French Reds
2014 Chateau de Saint Cosme, Les Duex Albion
Cotes du Rhone, France
Aromas of hot brick upfront, with cherry, cranberry, and tar notes with ancillary notes of bramble, olive, thyme, mountain sage, bay leaf and other herbs, game meats and earth. On the palate the medium-plus/full bodied frame carries rustic tannins, bright acidity and good concentration. Flavors incorporate herbs, dust, brick and concrete notes with bramble, plum skin, dried cherry, cranberry and red currant fruits that mix with game meat, olive and earth notes. The finish is medium+ letting the grippy tannins hang on.
$18 – 91 Points
2012 Domaine de Pallus, Les Pensées de Pallus,
Chinon, France
Nose shows classic Cabernet Franc aromas with tamed pyrazine notes.
The moderate palate shows medium tannins that provide grip, above moderate acidity and moderate alcohol. Supple mouth feel. Flavors of cherry, red currant, slightly dried cranberry, bramble, crushed dried florals, bay leaf, herbs, tobacco, chalky mineral and stone that lingers through the finish
$22 – 92 Points
2012 Domaine Duclaux
Chateaunuef-du-Pape, France
60% Grenache, 40% Mourvedre aged in concrete tank and barrels for 24 months.
Giving generous notes of smoked cherry, black raspberry and strawberry with light touches of linzer torte and mulled cranberry fruits that are blended with scents of pepper, herbs, tobacco, dried flowers, rock with hints of sandalwood, cola and fennel pollen.
The palate carries juicy acidity and fleshy textures. Flavors show big fruit notes of cherry, black raspberry, strawberry and linzer torte that are enhanced with flavors of cola, herbs, leaf tobacco, pepper spice and rocky minerals with lighter hints of crushed dried flower/potpourri and smoke. Moderate-plus mid palate density leads to a moderate finish that lingers with grip.
2015 Domaine Saint-Damien, ‘La Louisiane
Gigondas, France
A blend of 80% Grenache, 15% Mourvèdre and the rest Cinsault and Syrah
From a single parcel of Grenache planted in 1942, Mourvèdre planted in 1977 and Cinsault planted in 1951. Vinification with maceration for 5 to 6 weeks in concrete vats. Aged in 50hL foudre for 12 months. Aromas of garrigue and fresh raspberries, strawberries, flowers, mineral and spice that then folds in richer notes of dark chocolate. Full-bodied and velvety on the palate, with just a hint of warmth on the finish. Flavors reinforce the nose with gorgeous raspberry, strawberry and cherry notes that play off of the mineral, garrigue, florals, pepper spice and chocolate. Long through the finish.
2015 Rémi Jobard, Monthélie 1er Cru Les Champs Fulliots
Burgundy, France
A single-vineyard of which one part touches Clos de Chenes, another part touches Volnay Cailleret. 60 year old vines.
Pure ruby color is gorgeous in the glass. On the nose aromas are fresh and enticing showing intensity in scents of chalk and salty minerals that lace notes of wild cherry, bramble berry, petite strawberry, smoke and earth with the lightest trace of florals.
The palate confirms the obviously youthful stage of this wine. Tightly wound with verve. Still this shows great intensity with high acidity and above moderate tannins that slowly sneak up on the finish. Flavors show austere notes of smoke, salt, chalk and mineral with crushed under-ripe raspberry, wild cherry, petite strawberry, earth and tea. The finish sails on and on as the tannins gain.
Extremely young and should age beautifully. Give it a decade!
2015 Brane Cantenac, Margaux
Margaux, France
This 2015 Bordeaux is an absolute stunner. A powerful and intense infant. This vintage is made up of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 1% Carménère.
This shows the classic notes of black currant, black plum, charcoal smoke, pencil shavings, espresso and pepper details on the nose and palate that are tightly wound and will benefit from cellar time. Bold in structure but showing refinement and balance. Incredibly long on the finish that shows focus and concentration.
2014 Crocus, L'Atelier Malbec de Cahors
France
A nearly opaque wine with purple tints that reflects the soul of Cahors. Zero barrel usage keeps this pure, offering a bright and harmonious nose redolent of Morello cherry, black plum and blackberries with a hint of ash and leather. The expansive palate is alive with fresh fig, raspberry and redcurrant finishing with earthy tannins with a touch of freshly cracked pepper. A rustic, earthy and well-structured wine.
2016 Domaine de Ferrand
Châteauneuf-du-Pape, France
Domaine de Ferrand is considerably small with only 7.5 hectares of Châteauneuf-du-Pape vineyards spread over 6 parcels in 4 lieux dits, half of which are 45 year vines and half are 95 to 110 year old vines. 2016 is a Superstar vintage for Châteauneuf-du-Pape. This wine is 87% Grenache and the rest Mourvèdre, Syrah, Bourboulenc, and Cinsault, brought up all in concrete.
Pure and fresh yet also rich and concentrated. Notes of mixed berries, black plums, currant, spices, garrigue, lavender, and exotic flowers as well as a gentle edge of coal smoke. The palate is full and rich with a layered md-palate and absolutely stunning texture. Flavors envelope the palate with notes of ripe dark cherry, wild berry, plum, pepper, baking spice, garrigue, lavender and shisha. This wine finishes long and elegant.
2017 Daniel Bouland, Morgon Les Delys Vieilles Vignes
Morgon, France
Delys is sable soil and one of the best situated in the appellation. Daniel’s parcel was planted in 1926 and yields are extremely low. This wine is 100% old vine, whole bunch, Gamay. Rustic, deep and dark, overflowing with personality. This is a serious and very age-able Beaujolais. Black fruits of plum and cassis collide with notes of dark chocolate, gardening soil, smoke, ash, cured meats and crushed florals. Plenty of grip and verve in this wine that finish lingers impressively.
2015 Domaine Guyon, Vosne-Romanée, Les Charmes de Mazières
Vosne-Romanée, Burgundy, France
An exceptional, well-built and elegant Pinot Noir from Vosne-Romanée that comes from old vines mostly from Hautes Mazières fruit that adjoin 1er Cru Les Suchots, and a small amount from a parcel at the top of Chalandins situated between Mazière and Clos de Vougeot. After an almost month long cuvasion, whole cluster, this wine is aged approx. 12 months in new French oak.
The nose brings to mind raspberry, cherry, violet, rose laden flower boquet, spices, earth, mineral, pastilles, pastry and hints of sea spray and herbs.
The palate shows incredible intensity and density, opening slowly with air time. A lush flavor profile that replays the nose: fresh cherries, red cherry, and strawberry reduction with notes of rose, violet, fresh pastry, spices, wood, earth and a touch of chalk and herbs. The tannins, acid and alcohol are balanced and moderate-plus. The plush finish glides on endlessly.
2016 Alain Gras, St. Romain Rouge
Burgundy, France
100% Pinot Noir. Deeply colored with dark ruby hues.
The nose shows high-toned scents of cherry, raspberry and fresh pressed cranberry that bring in some very pretty floral notes of violets and rose with hints of bramble, tea, pink peppercorn, saline, chalk and a streak of cocoa.
The palate is bright and high-toned. Lively acidity provides lift on the palate and gives a stronger counterpoint to the dry and firm tannins. Flavors show tart red fruits and berries that are a touch under-ripe, bramble, chalk, florals, tea, pink peppercorn and saline like qualities. Long through the sappy finish.
2016 Domaine Gayda, Chemin du Moscou
Vin de Pays d'Oc, France
72% Syrah. 22% Grenache and 6% Cinsault. Biodynamic/organic.
21 months in French oak: A third of the Syrah in ‘Burgundy’ new oak for 9 months. Grenache and Cinsault in 500 litre ‘demi-muids’ and 2000 litre ‘foudres’ for 9 months. Blending of the best barrels of each variety followed by a further 12 months maturation of the final blend in the same barrels.
Completely opaque. Heavily scented and bursting with notes of crushed violets, baking spice, pepper, sandalwood, olive, cedar and graphite that meets notes of blackberry, plum, fig, earth and aged meats.
The palate is full showing good concentration and density. Lively acid structure and full, firm and fully integrated tannins. Flavors are packed with notes of violet pastilles, smashed blackberry, baking spice, plum, fig, black pepper, olive, vanilla, herbs and no. 2 pencil. The finish lingers with intensity.
2016 Domaine Alary, Cairanne Vieilles Vignes
Cairanne, France
60% Grenache, 30% Syrah an 10% Carignan averaging 45 years old. Vinification takes place individually, then aged and blended without fining.
Scents are above moderate and wound tight but once allowed to breathe the wine reveals a profusion of aromas of white and ground black pepper, lavender, violets, smoke, beef jerky, rubbed sage, black plum, currant and brambly blackberry with hints of warm sidewalk and earth.
The palate shows great balance in the structural components of racy-berry-like acidity and fine, almost powdery, tannins that are both medium-plus in intensity. The palate is coated with flavors of blackberry, plum, currant and boysenberry that come nicely seasoned with notes of pepper, baking spice, lavender, violets, sage, earth, smoke, beef jerky and crushed rock. The spicy finish is long and slightly warm.
Vosne-Romanée, France
Once in the glass this shows vivid and ethereal aromas. Scents of muddled cherry, pomegranate juice, raspberry and cranberry are woven seamlessly with notes of earth, sea spray, chalk, bramble and hints of spice and flowers.
Racy and elegant at the same time. Bright acidity provides treble to the richer textures and deeper fruit notes. Seamless and open with rich red fruit flavors of pomegranate, cherry, raspberry and cranberry that are laced with spice, earth, mineral, herbs, slightly dried rose, fleur de sel and tea. the finish lingers impressively.
2018 Dupont-Fahn, Auxey-Duresses 'Derrière le Four'
France
Heavily scented with intoxicating notes of crushed raspberry, wild strawberry and pomegranate that are packed with aromas of rose petals, lavender, chalky earth, sea spray and mineral with whispers of white pepper and herbs. On the palate the wine shows great tension and vibrancy with crunchy acidity and refined tannins. The flavor profile of dehydrated raspberry, petite strawberry, red cherry and delicate florals are quickly overtaken by the mineral presence that recalls chalk, sea brine and oyster shell qualities that linger through the long elegant finish. A stunning and precise Pinot Noir.
2016 Château Grand Tayac
Margaux, France
70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot.
Distinctive Bordeaux aromas of moderate-plus intensity show notes of pencil shavings, graphite, warm-dusty earth, leather, tobacco, dried herbs, cocoa powder, plum, blackberry and cassis with hints of anise and smoldering charcoal.
The palate reveals a silky almost creamy texture accompanied with juicy acidity and mouth coating tannins. that build. Dense full flavors that show plum, cassis and blackberry with notes of rubbed herbs, desecrated violets, No. 2 pencil, earth, leather, tobacco and cocoa. The finish lingers pleasantly.
2017 Alain Graillot, St. Joseph
France
Gorgeously detailed aromas show a well-integrated mix of muddled blackberry, plum, black pepper, dried violets, black olive, herbs, earth, and hints of stone and smoke.
The palate shows elegance and poise. A medium bodied frame comes with above moderate acidity and moderate tannins. Flavors coat the palate in pure, cool-climate Syrah notes. Blackberries and plum notes are met with pepper, herbs, olive, bacon fat and earth with a streak of violets and lavender that are effortless and long through the finish
Odyssée, France
A blend of 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Grenache, 12% Syrah, 9% Mourvèdre, 8% Merlot and 2% Petit Verdot; The Bordeaux varieties come from the Northern Médoc and the Rhone varieties are all from Châteauneuf Du Pape.
Saturated on the nose with notes of muddled blackberry, cassis, plum and blueberry with scents of violets, cracked black pepper, baking chocolate, herbs, dried meats, leather and a faint bruised mint quality.
The pallet shows firm tannins that fill the mouth alongside moderate-plus acidity and alcohol. Balanced between the flavors of blackberries, plum, over-ripe blueberry and cassis that mingle with velvety herbs, black pepper, leather, jerky, violets, baking chocolate, and bruised mint. Long through the grippy finish. Should cellar exceptionally well. 65% Malbec, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Petit Verdot, from low-yielding old vines dating back to 1928; aged for 16 months in new Taransaud oak.