origin: France

Taittinger Brut La Française Sparkling

94
Taittinger
Fanciful Name: Brut La Française
Varietal: Sparkling
Country of Origin: France
Appellation: Champagne
Retail Price: $49.99

Tasting Notes: With Chardonnay making up a plurality of the blend, the La Française exhibits an energy and vitality that many of its peers lack. A brilliant pale gold in the glass, the wine delivers a complex mixture of clean stone fruit — with subtle notes of spice and floral characteristics — to the nose and palate.
Taittinger Brut La Française Sparkling

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Chat du Poyet Melon de Bourgogne 2017

94
Chat du Poyet
Varietal: Melon de Bourgogne
Vintage: 2017
Country of Origin: France
Appellation: Muscadet-Sevre et Maine
Retail Price: $15.95

Tasting Notes: The Monmousseau vineyards hit one out of the park on this exceptional muscadet. Considered the best vintage they have produced. Grab one while you can, and slurp it up with baked halibut.
Chat du Poyet Melon de Bourgogne 2017

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Domaine Pierre Guillemot Pinot Noir 2018

94
Domaine Pierre Guillemot
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Vintage: 2018
Country of Origin: France
Appellation: Cote de Beaune
Retail Price: $54.99

Tasting Notes: Great value Burgundy can be hard to find but I just did. What a tremendous wine this is with all the wet leaf, tea, mushroom and cornucopia of red berries this has. The lengthy palate on this wine does a wonderful job of dancing between the complex fruit and perfectly balance oak, acid and tannin. Stash this one away in the cellar for future enjoyment.
Domaine Pierre Guillemot Pinot Noir 2018

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Remoissenet Fourchaume Chablis 2017

94
Remoissenet Fourchaume
Varietal: Chablis
Vintage: 2017
Country of Origin: France
Appellation: Cote de Beaune
Retail Price: $57.99

Tasting Notes: The Premier Cru of Fourchaume has a track record for quality. The 2017 is a prime example of harmony and grace with this complex Chablis. The nose opens up with subtle toast and minerality with restrained green apple notes. The palate of this wine has perfectly racy acids, with ample richness from perfect use of oak to balance it out. Baked Brie stewed golden apple, and more minerality round out a very impressive expression of Fourchaume terrioir.
Remoissenet Fourchaume Chablis 2017

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Domaine des Remizieres Cuvee Emilie Sirah 2017

94
Domaine des Remizieres
Fanciful Name: Cuvee Emilie
Varietal: Sirah
Vintage: 2017
Country of Origin: France
Appellation: Hermitage
Retail Price: $62.99

Tasting Notes: What a bargain-priced Hermitage is in comparison to most of its peers. The Cuvee Emilie has a beautiful violet perfume with smoky bacon fat notes as well. The inky syrah in this wine has a chalky, full-bodied mouthfeel, with dark blackberry kirsch and subtle white pepper notes. May be the value of the vintage for Northern Rhone.
Domaine des Remizieres Cuvee Emilie Sirah 2017

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Gerard Bertrand Cingalus Chardonnay 2018

93
Gerard Bertrand
Fanciful Name: Cingalus
Varietal: Chardonnay
Vintage: 2018
Country of Origin: France
Appellation: IGP Haute Valle' de L'Aude
Retail Price: $44.99

Tasting Notes: This estate wine is made from a blend of predominantly chardonnay, rounded out with viognier and sauvignon blanc. The chardonnay is apparent with its full-bodied golden hue and notes, but the lesser varietals do a great job of adding enticing floral aromas and zippy acidity to this well-crafted blend. The oily mouthfeel makes way to the tropical fruits and rich depth that oak ageing adds to this great white.
Gerard Bertrand Cingalus Chardonnay 2018

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Domaine des Braves Gamay 2018

93
Domaine des Braves
Varietal: Gamay
Vintage: 2018
Country of Origin: France
Appellation: Regnie
Retail Price: $21.99

Tasting Notes: Regnie is the youngest of all the crus in Beaujolais, but this wine is sure making its mark on my mind. Purple flowers erupt from the glass with loads of blackberry and plum aromatics. The palate is serious for Beaujolais, but not so much that it can’t be consumed in its youth. The soft tannins are in check, and fold perfectly into the kirsch and blackberry liqueur flavors of this delectable wine.
Domaine des Braves Gamay 2018

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Aux Pied du Mont Chauve Premier Cru Chardonnay 2016

93
Aux Pied du Mont Chauve
Fanciful Name: Premier Cru
Varietal: Chardonnay
Vintage: 2016
Country of Origin: France
Appellation: Montagny
Retail Price: $29.99

Tasting Notes: This Burgundy chardonnay is layered with white flower, pear and mango notes on the nose that are beautiful and elegant. The lovely fruit drives onto the palate and is paired with a zippy acidity and mineral aspect that keeps the finish going.
Aux Pied du Mont Chauve Premier Cru Chardonnay 2016

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Ropiteau Reserve Pinot Noir 2017

92
Ropiteau
Fanciful Name: Reserve
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Vintage: 2017
Country of Origin: France
Appellation: Bourgogne
Retail Price: $18.99

Tasting Notes: A muscular pinot with loads of Bing cherry and bright raspberry flavors from top to bottom. The texture is smooth and energetic, carrying this medium-plus-bodied wine to punch above its weight class.
Ropiteau Reserve Pinot Noir 2017

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Domaine de la Piegonne Red Rhone Blend 2017

92
Domaine de la Piegonne
Varietal: Red Rhone Blend
Vintage: 2017
Country of Origin: France
Appellation: Cotes du Rhone
Retail Price: $14.99

Tasting Notes: This grenache-dominated blend is spiced up with syrah and mourvedre, making a dark berry-forward wine with a silky texture. The impressive, complex savory olive notes on the finish make this one quite memorable.
Domaine de la Piegonne Red Rhone Blend 2017

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Bernard Remy Sparkling

97
Bernard Remy
Varietal: Sparkling
Country of Origin: France
Appellation: Loire Valley
Retail Price: $43.50

Tasting Notes: An unusually attractive price for such a high-quality wine. Sourced from top-grade vineyard sites, this grower Champagne is a true value, considering its quality. Elegant and focused, the brut level of sweetness accentuates the bright fruit, along with the wine’s backbone. The finish is long, balanced and confirms the wine's pedigree.
Bernard Remy Sparkling

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Besserat de Bellefon Bleu Brut Sparkling

96
Besserat de Bellefon
Fanciful Name: Bleu Brut
Varietal: Sparkling
Country of Origin: France
Appellation: Epernay
Retail Price: $60.00

Tasting Notes: Using the three traditional Champagne grape varieties, sourced from top sub-regions across Champagne, in a well-balanced blend contributes to this lovely wine’s allure. Fruit and floral characteristics blend into a harmonious whole, with large quantities refinement and panache.
Besserat de Bellefon Bleu Brut Sparkling

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