AMAZING - Chateau Grand-Puy-Lacoste 2022 Lacoste Borie (France)

 

 

If somebody tells you the 2022 Bordeauxs are great, believe them - even the 2nd wines are spectacular, like this one ... today it's the Chateau Grand-Puy-Lacoste 2022 Lacoste Borie

AWESOME - Chateau la Fleur de Bouard 2022 Lalande de Pomerol (France)

 

Time to talk Bordeaux, I spent the better part of a month there in January 2025 and the wines bearing the date 2022 are spectacular. This is just another one of those finds: Chateau la Fleur de Bouard 2022 Lalande de Pomerol

 

IMPRESSIVE - Domaine de Bel-Air 2022 Les Granits Bleus Beaujolais-Villag...

 

Oh baby, I am a big fan of the Gamay grape, especially when it is done well, here this Domaine de Bel-Air 2022 Les Granits Bleus Beaujolais-Villages is a well-crafted, beautiful bottle of BoJo that hits all the right marks. Let me tell you about it.

 

FABULOUS Gerard Bertrand 2021 Chateau L'Hospitalet La Clape Grand Vin (F...

 

The south of France can make some beautiful wines, some exceptional wines in fact; I could go on here, or I could just tell you about this one ... Let me tell you about the 

Gerard Bertrand 2021 Chateau L'Hospitalet La Clape Grand Vin

IMPRESSIVE Domaine Depeyrie 2020 Tradition (France)

A husband and wife with a love of wine and vines in the Roussillon - 

what could be more French than this

Domaine Depeyrie 2020 Tradition

YUMMY Monpezat 2020 Gouleyant, Malbec de Cahors (France)

Cahors Malbec can be structured and long lived. 

This one is made a little differently, but still ... today it's the 

Comte Jean Baptiste de Monpezat 2020 Gouleyant, Malbec de Cahors

EXCITING Chateau de Pibarnon 2019 Bandol (France)

This was the first winery in the Bandol area I visited and it was stunning: 

the views, the cellar, and most of all the wine : 

Chateau de Pibarnon 2019 Bandol

STUNNING Domaine Boudau 2020 Patrimoine (France)

Talk about a takeaway. 

This wine from the Roussillon was an eye-opener about how good the wines of the region can be: 

Domaine Boudau 2020 Patrimoine 

FRESH & CLEAN William Fevre 2020 Petit Chablis (France)

Chardonnay from Chablis is not your same old-same old. 

There is something about these wines that just sing in the mouth : 

William Fevre 2020 Petit Chablis

MARVELOUS Domaine Tempier 2020 Bandol - Lulu & Lucien (France)

Bandol is part of Provence and while there is Rosé there, 

it is primarily known as a red wine region embracing Mourvedre : 

Domaine Tempier 2020 Bandol

Chateau Boucasse 2017 Les Jardins Philosophiques (France)

For a part of the country known for wines made from the Tannat grape, 

how does Madiran do with white wines? Let me tell you

Chateau Boucasse 2017 Les Jardins Philosophiques

 

... The Written Notes ...

A white blend made from the indigenous Petit Courbu and Petit Manseng from Boucassé’s 85-hectare vineyard. The vines are 45 years of age and these grapes take up nine hectares of the vineyard, at no more than 110 m above sea level. It is fermented in stainless steel and then aged in same for 12 months, but on fine lees.

The note … Grapefruit peel and pith that plays off of an oxidized sensation on the tongue. Great acidity back stops the wine giving it an exceptional length on the finish. A beauty of a sipper.

WONDERFUL La Chablisienne 2019 Les Venerables Chablis

Have we all forgotten about the wonderful world of Chablis? 

I have thankfully been reminded about it - you're welcome 

Les Chablisienne 2019 Les Venerables Chablis

PALATE PLEASING Clotilde Legrand 2017 Les Terrages (France)

The new generation is female. Watch the video to find out what I'm talking about : 

Clotilde Legrand 2017 Les Terrages

SATISYFYING M Chapoutier 2021 Belleruche Blanc (France)

Usually not a Cotes-du-Rhone white fan, but I think I found one worthy of the video series : 

M Chapoutier 2021 Belleruche Blanc 

Cotes-du-Rhone Blanc

EYE-OPENING Domaine de la Paleine 2019 Saumur Puy-Notre-Dame (Loire, Fra...

A tiny sub-appellation in the Loire Valley is making outstanding Cabernet Franc

Domaine de la Paleine 2019 Saumur Puy-Notre-Dame

Romain Moreau 2021 Coteaux D'Ancenis Malvoisie (Loire, France)

Looking today at a "Malvoisie" from the Loire Valley, 

a white with character and personality - 

from a grape that rarely possesses such attributes : 

Romain Moreau 2021 Coteaux D'Ancenis Malvoisie

 

 

Domaine Romain Moreau 2021 Malvoisie

A little on the sweet side, but with a good fruit core: peach and white peach with nice hint of minerality ... the name has been around for over a century, denotes Pinot Gris harvested late and with some sweetness – so this is bang on what it should be.  (****)

Domaine des Galloires 2021 Les Chailloux (Loire, France)

This was an absolute delight of a wine I tasted in the Loire Valley, right at the winery

Domaine des Galloires 2021 Les Chailloux

 

 

Domaine Des Galloires 2021 Les Chailloux
Fresh, lively, good acidity, lemon/lime, bright, hint of melon - stony/salty quality, perfect with oysters.  (****)

Chateau D'Aigueville 2017 Cotes-du-Rhone Villages (French Wine)

Today wine is a Cotes-du-Rhone wine that delivers both on taste and price, ya gotta love CdR wines

 

Chateau D'Aigueville 2017 Cotes-du-Rhone Villages

 

 

 

--- WRITTEN REVIEW ---

 

A red blend of Grenach, Syrah and Carignan, plus a few other grapes unlisted. Nose is pretty simple with white pepper and dark berry fruit. Taste is layered with smoky, dark berry, spice, blackberry, cassis, plus nice tannin backbone and a peppery-coffee finish.  (****)

M Chapoutier 2019 Belleruche Rouge, Cotes du Rhone (The Wine Review - #325)

This wine took me by surprise, grabbed my tongue and wouldn't let go - and here's why

 

M Chapoutier 2019 Belleruche Rouge, Cotes-du-Rhone

 

available at the winery (and other fine wine stores)

 

 

M Chapoutier 2019 Belleruche Cote Du Rhone Rouge Belleruche Rouge

Nice dark fruit and floral notes hit the nose ... Repeat on the palate while adding in white pepper, mocha, black cherry, blackberry and a layered finish that shows nice depth and age-ability.  (**** ½)

 

Domaine de la Cendrillon 2018 Atypique (The Wine Review #299)

How about we look at an atypical wine today that wears that moniker on its sleeve (or label) : 

 

Domaine de la Cendrillon 2018 Atypique 

 

available at the winery (and other fine wine stores)