My first love in wine was those from France. I was bought up on French wines, especially Bordeaux which my father adored. I also have a kinship for Burgundy. Lynn and I have friends there we have known for decades. When I founded Esquin in Seattle in 1969, most of the wines were French. So it stands to reason that many of the wines we drink are French as well as Washington state ones. Here are some French wines we have had recently.

Rosé Wines

It is the French who invented rosé wines by drawing juice from crushed grapes to the fermentation tanks. Copious amounts are produced in Provence and the South Rhone Valley. Here are ones we tasted recently, some at a tasting along with Washington ones, and others.

2017 Minuty Côtes de Provence Rosé ($15.99 - Safeway) - Produced from Grenache and Mourvèdre, this features a light copper-pink color and attractive aromas of raspberry, currant, pomegranate, pink lilac, lavender and white incense. The flavors are light, yet well delineated, with a crisp dry finish. 18/20 points.

2017 Fleur de Mer Côtes de Provence Rosé ($17.99 - Safeway) - This comes from near Saint Tropez on the Côte d'Azur. Copper tinged pink colored, it possesses enticing aromas of raspberries, cherries and currants with scents of cherry blossoms, pink lilac and lavender. The lightly extracted flavors are fresh and expressive, with notes of grape skin, tangerine peel and sun drenched earth. The back picks up framboise and cerise liqueurs on the way to a lightly spiced dry finish. 18.5/20 points.

2017 Commanderie de Peyarassol Côtes de Provence Rosé ($26 - The Thief, Walla Walla) - From the Pays du Var, this offers a light copper-pink color and enticing aromas of raspberry, cherry, peach, cherry tree blossoms, pink lilac, Provençal herbs and white incense. The flavors are crisp and resonant, with touches of peach stone and scorched earth. The vibrancy continues on the back with a nicely juiced dry finish. 18.5/20 points.

2017 Labastide Blanche Bandol Rosé ($27 - The Thief) - Some of the best Rosés come from Bandol, situated between Marseille and Toulon and are mostly Mourvèdre. This sports a light copper-pink color and seductive aromas o raspberries, currants and tangerine with scents of wild flowers, lavender and whiffs of herbs and white incense. The flavors are light but well delineated, marked by notes of framboise liqueur, orange peel and dried pomegranate seeds, followed by a lightly spiced dry finish. 18.5/20 points.

2017 Domaine de Terrebrune Bandol Rosé ($29.99 - wine.com) - This is an elegantly styled Bandol. Light copper colored, it possesses seductive aromas of pomegranates, red currants, tangerine peel, pink lilac and lavender. The flavors are light but deftly extracted, with notes of grape skin, dried pomegranate seeds and dusty earth. The back picks up dried pomegranate seeds, currant liqueur and recurring tangerine peel followed by a lengthy dry finish. 18.5+/20 points.

2017 Campuget Costierès de Nimes Rosé ($11.99 - Safeway) - This South Rhone Rose from west of Avignon is composed of 70% Syrah and 30% Grenache. It shows a copper-pink color and attractive aromas of peach, Rainier cherry, red currants, orange peel and whiffs of white incense. The flavors are nicely extracted, with notes of light cocoa powder and hillside scorched earth. The back picks up light spices and recurring orange peel, followed by a dry, nicely fruited finish. A bargain at $11.99. 18/20 points

2017 Château Trinquevedel Tavel Rosé ($17.99 - wine.com) - From near Avignon, this Grenache/Syrah Rosé offers a light copper color and intriguing aromas  of wild raspberries, tangerine and pomegranate with scents of orange blossoms, lavender and crushed roses. The flavors are a bit more extracted than usual for a rosé, with vivid red and orange fruits that are imbued with minerals and pomegranate seeds, followed by a dry, spiced finish. 18.5/20 points

2017 Château de Segeries Tavel Rosé ($22.99 - wine.com) - This is a bit more extracted than the above wine. It shows a light copper-pink color and intriguing aromas of wild raspberries, red currants, tangerine peel, lavender, wildflowers and white incense. The flavors are fresh and lively, with notes of grape skin, framboise and cassis liqueurs, recurring orange peel, followed by a spice dusted nicely fruited dry finish. 18.5/20 points.

Burgundy 

2016 Réserve de Rochers Mâcon-Chaintré ($13.99 - Esquin) - Chaintré is located near Pouilly-Fuissé. This shows a brilliant gold color and attractive Chardonnay aromas of pear, peach, citrus, pear blossoms, acacia flowers and white incense. The fruit compote flavors, as well, are appealing, with notes of peach stone, pear skin and Maconnais granite. The back picks up poire and pêche liqueurs and grapefruit peel on the way to a crisp, satisfying finish. Terrific value. 18+/20 points.

2015 Domaine Ragot Givry, Vieilles Vignes ($26.99 - wine.com) - This is an attractive well priced Pinot Noir from the Côte Chalonnaise. It shows a brick red color and enticing aromas of cherry, plum and black currant with scents of crushed roses, tobacco leaf and incense. The flavors are supple yet deep and well delineated, with notes of cocoa, French roast and Saone river earth and minerals. The back picks up kirsch and creme de cassis liqueurs, followed by a satisfying moderate tannin finish. 18.5/20 points.

2015 Château de Chamirey Mercurey ($35.99 - wine.com) - This is another attractive Côte Chalonnaise red. Deep brick red colored, it emits definite Pinot Noir aromas of raspberries, cherries, black currants, roses, tobacco, earth and incense. The flavors are simultaneously velvety and muscular, endowed with licorice, cocoa, roasted coffee beans and riverside earth. The penetration continues on the back with sensations of pressed berries, roasted nuts and charcoal dust, followed by a smooth tannin finish. 18.5+/20 points.

2015 Domaine du Prieuré Savigny-les-Beaune 1er Cru, Les Lavierès ($38.99 - Esquin) - This is a tasty rendition of Côte de Beaune Burgundy. Deep ruby-brick colored, it possesses rich, earthy aromas of raspberry, cherry, black currant, dried roses, tobacco leaf, forest carpet and smoldering incense. The medium full bodied flavors mirror the aromatics with red fruits that are intermixed with licorice, cocoa, French roast and minerally earth. The chewy textured back picks up roasted berries and nuts, followed by a savory, ripe moderate tannin finish. This shows Burgundian Pinot Noir character throughout which gives it a plus. 18.5+/20 points.

Rhone Valley

2015 Domaine Andio Lirac "Les Mines" ($21 - The Thief) - This 80% Grenache, 20% Mourvèdre combination from near Tavel offers a deep ruby color and rich aromas of wild raspberries, black currants, plums, black roses, tobacco and garrigue. The flavors mirror the aromatics with chewy, direct red and black fruits that are intermixed with licorice, cocoa, roast coffee and scorched earth. The saturation continues on the back with sensations of roasted berries and nuts and charcoal.followed by a warm (14.5% alcohol) spiced moderate tannin and acid finish. Almost a 18.5 point wine, this is a terrific buy. 18+/20 points.

2015 Bertrand Stehelin Sablet Côtes du Rhone Villages ($26 - The Thief) - This Grenache dominated wine offers a deep ruby color and a rich, smoky nose of raspberry, black plum, black currant, tobacco, garrigue and spiced incense. The flavors are robust, yet generous and velvety, underlain with red licorice, cocoa powder, French roast and Southeast Rhone Valley scorched earth. On the back, the wine turns chewy textured with notes of roasted berries and nuts, creme de cassis and dried herbs, followed by a sweet-dry tannin finish. 18+/20 points.

2015 Domaine Saint-Damien Gigondas, Vieilles Vignes ($29.99 - wine.com) - Composed of 80% Grenache and 20% Mourvêdre, this shows a deep ruby color and rich aromas of blackberry, cherry, black currant, crushed roses, tobacco, lavender and spiced incense. The flavors are thick and robust yet velvety, underlain with licorice, cocoa, French roast and South Rhone scorched earth. The vigor continues on the back with sensations of roasted berries and nuts, crème de cassis and kirsch, followed by a ripe warm (15% alcohol) but not hot ripe tannin finish. 18.5/20 points.

2015 Yves Cuilleron Saint-Joseph "Cavanos" ($43.50 - World of Wines, Redmond) - Saint-Joseph is situated just south of Côte Rotie to whose wines this is similar. From a highly respected vigneron, this exhibits a deep ruby color and unmistakable Syrah aromas of wild raspberries, blueberries, black currants, crushed roses, tobacco, lavender and spiced incense. The flavors, as well, are true to variety, infused with black licorice, dark cocoa, roasted coffee beans and scorched earth. The saturation continues on the back with macerated berries, roasted nuts, crème de cassis and charcoal prefacing a lingering ripe tannin finish. 19/20 points.

Other French Wines

2015 Domaine de la Lande Chinon, "Le Veron" ($27 - The Thief) - Produced from the Cabernet Franc grape, this Loire Valley red displays a deep purple color and smoky aromas of black cherries, plums, red currants, crushed roses, tobacco and smoldering incense. The red and black fruits are ample yet focused, with notes of red licorice, cocoa, medium roast coffee and Loire alluvial minerals. On the back, the wine thickens a bit, with sensations of macerated berries, roasted nuts and graphite, followed by a moderate alcohol (12.5%) and smooth tannin finish that is lifted by bright fruit acids. 18.5/20 points.

2015 Château Bellevue, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru ($59.99 - Total Wine) - I tasted the 2014 vintage of this Right Bank Bordeaux at the Celebrate Walla Walla Valley Wine Merlot tasting (see below for the 17 June posting). This is even better, from a stellar vintage. Produced from 100% Merlot, shows a deep ruby color and a smoky nose of raspberry, black cherry and black plum with scents of crushed black roses, dark tobacco, sandalwood and incense. The flavors are thick, almost massive, yet supple, with interlayerings of dark fruits, licorice, Swiss chocolate and calcareous minerals. On the back, the wine strengthens, with sensations of roasted berries and nuts, dried cherries, plum preserves and graphite, followed by a vigorous yet velvety ripe tannin finish that is bolstered by vivid fruit acids. 19+/20 points.

See last week's posting below for the 2015 Château La Pointe, Pomerol.