Wine Regions & Grapes
Sampling of Wineries
- Acorn
- Allegrini
- Atlas Peak
- Balletto
- Benziger
- Blandy's
- Bodega Navarro Correas
- Bollinger
- Bonterra
- Burgans
- Chronicle
- d'Arenberg
- Domaine Carneros
- Domaine de la Mordoree
- Dow's
- Dr. Loosen
- Famega
- Fonseca
- Foppiano
- Foxen
- Glen Ellen
- Innocent Bystander
- Kendall-Jackson
- Korbel
- Madeira Wine Company
- Martin Codax
- Masi
- Merryvale
- Mulderbosch
- Napa Cellars
- Navarro Vineyards
- Noceto
- Paul Hobbs
- Reynoso
- Roederer Estate
- Ruggeri
- Sawyer Cellars
- Sbragia
- Shed Horn
- Sonoma State Wine Business Institute
- St. James
- Trinchero Winery
- Vietti
- Wildhurst
- William Fevre
Category Archives: Loire Valley
Andre Vatan Sancerre 2009
Domaine André Vatan, Sancerre, Les Charmes 2009 This has been a consistent, value-priced Sancerre that I have often reached for since a visit with Andre in ’98. As in previous vintages, the nose features grass, lemon, minerality and perfume. In the mouth … Continue reading
Posted in France, Loire Valley, Sancerre, Sauvignon Blanc
Tagged Domaine Andre Vatan
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Pichot Vouvray 2009
Domaine Le Peu de la Moriette (Domaine Pichot), Vouvray 2009 The nose is a little dead on the first bottle opened – I suspect a low level of TCA. Fortunately, the second and third bottles have a much more vivid … Continue reading
Domaine de la Butte Bourgueil 2008
Domaine de la Butte, Bourgueil, “Le Pied de la Butte” 2008 At first opening this is pretty stinky so give it a good airing and then you’ll find the beautiful fruit. In the mouth it is light-bodied and fruity with … Continue reading
Posted in Bourgueil, Cabernet Franc, Loire Valley
Tagged Domaine de la Butte, Jacky Blot
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Andre Vatan Sancerre 2008
Domaine André Vatan, Sancerre, Les Charmes 2008 The nose features grass, lemon, minerality and perfume. In the mouth it is bracing with a sense of freshly sqeezed lemon juice – very nice. André Vatan is a generous and gregarious man who also … Continue reading
Domaine de Beausejour Chinon 2007
Domaine de Beausejour, Chinon 2007 This wine is riper than previous incarnations, showing black fruit beyond the capsicum. In the mouth it is green and gripping but tolerable. 100% Cab Franc with stainless ferment; Gerard et David Chauveau in Panzoult … Continue reading
Domaine Vacheron Sancerre 2008
Domaine Vacheron, Sancerre 2008 The nose sports minerality and lime. In the mouth you’ll find concentrated citrus, a sense of austerity, a very dry wine with overt minerality – very nice and very long. The only thing missing is the … Continue reading
Francois Chidaine Montlouis Clos Habert 2007
Francois Chidaine, Montlouis sur Loire, Clos Habert 2007 This wine was a tremendous disappointment after my experience with the previous vintage, reviewed earlier. First it was worrisome that the colour was quite golden. Smelling the wine was a first rate … Continue reading
Posted in Chenin Blanc, France, Loire Valley, Montlouis sur Loire
Tagged Francois Chidaine
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Sylvain Bailly Sancerre 2008
Sylvain Bailly, Sancerre, Terroirs 2008 The nose features the classic characteristic; there is lemon, pi pi de chat and grass. In the mouth the wine is crisp and mineral driven – spot on.Mis a Bue in Cher 12.5% $19.99 at … Continue reading
Coulee de Serrant 2004
Clos de la Coulee de Serrant, Savennieres-Coulee de Serrant 2004 The wine in this bottle is deeply golden, almost brown, the nose is very complex, the mouth is quite dense and the flavors go on for a long time. Yet … Continue reading
Posted in Chenin Blanc, Coulee de Serrant, France, Loire Valley, Savennieres
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Bouvet Brut Rose
Bouvet-Ladubay, Brut, Rose, Excellence nv There’s a candied red fruit character in the nose while in the mouth, the wine is lean and acidic, perhaps a little green, with a bitter, pithy grip. The grapes are Cabernet Franc and are … Continue reading
Posted in Cabernet Franc, France, Loire Valley, Rosé, Sparkling Dry
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