Category: #french

 

Produced from some of the best vines, First Grand Cru Classe of 1855.  95% Semillon and 5% Sauvignon Blanc. A sweet, complex palate of flavor.  Each part of the artists  palate paints a new flavor.  The sweet Semillon along with the citrus notes from the Sauvignon Blanc combine to make a perfect Sauternes.

Sauternes reign from the Sauternais region of Bordeaux.  These wines have been affected by Boytritis also known as “noble rot”.   This noble rot provides distinct sweetness for Sauternes and other sweet wines like Tokaij.  Highly concentrated with high alcohol contents, they are usually served slightly chilled in cordial glasses.  The wines exhibit notes of honeysuckle, honey -wildflowers.  The citrus gives way gives way to a lovely orange flavor.  What a beautiful wine.  So Good.

Enjoy

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Pierre Amadieu has a long family history in fact the whole family, uncles cousins are involved in the wine industry.  The Rhone is their home and they have become the “artists in residence” of the family.   Rhone wines are predominantly grenache and syrah, with tidbits of others thrown in for balance.  The Vinsobres is a vineyard in Southern Rhone.

This wine is Grenache and Syrah, medium bodied but still lush.   Perfectly balanced with aromas of violets and lavender, a typical grenache.  But then the juice hits the palate.  Oh man what a sensation.  The cherry and currant surprisingly work together, mouth watering in excess.  Plum comes along at the end. Very very light tannins that just add that extra bit to the enjoyment.   A magnificent, delicious wine.  This is a wine meant to have with food.  Roast, venison, rabbit.  I enjoyed with a pan seared chicken.  Another memorable evening.

Enjoy $$

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The quest for the ultimate bottle.  The Holy Grail.  The continued crusade to find that perfect bottle.  My dream, my quest, my crusade, my……job!  I have come very close several times.  I have enjoyed this quest, oh the Bordeaux, Rioja, Cabernet, Brunello, Merlot and the list goes on, that I have enjoyed in this quest.  Oh pity me, always in the search for perfection.

Today I have come very close.  Domaine des Perdrix, Nuits-Saint-Georges is very close to that perfection.  I know, I know I have said it before-and I will say it again.  But at this time-at this moment- this is about as good as it gets.

Domaine des Perdrix is a premier cru, Nuits-St-Georges, the a sub-region of Burgundy.  Small in comparison to domestic vineyards, these few acres produce some of the best wines in the world.
The fragrance of violets and cherries emanates from the opened bottle. The beautiful bouquet lulls you into nirvana.

The luscious-delicious juice erupts in the mouth.  Layer  upon layer of flavor invades the senses.  Dark black cherry flavors touched with a smokiness meld into the long silky finish.  An earthiness that is typical of Burgundy makes the finishing touch.

Lovely, Beautiful, delicious.  What can I say, just a Fantastic wine.

$$$$

Enjoy

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Just look at that.  Just looking at it and you know – you know what is coming!!!!

Mercurey is within the Cote Chalonnaise and one of the “premier” areas of Burgundy.

There are 32 premier Cru vineyards in Mercurey, however, no Grand Cru.

This beautiful full Pinot Noir is velvety smooth with lots of fruit.  Great nose featuring big bold aromas of fruit, pepper and cedar.  This is a great wine to serve by itself or with lamb or other lighter red meats.

@20$

Enjoy

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Wow who could deny this one.  Chapoutier brought us a great one here.  60% grenach and 40% syrah.  Chapoutier brings us great wines from all over France, each one representing the terroir of the specific vineyard.   This one-the Belleruche Cotes Du Rhone – is a perfect representation.

The nose has aromas of plum, raspberry and bright cherry.  The color is bright red and inviting.

The juice is beautifully exuberant.  Ripe red fruit, raspberry  with notes of spice. A little licorice note on the end, bringing in slight tannins that makes your mouth water.  Medium bodied with depth and character.  Just a wonderful wine.

Enjoy @ 20

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A perfect compliment with the steak.   Making myself hungry.

Yes I said 1995. 1995 was by all accounts a very good year in Bordeaux, most high 90’s rated.  This wine usually scored in mid 90’s from most raters.

Ch. Giscours is a third growth, but don’t tell it that.  It has been producing fine wines forever, rivaling the seconds and firsts in the past 20 vintages.

The nose  exhibits aromas showing off ripe fruits,  raspberry, blackberry, dark cherry, with notes of oak.

The juice shoots volumes  in your mouth.  Big juicy notes that make the eyes bulge.  So many layers, definitely structure and complexity.  Full bodied cannot even begin to describe.  The tannins are huge.  Let this one breathe please.  This is not a stand alone. Protein is needed in some form to go with this.  Have a big steak and enjoy the evening.

Enjoy

@120

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Every  now and then you come across something that really blow your mind.  The wines of the Barton family are such.  Leoville- Barton a second-growth and it’s sister, Langoa-Barton a third growth are just supreme wines.  The Barton family has owned the vineyards since the mid 19th century.

Tonight I offer the 2006 Langoa-Barton, Wine Spectator gave it at 91.  A score like that and it is considered a third growth (not if I were alive in 1855). The beautiful dark raven color shines in the glass.  Like rubies sparkling in the light.  The nose erupts from the uncorked bottle.  Violets, roses, fresh very ripe fruit.  A plentiful basket beckoning.

Loosening the liquid into the mouth your body immediately knows it is being allowed to sample something special.  The full rich fruit coats your mouth and tongue.  Cherry, blackberry, plum and currant.  Soft, elegant tannins linger in the finish.  Balanced, structured, complex….you come up with your own adjectives. Get this while you can not many are left.

Enjoy

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I love Malbec. Let me just start by saying this.  When I post about a Malbec from anywhere but Argentina I get so much flak.  My friends and followers from South America cannot help but give me grief,some even going as far as to accuse me of making it up, that France does not make Malbec. Well it does, not as much anymore but it does.  I remind them that it is one of the 5 Bordeaux grapes.I do not want to take anything away from Argentina.  Both areas produce magnificent wines.

Cahors is an area of Southwest France known for producing Malbec and too lesser degree Merlot and Tannat.  Today we look at Chateau de Mercues 2012. This wine is actually a blend of Malbec and Merlot @80-20.   A dark almost black color looms invitingly in the glass.  A beautiful rich color basking in the glory of what is to come.

The bouquet fills the room with violets, cherry and plum.  Soon the flavors come over the mouth.  The sensation sends a tingling through the body.  A friend gave me this word “winegasm”, I think it works.  So much going on here. Big, bold fruit.  Very ripe plum which is followed by black cherry  and notes of chocolate and spice that follow. Subtle tannins that leave your mouth grasping for more.  A prime example of a great wine from Georges Vigouroux. I will definitely have this one again.

Enjoy $

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Chateau Ferran is located in the Pessac Leognan., Graves.  This region is known for both red and white wines unlike most Bordeaux areas.  Most famous for being the home of Chateau Haut-Brion.  Being on the left bank, the predominant grape is Cabernet.

Chateau Ferran was a gift to me to sample.  I was not disappointed and will accept gifts as these any time. Thank You.  The nose emitted an air of old world mustiness.  Not in an off putting way though.  A typical aroma of wild ripe fruit that grows in the woods, berries of sorts, combined with an earthy truffle mushroom note.  Yea,  I know most of you are thinking WHAT? who would drink that, but believe me you will not be disappointed if you did.

The flavom hits you full force.  Front and center comes that earthiness immediately on its heels, the berries.  Rich and fruity.  Black berry, currant, cherry, a bit of coffee and chocolate are noted too, are all combined to make this an overwhelming mind blowing experience.  Slight hinders of cedar and smooth tannins with a long, long, long finish.   Very well structured with all the planes of flavor evenly spread.  A big dinner wine.

Enjoy

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You can almost taste the goodness from here.