Mary Taylor Olivier Gessler Ugni Blanc 2020

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Mary Taylor Olivier Gessler
Fanciful Name: Mary Taylor
Varietal: Ugni Blanc
Vintage: 2020
Country of Origin: France
Appellation: Côtes de Gascogne
Retail Price: $14.00

Tasting Notes: A tremendous value from a region of southwest France better known for the production of Armagnac. Crafted from ugni blanc (better known as trebbiano), gros manseng, sauvignon and colombard. Lower in alcohol, with flavors that are bright, lively, and juicy, with floral aromatics. 
Mary Taylor Olivier Gessler Ugni Blanc 2020

Saint Cosme Little James’ Basket Press White 2020

89
Saint Cosme
Fanciful Name: Little James' Basket Press White
Varietal: White Blend
Vintage: 2020
Country of Origin: France
Appellation: Vin de Pays d'Oc
Retail Price: $15.95

Tasting Notes: 50/50 viognier-sauvignon blanc. Sourced from Pays d’Oc, the Saint Cosme vineyards of the Rhone Valley produce this crisp, complex delight. Aromatic with stone fruit notes and a touch of mango. The nose is aromatic, and the palate is on the rich side. A great pairing for fried or grilled fish.
Saint Cosme Little James’ Basket Press White 2020

Domaine de la Taille aux Loups Chenin Blanc Tradition Brut

90
Domaine de la Taille aux Loups
Fanciful Name: Tradition Brut
Varietal: Chenin Blanc
Country of Origin: France
Appellation: Montlouis-sur-Loire
Retail Price: $30.00

Tasting Notes: 100% chenin blanc from 40-year-old vines. Initially fermented in used oak, then bottle fermented, just like Champagne. A fine bead invites, with aromas of dark, wheat toast, apple, beer and citrus.
Domaine de la Taille aux Loups Chenin Blanc Tradition Brut

Fournier Père & Fils Sauvignon Blanc Les Belles Vignes 2020

90
Fournier Père & Fils
Fanciful Name: Les Belles Vignes
Varietal: Sauvignon Blanc
Vintage: 2020
Country of Origin: France
Appellation: Sancerre
Retail Price: $29.00

Tasting Notes: This sauvignon blanc offers bright acidity with grapefruit and gently melon fruit. There is a flintiness which runs through the fruit, and acidity that offers a wonderful depth of flavor and texture.
Fournier Père & Fils Sauvignon Blanc Les Belles Vignes 2020

Marc Portaz White Blend 2020

90
Marc Portaz
Varietal: White Blend
Vintage: 2020
Country of Origin: France
Appellation: Vin de Savoie Apremont
Retail Price: $13.00

Tasting Notes: Quiet and shy at first, then this dry (slightly acidic) white wine opens up to show a great deal of body, along with a flinty, steely note on the palate. The wine also shows notes of citrus peel and white pepper. Bring on the food or the fondue. 11.5% ABV. 
Marc Portaz White Blend 2020

Domaine du Haut Bourg Melon de Bourgogne 2020

91
Domaine du Haut Bourg
Varietal: Melon de Bourgogne
Vintage: 2020
Country of Origin: France
Appellation: Muscadet-Côtes de Grandlieu sur lie
Retail Price: $14.00

Tasting Notes: This dry white wine has slight hue of green. The aromatics are fresh and floral, with citrus notes. The acidity is pretty balanced in the long, lingering finish.
Domaine du Haut Bourg Melon de Bourgogne 2020

Ocean & Vines Chardonnay 2021

91
Ocean & Vines
Varietal: Chardonnay
Vintage: 2021
Country of Origin: France
Appellation: Chablis
Retail Price: $26.99

Tasting Notes: Light bodied and crisp with citrus flavors of orange blossom and lemon. Due to this wine’s terroir, there is a delicate-but-present minerality. Very balanced and round, but its freshness keeps it lively on the palate.
Ocean & Vines Chardonnay 2021

Château Rauzan Despagne Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc Blend 2022

92
Château Rauzan Despagne
Fanciful Name: Blanc
Varietal: Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc Blend
Vintage: 2022
Country of Origin: France
Appellation: Bordeaux Supérieur
Retail Price: $16.99

Tasting Notes: This elegant sauvignon blanc/sémillon blend is lightweight and crisp. Floral fruits like passionfruit and apricot on the nose with notes of crips pears and lemon-lime zest on the palate. This would be easily paired with any chicken or fish dish, but is also a great glass of wine on its own.
Château Rauzan Despagne Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc Blend 2022

Joseph Le Roi Chardonnay 2017

94
Joseph Le Roi
Varietal: Chardonnay
Vintage: 2017
Country of Origin: France
Appellation: Chablis 1er Cru
Retail Price: $45.00

Tasting Notes: 2017 was a tough year in Chablis. But the grapes that survived the frost produced excellent wines. A taste of mineral, green apple, kiwi leads to a long, persistent finish. If you can spare it, splash a bit on your seared buttered scallops.
Joseph Le Roi Chardonnay 2017

Nicolas Joly Chenin Blanc Les Vieux Clos 2019

97
Nicolas Joly
Fanciful Name: Les Vieux Clos
Varietal: Chenin Blanc
Vintage: 2019
Country of Origin: France
Appellation: Savennières
Retail Price: $75.00

Tasting Notes: This is not your everyday sipper. Organic and made from select ancient vines. Complex, with honeyed stone fruits laden with zesty citrus and light spice. Fresh almond and flint with a creamy texture and long lush finish. It should age well for at least 10 years. Enjoy with seared curried scallops.
Nicolas Joly Chenin Blanc Les Vieux Clos 2019

René-Henri Coutier Champagne Tradition Brut

95
René-Henri Coutier
Fanciful Name: Tradition Brut
Varietal: Champagne
Country of Origin: France
Appellation: Champagne Grand Cru
Retail Price: $44.99

Tasting Notes: A dazzling blend of 80% pinot noir and 20% chardonnay. A wonderful nose of toasted bread and tropical citrus flirts with the senses. Wonderfully vibrant in the mouth, showing flavors of ripe apple, pear nectar and lemon zest, before finishing with a delicate touch of toasted almonds. A tremendous value.
René-Henri Coutier Champagne Tradition Brut

Hermann J. Wiemer Dry Riesling 2016

94
Hermann J. Wiemer
Fanciful Name: Dry Riesling
Varietal: Riesling
Vintage: 2016
Country of Origin: United States
Appellation: Finger Lakes
Retail Price: $24.00

Tasting Notes: This bottle shows how this grape, when made well, has such longevity. Vibrant aromatics of mineral and fruit on the nose. On the palate, every time I took a sip, there was a new nuance to enjoy: fruit, rock, acid, body. If I tried this blind, I might have thought it was from the Mosel. Lovely.
Hermann J. Wiemer Dry Riesling 2016