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| Anjou Blanc |
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Cuvée:
La Varenne du Poirier
Domaine:
Domaine Les Grandes Vignes
Producer:
Jean François Vaillant
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| Beaune 1er Cru |
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Cuvée:
Bressandes
Domaine:
Domaine Albert Morot
Producer:
Geoffrey Choppin de Janvry
Review:
90-93
International Wine Cellar 03/09
Bright, deep red. Vibrant aromas of raspberry, minerals and spices, plus a whiff of cherry liqueur. Suave on entry, then fine-grained in the middle, with enticing energy to the raspberry, cherry and spice flavors. Wonderfully gentle, round and scented wine, finishing with fine tannins, subtle length and a supple yet firm structure. The classiest of these 2007s, and a terrific Beaune wine in the making. I've had a weakness for this estate's Bressandes cuvee dating back to the late '70s. Stephen Tanzer
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| Châteauneuf-du-Pape |
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Domaine:
Domaine Les Cailloux
Producer:
André Brunel
Review:
93
Wine Advocate #185
Two brilliant successes are Brunel’s cuvees of 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape. The 2007 Les Cailloux Tradition (a blend of 65% Grenache, 20% Mourvedre, 12% Syrah, and 3% other authorized varieties) comes from 60-year-old vines and is aged completely in tank except for the Mourvedre and Syrah components, which are kept in small barrels. Explosively fruity, this dense plum/purple-colored wine displays grilled meat notes intermixed with Provencal herbs, spice box, black cherry and black currant, in addition to having a lush, opulent texture. The finish goes on and on, and the wine is beautifully pure. It can be drunk now or cellared for 12 or more years.
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| Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge |
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Cuvée:
Centenaire
Domaine:
Domaine Les Cailloux
Producer:
André Brunel
Review:
96
Wine Advocate #185
"Two brilliant successes are Brunel’s cuvees of 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape. His limited cuvee of approximately 500 cases of the 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Centenaire (made from 80% Grenache aged in foudre, and the balance Syrah and Mourvedre aged in one- to three-year-old small barrels) comes primarily from a parcel of 120-year-old vines in the northern part of the appellation in the lieu-dit known as Farguerol. This cuvee has only been made in vintages such as 1989, 1990, 1995, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2006, and now 2007. Deep ruby/purple in color, the wine exhibits very up-front, precocious, sexy plum, black currant, and sweet cherry notes intermixed with some floral hints, licorice, and garrigue. It is dense, full-bodied, much more supple and silky-textured than the 2005 or 2001, but seemingly more concentrated than the 2000 version of this wine. It is a brilliant, full-throttle, seamless Chateauneuf du Pape capable of lasting for up to two decades, although few people will be able to resist its exuberant youthfulness."
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| Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge |
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Domaine:
Domaine André Brunel
Producer:
André Brunel
Review:
Two brilliant successes are Brunel’s cuvees of 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape. The 2007 Les Cailloux Tradition (a blend of 65% Grenache, 20% Mourvedre, 12% Syrah, and 3% other authorized varieties) comes from 60-year-old vines and is aged completely in tank except for the Mourvedre and Syrah components, which are kept in small barrels. Explosively fruity, this dense plum/purple-colored wine displays grilled meat notes intermixed with Provencal herbs, spice box, black cherry and black currant, in addition to having a lush, opulent texture. The finish goes on and on, and the wine is beautifully pure. It can be drunk now or cellared for 12 or more years.
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| Costières de Nîmes |
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Cuvée:
Rouge
Domaine:
Domaine de la Petite Cassagne
Producer:
Diane de Puymorin
Review:
The 2009 red, a blend of 47% Grenache and equal parts Carignan and Syrah, all fermented and aged in tank, is a sleeper selection. Deep ruby/purple-tinged with lots of cassis, raspberry, licorice, and forest floor, the wine exhibits excellent ripeness, a delicious, silky mid-palate, and a good finish. This is a very good bargain and worth drinking over the next two years.
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| Côtes du Rhône |
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Cuvée:
Rosé
Domaine:
Domaine Font de Michelle
Producer:
Michel & Jean Gonnet
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| Côtes du Ventoux Rouge |
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Cuvée:
Cuvée "Nadal"
Domaine:
Domaine de Fondrèche
Producer:
Sébastien Vincenti
Review:
92
The Wine Advocate #185
Two late-release 2007s that have just hit the market are brilliant wines, among the best I have ever tasted from the cool-climate, high-elevation vineyard of Domaine de Fondreche. The 2007 Nadal (50% Grenache, 40% Syrah, and 10% Mourvedre, all from vines over 70 years of age) is brilliant. Deep ruby/purple, with kirsch liqueur, licorice, spring flowers, and black raspberries, the wine is dense, medium to full-bodied, and despite being aged in small barrels, displays virtually no evidence of any wood. The freshness of the acids buttress this substantial, rich wine, which should drink well for 4-6 years. Both of these wines actually showed even better this year than they did last year.
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| Grenache Noir |
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Domaine:
Domaine de Gournier
Producer:
Maurice Barnouin
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| Grenache Syrah |
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Domaine:
Mas de Guiot
Producer:
Sylvia & François Cornut
Review:
"90 points: This endearing red boasts a dense ruby/purple color in addition to loads of crème de cassis and blackberry fruit intermixed with hints of kirsch, lavender and spice. It is a fleshy, medium-bodied, silky smooth 2009 to enjoy..." -Robert Parker
It is somewhat confusing, but under the Mas de Guiot label, their 2007 Vin de Pays, made from 60% Syrah and 40% Grenache, is a winner. There are just under 3,500 cases of this wine, which displays a dense ruby/purple color and beautiful, sweet creme de cassis fruit intermixed with touches of forest floor, acacia flowers, and earth. Aged in tank and old barrels, the wine is dense and richly fruity, with silky tannins. It should be drunk over the next 1-2 years, as the real value of these wines is their exuberance and rich fruit
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| Touraine Sauvignon Blanc |
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Cuvée:
AOC
Domaine:
Domaine des Corbillières
Producer:
Dominique Barbou
88 Points. The Corbillieres 2009 Touraine Sauvignon is not the finest in the Barbou family’s long history of outstanding successes and amazing values from this grape, but it delivers considerable juicy satisfaction and levity for its vintage. Scents of mint, passion fruit, caraway, and fennel lead to a piquant, relatively rich yet refreshing palate. This finishes with an impressive, subtly oily yet invigorating cling of aromatic, bittersweet herbs, caraway, lemon rind, salt, and crushed stone. Enjoy it over the coming year. From David Schildknecht, The Wine Advocate.
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| Vacqueyras |
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Domaine:
Domaine des Amouriers
Producer:
Igor Chudzikiewicz & Patrick Gras
Review:
91
Wine Advocate #185
Their top cuvee, from the oldest vines and the very best parcels of the estate, is the 2007 Vacqueyras Les Genestes, which is a blend of 60% Grenache and 40% Syrah, all aged in tank. Fuller-bodied, deeper, with more substance and dimension to its flavors, and considerably longer, this is an impressively endowed, full-bodied Vacqueyras with loads of licorice, roasted herbs, smoked meats, and plenty of black cherry and blackberry fruit. It is a super Vacqueyras to drink over the next 6-7 years.
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