Tag: France

Posted on

2003 Chateau Mouton Rothschild, Bordeaux, France

Tonight’s Occasion: 2003 Chateau Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac, Bordeaux, France

Brown-Burgundy color. Out of the bottle, nose is shy with a soft gentle expression. A dry old leather permeates the stage. Supple dark plum slowly turns ripe as it breathes. A plush caramel emerges. Hints of white pepper. Old leather develops a sedimentary, silty characteristic. As it breathes that silty terroir moves to the forefront, along with a touch of slightly woody, slightly sweet star anise.

Body is balanced from front to back. Clean crisp, highly delineated tannins greet the palate in the form of dark plum skins. They immediately form a firm clear continuous structure with a fine grained grit coating. This quickly dominates the palate. Restrained acidity broadens the palate as dry plums, dark cherries and old leather gently fill the stage creating a soft, mellow, ever lightening mouth feel. As the body stretches thin almost to the point of disappearing, the tannic structure holds firm, like steel girders. Eventually this is all that is left upon the palate. The restrained acidity trades places with a white pepper which itself transitions to a bold spice heat through the finish down into the chest. This old sage has a few good punches left in it. My lips are parched, chest warm, mind pondering this occasion.

This is a great Bordeaux. It’s had almost two decades to integrate very nicely. While clearly in its more advanced years, it’s expression is no less interesting, no less enjoyable, especially for the intermediate to advanced palate craving a solid, faithful Bordeaux. Chateau Mouton Rothschild is a highly coveted Bordeaux. As a result, I can’t help but feel like it is often misunderstood, over-aged, left to languish and slowly die in the cellar. The 2003 is a gentle, graceful vintage compared to the others I have opened. While past it’s peek expression (not by much), it is still no less a great Bordeaux and a treat to indulge. If you have any of this vintage on hand, you should drink it now!

Wine.com affiliate links are provided for your convenience. WineSnob.blog may receive a commission when you use the affiliate link below. See Affiliate Disclosure page for more info.

Shop Chateau Mouton Rothschild on Wine.com

Posted on

2016 Grand Vin De Bordeaux by Chateau La Tour De Mons, Margaux

Tonight’s Occasion: 2016 Grand Vin De Bordeaux by Chateau La Tour De Mons, Margaux, France.

Dark opaque plum color. Nose is a bit shy, with notes of slightly ripe dark plums, hints of ripe cherries, damp wood and that all too familiar fine, sedimentary, river silt. Swirling vigorously releases more intense leather and a touch of anise. It’s hard to go wrong with Margaux.

Body is precisely balanced from front to back. Dry plums carry over albeit with a little restraint, lightening the body and providing firm, crisp tannic structure. A precise almost unnoticeable oak softens the tannins and intensifies the fruit essence ever so slightly. Subtle anise and wet wood eventually take over the stage just before handing over to an emerging gentle spice heat. This marks the transition to finish as the body fades away leaving behind harmonious melange of very fine grained dusty tannic grit and a warm spice.

This highly coveted often overlooked sub-region of Bordeaux is best known for its big, bold, dry, age worthy wines and characteristic terroir driven expression. They are typically hard to come by and command a premium when you go find them. This Margaux is a fine example of what a Bordeaux is. I put out a WineSnob Alert on this wine several months ago when it was available for just under $40 – a steal for what it is. It lives up to every other Margaux in my cellar and I look forward to following this vintage over the next decade.

Tres bien fait! 🍷😘👌🏽

You can read more on French wines featured on WineSnob.

Wine.com affiliate links are provided for your convenience. WineSnob.blog may receive a commission when you use the affiliate link below. See Affiliate Disclosure page for more info.

Shop Chateau La Tour De Mons wines on Wine.com

binary comment
Posted on

2015 Chinon Bonaventure by Chateau de Coulaine

Tonight’s occasion: 2015 Chinon Bonaventure by Chateau de Coulaine (@chateaudecoulaine), Loire, France.

Warm thick nose out of the bottle with plenty of mushrooms loamy leather. Some call it barnyard or old victorian. Some don’t care for it but I absolutely love it and can’t get enough. It begins to dissipate within minutes to reveal sweet ripe dark cherries, some berry and subtle hints of marshmallow.

Body is more balanced than not with a subtle suggestion of acidity before quickly centering on the palate. Tannins are not as pronounced as one might expect, fairly restrained, allowing a rich meaty mouth feel. Plums replace cherries from the nose and that leathery essence permeates the background. It reads like an impeccably decorated old world set. Subtle spice guides the transition to a finish characterized by gentle tannic grip and warm, moist lips, tingling with spice.

I can only think of a few wines I’ve tasted that express leathery terroir this clearly. It is a sultry wine that feels wise beyond its age. For around $20/btl it’s a head scratcher. Please let me order a few more before it sells out 😅. This my friends is why I stay off the beaten path. Some little known Chateau in Chinon has been making this wine sine the 1300s.

Tres bien fait mes amis! 🍷😁👌🏽

Wine.com affiliate links are provided for your convenience. WineSnob.blog may receive a commission when you use the affiliate link below. See Affiliate Disclosure page for more info.

Shop Chateau de Coulaine wines on Wine.com

Posted on

2014 Cabernet Franc (Chinon) by Remy Pannier

Tonight’s occasion: 2014 Cabernet Franc (Chinon) by Remy Pannier, Loire, France.

Dark plum color. Warm restrained nose with a lovely leather of slightly mineral, sedimentary terroir. You get a punch of mushrooms right out of the bottle. This quickly dissipates and is replaced by dark plum and blackberry. There’s a bit of a smokey cocoa essence. I like the nose on this one.

Haha this is definitely a Cab Franc by all accounts. Body is balanced. It has a plum mouth feel with lots of crisp clean tannic structure. The mineral leather carries over here as well as it’s smokey cocoa essence. Once opened the already graceful body softens around the edges for a smooth gentler feel. The finish is rather unceremonious, fading away, leaving behind a dry moderate tannic grip.

This is a Cabernet Franc after all. A great example too. I don’t expect too much drama or dimension from this varietal but what it does, it does it well. At 12.5% ABV this is one you can take your sweet time and eek out every nuance without any palate fatigue. I don’t think I’ve tasted Cab Franc from Loire before. I like how the terroir is so nicely expressed.

Thanks to wine.com and their extensive library, you can now access most of the wines I review on here. You can use the link below to have Remy Pannier wines delivered to your doorstep.

Shop Remy Pannier wines on Wine.com

Posted on

2001 La Cote by Chateau De La Negly, Languedoc-Roussillon, France

Tonight’s occasion: 2001 La Cote by Chateau De La Negly, Languedoc-Roussillon, France.

Out of the bottle, plum opaque burgundy color, big aromatic nose with lots of plum and sediment terroir. Once opened up, unmistakable mushrooms and minerals emerge.

Body is full. Mildly acidic attack quickly gives way to smooth buttery tannins. Plum and mineral terroir follow through from the nose. A smooth blackberry transition to finish fades away gracefully leaving behind a subtle dry tannic grip.

This wine has clearly peaked but it is no less interesting. It is still showing well and very enjoyable. I prefer not to over-age a wine, primarily because you really miss it’s fullest richest expression, however I do appreciate opportunities like this to explore a wine’s potential, the region and overall style. This region has an interesting back story and I think it is worth exploring further.

Wine.com affiliate links are provided for your convenience. WineSnob.blog may receive a commission when you use the affiliate link below. See Affiliate Disclosure page for more info.

Shop Vino Chateau De La Negly wines on Wine.com

 

Posted on

2018 Brouilly La Croix des Rameaux, Burdundy, France

Tonight’s occasion: 2018 Brouilly La Croix des Rameaux by Domaine Jean-Claude Lapalu, Burdundy, France.

Thick tense nose. A little shy at first. An intense leather. Lots of mushroom, saddle, barnyard, old victorian, damp woods/forest floor. So overwhelming, beyond that it is difficult to pinpoint the other layers. Far beneath it all is plum, black cherry and blackberry. Swirl vigorously and unlock the faintest hint of caramel. There is also a slight slate/mineral undertone.

The color and nose suggest massive tannins await but the body greets with good acidity and medium texture. The leather from the nose dominates the entire experience. It’s amazing. It’s as if this wine was infused with dirt and filterd through the terroir. Once opened up, plum turns into massive tannic grip that completely dominates the transition to a dry mineral finish leaving the palate parched. The leather turns smokey with a hint of tobacco.

This is a remarkable example of terroir expressed through the vine and into the wine. For that reason alone this wine is worth it. I also think it it still very young and will be an even more interesting and amazing wine in about 5 years. I would highly recommend picking one up and forget about it and thank me later.

Thanks to wine.com and their extensive library, you can now access most of the wines I review on here. You can use the link below to have Domaine Jean-Claude Lapalu wines delivered to your doorstep.

Shop Domaine Jean-Claude Lapalu wines on Wine.com

 

Posted on

Guest Review: 2015 Grand Vin De Bordeaux by Chateau Joly

Guest Review: Saint-Emilion Chateau Joly 2015 Grand Vin De Bordeaux.

Saint-Emilion is the home of great Merlot, and, Chateau Joly – owned by one of the three eldest negociants in France – showcases that. Horeau-Beylot is the négociant and supplier of wine across many regions of Bordeaux, including a large range of grand crus! This wine is composed of different vineyards aging 25years old on average. The expertise and wisdom that is build from these wines shows.

It was a pleasure to drink this wine! It’s got a smooth and velvety feel, a nice balance that won’t make your mouth water too much, nor dry it out. As a Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon blend it’s quite fruity, lots of fresh cherry and raspberry. It was complex, and the terroir of Saint-Emilion shines through this wine. I would recommend this wine to anyone interested in a great Bordeaux blend that is fruit forward.

🌟: 9/10, 3 – Preference, 2- Complexity, 1 Pairability, 1 Convenience, 2 Drinkability
💲: 29.99USD (@totalwine)
🥐: Could be paired well with a cherry pie actually, or a nice pork shank!

Salut! 😁🍷🍷🍷

About our guest

Ethan Turner is author of today’s Guest Review. All the way from Scottsdale Arizona, Ethan is a certified Level 1 Sommelier actively working in the service industry where he gets to sharpen his palate on a daily basis. In his own words.

“Going to a wine shop is like going to a library. Each wine has its own story, flavor profile, and shelf life. Some wines are popular and become classics, some wines are trendy and go out of style within a few years. That makes it really hard to find the right wine. I love helping find what’s perfect for them.”

You can follow Ethan’s journey via his Instagram page @ineedsommehelp

Posted on

Guest Review: Chassagne-Montrachet Montagny Premier Cru

Au Pied du Mont Chauve’s 2015 Burgundy White is one of my favorite wines, so much so that I had this wine with the first dinner I ever cooked for my girlfriend. It was aged wonderfully! The wine has a mouth-watering acidity, that makes you crave a butter or cream-based sauce. Each sip is smooth and silky. It has hints of juicy pineapple, crisp green apple, and creamy vanilla on the nose and palate. I would definitely recommend this wine to any burgundy lover, but also suggest it to those who are looking for a fun break from an Oregon Chardonnay.

The Domaine Au Pied du Mont Chauve, is operated by Francine Picard, daughter of one of the biggest winemaking families in Burgundy. Francine, daughter of Michel Picard, grows beautiful grapes on the hills of Chassagne-Montrachet. Her wines are normally characterized by their limestone minerality, and supple fruits. Her calling has been to remain true to the tradition, and this is what any Burgundy drinker searches for. This wine, a premier cru, was selected for excellence, and lives up to that standard.

🌟: 9/10, 3 Preference, 2 Complexity, 1 Pairability, 1 Convenience, 2 Drinkability
💲: 30.00 USD (TotalWine)
🥐: I paired this with a braised chicken with a creamy mushroom reduction.

About our guest

Ethan Turner is author of today’s Guest Review. All the way from Scottsdale Arizona, Ethan is a certified Level 1 Sommelier actively working in the service industry where he gets to sharpen his palate on a daily basis. In his own words.

“Going to a wine shop is like going to a library. Each wine has its own story, flavor profile, and shelf life. Some wines are popular and become classics, some wines are trendy and go out of style within a few years. That makes it really hard to find the right wine. I love helping find what’s perfect for them.”

You can follow Ethan’s journey via his Instagram page @ineedsommehelp

Posted on

Reserve: 2000 Chateau Prieuré-Lichine Margaux, Bordeaux

Tonight’s occasion: 2000 Chateau Prieuré-Lichine, Margaux, Bordeaux.

Relaxed and understated nose that once agitated reveals lots of plum, then intense cherry and leathery terroir and a very faint licorice on the back. Once opened up, subtle notes of tobacco make a pleasing appearance. The body is all business up front showing good structure and composition right out of the bottle. Leathery terroir carries through turning more mineraly. Cherry from the nose makes a brief encore before transitioning to a restrained finish capped by moderate tannic grip and spice.

Once opened, the finish turns creamy. I opened a 2012 vintage earlier this year and was absolutely enamored with it. So when the opportunity to try explore an almost 20 year old vintage I couldn’t resist. This wine is perfect right now. This Chateau presents great value among its peers. Looking at my notes it is remarkable how consistent this Chateau is.

Have you explored Margaux yet? You absolutely must for a proper introduction to what Bordeaux wines are all about. A votre santé! 😁🍷🍷🍷

Thanks to wine.com and their extensive library, you can now access most of the wines I review on here. You can use the link below to have Chateau Prieuré-Lichine wines delivered to your doorstep.

Shop Chateau Prieuré-Lichine wines on Wine.com