink over the next ten to fifteen years.  

2011 Trimbach Riesling Clos Ste. Hune, France, Alsace, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2011
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$275.00USD

One of the world's great Rieslings.  This bottle  had been purchased on release at the winery.  Green gold in color. The nose is very expressive.  Minerality, peach, and chervil.  Great texture.  Good acidity.  Balanced.  On the palate, this is dry.  Notes of chalk with some peach and minerals. Very long finish. Not quite at peak but certainly showing some development.  Drink over the next ten to fifteen years.  Very food friendly, it would work well with Sushi and was excellent with Shishito Peppers.  

2003 Taittinger Champagne Comtes de Champagne Rosé Brut, France, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2003
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A

Pink/orange in color, clear and bright with a lovely mousse of tiny bubbles.  The nose is pretty with strawberries.  Medium to full bodied.  On the palate, this is starting to show some age but also has enough acidity to keep things lively.  Cherries, some cranberries and slight grapefruit notes.  Very deep.  Long finish.  This is delicious but also complex.  It will evolve into a mature Champagne so drink soon unless that is good with your tastes.  If so, it has another ten to fifteen years.  Very food friendly, it would be great with roasted duck.  

2008 Taittinger Champagne Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut, France, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2008
Score: 
98
Grade: 
A+

Probably my favorite vintage of this wine and with the escalating prices, who knows if I will get to try another one.  Light golden in color, clear with a nice mousse of lots of tiny bubbles.  The nose is clean with toast, slight lemons, and minerality.  It is tight to start but opens quickly.  Full bodied.  Crisp acidity.  On the palate, there is some lemon, lemon peel, and minerality.  Deep and complex.  Concentrated.  Long finish.  This is still showing very young, but delicious.  It should have no problem going another twenty years if well stored.  It will work wonderfully on its own, a

2012 Louis Roederer Champagne Cristal Brut, France, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2012
Score: 
98
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$278.00USD

This is the first vintage in which the grapes for this were made using biodynamic and organic principles.  Just a gorgeous wine.  Medium golden in color, clear and bright with a nice mousse of thick, tiny bubbles.  The nose is deep with slight toast, green apples, slight lemon curd and minerality.  Full bodied.  Lots of energy.  Great balance.  On the palate, this is showing youthfully.  Lemons, slight green apples, toast and chalk.  Long, long finish.  Delicious.  This is wonderful on its own, and would work with most foods.  It would be great with shellfish.  Drink over the  next ten to f

2012 Trouillard Champagne Cuvée du Fondateur, France, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2012
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$88.00USD

A new producer for me, this was very good.  Silvery gold in color, clear and bright.  A nice mousse with tiny bubbles.  On the palate, this is clean.  Lemons with a bit of toast and some minerality.  Medium bodied.  Nice acidity.  On the palate, lemons and red apples with underlying minerality.  Lively.  Long finish.  This is youthful and drinking well.  Drink over the next ten to twelve years.  Very food friendly.  It would be nice with popcorn while watching television. 

2005 Château Kirwan, France, Bordeaux, Margaux, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2005
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$110.00USD

A very nice showing for this wine.  Great vintage and the wine is in a great place.  Purple  in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, dark cherries, cigar box, spice and slight leather.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, this is fresh, complex and deep.  Flavors of cassis, tobacco, spice and char.  Good finish.  Just about at peak but still has another ten to fifteen years left of great drinking.  Lovely on its own but even better with food.  Lamb chops would work perfectly.  

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