Tasting - Santa Duc Gigondas

Name: Santa Duc Gigondas
Variety: 75% Grenache, 10% Mourvedre, 15% Syrah and Cinsault
Region: Gigondas
Country: France
Year: 2011
Price: $43.95

Winery Review: Aged completely in foudre, it exhibits lots of blueberry, blackberry and kirsch fruit intermixed with hints of crushed rocks and spring flowers. This medium to full-bodied, soft Gigondas is ideal for drinking during its first 6-10 years of life.

My Review: This wine had a very strong woody, oak aroma. There was not much fruit aroma or flavor. It was very mineral in flavor and had a very tannic finish which I did not like.

I did not have this wine with food.

Tasting - Santa Duc Cotes du Rhone Les Vielles Vignes

Name: Santa Duc Cotes du Rhone Les Vielles Vignes
Variety: 60% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 10% Morvedre, 10% Cinsault, Cournoise, Carignan
Region: Cotes du Rhone
Country: France
Year: 2010
Price: $15.95

Winery Review: The old vines give great depth and density to the wine. Older vines produce less fruit, the flavors coming through the grapes are concentrated into those fewer clusters. The nose is of plump, dark fruit; ripe black cherry and blackberry as well as a bit of mint. The palate is full of lovely berry fruits, lush ripe strawberry, black raspberry and black currants and undertones of wild herbs, like a basket of freshly picked forest berries and herbs. Those lush flavor and herbal notes make this a nice partner for a cozy crock of French Onion Soup.

My Review:This wine had a smoky, spicy aroma with hints of oak. After tasting, there were some hints of berry fruits but it was very tannic and acidic which took away from the flavors.

I did not have this wine with food.

Tasting - Moulin de Gassac Rose

Name: Moulin de Gassac Rose
Variety:40% Grenache, 40% Carignan, 20% Syrah
Region: Languedoc
Country: France
Year: 2013
Price: $10.95

Winery Review: A delightful salmon-pink wine is produced using the traditional saignee process. After macerating on the skins for approximately 10 hours, the juice is then pumped off and fermented in temperature-controlled, stainless steel tanks. Aromatics of strawberries and crushed red fruit leap from the glass. In the mouth, it is fresh with excellent acidity, some mineral components and good length. Very food friendly. It is a great companion to just about anything you want to throw at it.

My Review: This wine had nice berry aromas of strawberry and raspberry. After tasting, the flavor was overpowered by tannins and a dry acidic finish. I did not really like this wine.

I did not have this wine with food.

Tasting - Moulin de Gassac Blanc

Name: Moulin de Gassac Blanc
Variety: 40% Grenache Blanc, 30% Sauvignon Blanc, 30% Clairette
Region: Languedoc
Country: France
Year: 2012
Price: $9.95

Winery Review: Variously described as "Lafite in the Languedoc", "the only Grand Cru of the Midi" and "exceptional", Mas de Daumas Gassac has consistently been the Languedoc glod standard for the past four decades. The 80-hectare, organically farmed estate is located deep in the sultry Midi, but enjoys a temperate microclimate as a result of altitude, which gives the wines a lovely deftness of touch. Try with coconut fish curry, penne al pesto, seafood gratin or cheese souffle.

My Review: This wine had a very fruity and floral aroma. However upon tasting, the fruit did not come out too much and it had a dry and somewhat bitter finish. It actually had some herbal flavor instead of fruit flavor.

I did not have this wine with food.

Tasting - Les Ramparts Bordeaux 2010

Name: Les Ramparts Bordeaux 2010
Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot
Region: Bordeaux
Country: France
Year: 2010
Price: $8.95

Winery Review: Features good crushed berry fruit, with a savory lacing and a flash of dark licorice on the finish. Fresh and direct.

My Review: This wine had a very smoky, oaky aroma that was immediately present. After tasting, there were flavors of berry fruits although there was a tannic finish which cut the fruits short. This wine was a bit too smoky and tannic for my taste.

I did not have wine with this food.

Tasting - Chateau du Trignon Roussanne

Name: Chateau du Trignon Roussane
Variety: 100% Roussane
Region: Cotes du Rhone
Country: France
Year: 2012
Price: $17.95

Winery Review: It's unusual to find 100% Roussanne wines, but this is a terrific example at a realistic price. It's broad and mouth-coating but still seems fresh, with melon, pear and pineapple flavors that linger on the tightly focused finish. Drink over the next year or two.

My Review: This wine had a very light fruit aroma but not much else. The wine was very smooth with little acidity after tasting but there wasn't much flavor. It seemed too thin and I did not really get much from this wine.

I did not have this wine with food.

Tasting - Marc Roman Malbec

Name: Marc Roman Malbec
Variety: 100% Malbec
Region: Languedoc Roussillon
Country: France
Year: 2011
Price: $10.95

Winery Review: A heat loving varietal, Malbec thrives in the warm sunshine of Southern France where consistent weather and patience allow tannins to ripen fully. It's this warm climate that allows Marc Roman to make a rich and velvety Malbec, packed with black spice notes and dark berry fruit.

My Review: This wine had a very woody and smoky aroma. There were nice fruity flavors after tasting with a light tannic finish. However, though the different components were not overpowering, the wine seemed a bit thin for a red which took away from its fullness.

I did not have this wine with food.

Tasting - Barth Rene Riesling D'Alsace

Name: Bath Rene Riesling D'Alsace
Variety: 100% Riesling
Region: Alsace
Country: France
Year: 2011
Price: $16.95

Winery Review: Dry, delicately grapey, has an elegant bouquet with mineral and floral notes.

My Review: This wine had a floral nose to it but not much else. After tasting, this wine was also fairly thin with some mineral, plant like flavors coming through. The finish was smooth and did not have much acidity. It wasn't the worst wine, but there are better Rieslings.

I did not have this wine with food.

 

Tasting - Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau

Name:Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau
Variety: 100% Gamay
Region: Beaujolais
Country: France
Year: 2013
Price: $15.00

Winery Review: An aromatic red, with floral and white peach notes, accenting the black raspberry and plum flavors. This is open-knit and fresh, offering light tannins on the finish.

My Review:  This wine had a strong strawberry-banana smoothie aroma with some hints of raspberry. Overall a very fruity aroma. After tasting, there was actually some plum flavor and not as much fruit taste as i was expecting. It did finish tannic but the tannins were not overpowering.

I did not have this wine with food.

Tasting - Col Des Vents Corbieres

Name: Col Des Vents Corbieres
Variety: 50% Carignan, 35% Grenache, 15% Syrah
Region: Languedoc
Country: France
Year: 2012
Price: $9.95

Winery Review: Brambly berry, cherry and raspberry, spices, black pepper...all are present in this authentic French country wine. There are also some aromas of Garrigue (Rosemary, thyme and lavender) giving a minty, herbal notes, that are quite refreshing as well. The wine is a perfect match with a nice rosemary marinated roasted lamb.

My Review: This wine had a very herby, licorice aroma to it. Taste wise, the black pepper and spices were definitely present while the fruit flavors were muted. It also had a tannic finish which I did not like.

I did not have this wine with food,

Tasting - Champteloup Pinot Noir

Name: Champteloup Pinot Noir
Variety: 100% Pinot Noir
Region: Loire
Country: France
Year: 2011
Price: $7.95

Winery Review: In the heart of France's Loire Valley lies Touraine wine region. Although it produces vast amounts of well-priced, fresh, mostly white wines, lovely reds like this are broadening Touraine's appeal. This wine may seem familiar to you. It is a sibling of the Touraine Sauvignon Blanc we've offered for years. Serge de Bucy employs a light touch in his winemaking, using no wood and doing as little as possible to preserve freshness. Bright cherry and strawberry fruits are followed by a soft, smooth palate.

My Review: Despite using no wood, the first smell I got from this wine was one of oak and barbecue. While I normally don't like red wines because of the tannic component and the woody taste of some, this Pinot Noir was not bad. There were hints of oak in the flavor, but had nice fruit flavors and the finish was not as tannic as other reds which I enjoyed.

I did not have this wine with food.

Tasting - Baumann Gentill Classiq

Name: Baumann Gentill Classiq
Variety: 40% Riesling, 20% Pinot Blanc, 20% Muscat, 10% Gewurztraminer, 10% Pinot Gris
Region: Alsace
Country: France
Year: 2012
Price: $9.95

Winery Review: A delicious and fresh blend of Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Muscat, Gewurztraminer and Pinot Gris. Light aromas of fresh fruit and delicate white flowers start your journey, followed by crisp flavors of stone and citrus fruit. A well balanced acidity on the dry finish ends this French blend beautifully.

My Review: This wine had a very strong fruit smell. Immediately, even before swirling, the smell was already present. Surprisingly, despite the pungent aroma, the taste was very light with a definite dry finish. This wine was drier than I would have liked from a white wine.

I did not have this wine with food.

Tasting - Willm Alsace Grand Cru Kirchberg de Barr Riesling

Name:Willm Alsace Grand Cru Kirchberg de Barr Riesling
Variety: 100% Riesling
Region: Alsace
Country: France
Year: 2011
Price: $20.95 

Winery Review: With great intensity and structure, this is a wine that's all about texture and potential. It's expressive with white fruits and perfume, but there's a richness that's still to come. Drink from 2016 and see how the minerality and acidity will come into balance.

My Review: I enjoyed this Riesling. The wine had a nice fruity and light floral aroma that was pleasant. The taste started with some nice fruit flavors and slowly goes to a dry finish. However, the dryness was not overpowering and was a nice balance on the end. Overall, a very good wine.

I did not have this wine with food.

Tasting - Delaroche Cotes du Rhone

Name:  Delaroche Cotes du Rhone
Variety: 50% Syrah, 40% Grenache, 10% Mourvedre
Region: Rhone Valley
Country: France
Year: 2011
Price: $8.95


Winery Review: "This semi-opaque ruby, custom cuvée of 50% Syrah, 40% Grenache and 10% Mourvedre is made specifically for Fran Kysela. It exhibits very fresh, ripe dark red fruit with very good palate weight and depth and ends with rich fruit notes. Made from organically grown grapes. Incredible value!" - 90

My Review: This wine had a very tart smell and had some heat in the flavor. It was very mild for a red wine, however it was bit too dry and bitter for my taste. It was better than expected but the red fruit flavor did not come out as much as I would have liked.

I did not have this wine with food.

Tasting - Domaine de La Guicharde Cotes du Rhone

I forgot to take a picture of the bottle
at the tasting. The wine sampled was a 2011
Cotes Du Rhone. 

Name: Domaine de la Guicharde Cotes du Rhone
Variety: 70% Grenache and 30% Syrah
Region: Rhone
Country: France
Year: 2011
Price: $14.95

Winery Review: Very bright and exuberant, offering lots of violet, anise and blackberry aromas and flavors, with a good lacing of firm cherry pit keeping this honest through the finish. - 88

My Review: I found this wine very bitter. I did not get the blackberry taste but there was some hint of cherry throughout. This white wine was heavier than expected and not as smooth.