Over the past few weeks, we've been sampling some wines from France and Spain. They were acquired from a variety of sources to expand our exploration of European wines. Here are our notes and scores.

French Wines

2017 William Fevre Chablis Premier Cru, Vaillons ($59.99 - Esquin) - We had this with Shigoku oysters on my birthday. It showed a brilliant gold color and floral aromas of Bosc pear, white peach, apple blossoms and lemon verbena. The flavors were crisp and saline, with a distinct flintiness that made the wine a great accompaniment to the small oysters. 19/20 points.

2017 William Fevre Chablis Grand Cru, Les Preuses ($109.99 - Esquin) - This was a fabulous accompaniment to the oysters. It had the high tones of high elevation Chablis, along with a laser-like intensity and notes of oyster shell and saline minerals. The racy yet rich finish kept on coming. 19.5/20 points.

2016 Domaine Poisot Pernand-Vergelesses, Premier Cru, En Caradeux ($59.99 - Esquin) - The En Caradeux Vineyard is across the road from the Grand Cru Corton and this is a beautiful Burgundy. It exhibits a brilliant brick red color and lovely aromas of fraises de bois, raspberries, wild currants, wild roses, sweet pea flowers, violets and whiffs of exotic incense. The flavors are deliciously velvety, yet forceful, with layers of red fruits that are imbued with red licorice, cocoa powder, black tea, forest carpet and granitic minerals. On the back, the wine intensifies, with sensations of pressed fruits, framboise and creme de cassis liqueurs and orange peel, followed by a lingering, suave, again velvety finish. 19+/20 points.

2018 Frédéric Berne Beaujolais-Latigné, "Granit Rose" ($15 - Last Bottle) - Last Bottle is an on line retailer specializing on end of lot deals. This shows a deep purplish color and enticing aromas of strawberry, cherry, currant, crushed roses, mulberry and white incense. The flavors show Gamay varietal purity, with notes of licorice, cocoa, tea and granitic minerals. The back picks up fraise and kirsch liqueurs on a pleasingly juicy finish. 18/20 points.

2017 Yohan Lardy Cru Fleurie, "Le Vivier" ($24 - The Thief, Walla Walla) - This Cru Beaujolais shows a brick red color and lovely aromas of strawberries, wild currants, cranberries, crushed red roses, sweet pea flowers and pink incense. The flavors are alluring, with supple red fruits that are endowed with licorice, cocoa and hillside minerals. The back picks up fraise and cassis liqueurs, followed by bright fruit acids on the finish. 18.5/20 points.

2017 Yohan Lardy Cru Chénas, "Les Deschamps" ($25 - The Thief) - From a vineyard planted in 1940, this displays a purplish crimson color and enticing aromas of fraises de bois, cherries, currants, red roses, lilac and whiffs of white smoke. The flavors are generous yet focused, with red fruits that are intermixed with licorice, cocoa black tea and minerals. The back picks up kirsch and creme de cassis, followed by a pleasing juicy finish. 18.5/20 points.

2017 Domaine Sergurier Chateauneuf du Pape, "Tradition" ($26 - Last Bottle) - Although the 2017 vintage in CdP is less spectacular than 2016 or 2015, this is a super buy. Mostly Grenache, it offers a ruby color and attractive aromas of raspberries, blueberries, red currants, red roses, tobacco, lavender and spiced incense. The flavors are appealing, with generous red fruits that are intermixed with licorice, cola and mas minerals. The back picks up cassis and framboise liqueurs and charcoal, followed by a soft tannin finish. 18.5/20 points.

2015 Clos Saint Jean Châteauneuf du Pape, "Vieilles Vignes" ($35 - Last Bottle) - Deep brick red colored, this possesses sultry aromas of raspberries, strawberries, black currants, crushed roses, mulberry, sweet tobacco, lavender, fines herbs and spiced incense. The flavors are massive, yet mouth caressing, with loads of black and blue fruits that are infused with licorice root, cocoa, black tea and mas minerals. The penetration continues on the back with macerated fruits, roasted nut and a touch of caramel, followed by a long, ripe spicy finish. 19/20 points.

2016 Laurent Combier Crozes-Hermitage ($29 - The Thief) - This 100% Syrah displays a deep purplish ruby color and a rich, spicy nose of blackberry, black cherry, black currant, black roses, mulberry, tobacco, lavender and spiced incense. The flavors are bold and direct, true to variety, with up front fruits that are intermixed with licorice, cocoa and stony minerals. The vigor continues on the back with pressed fruits, roasted nuts, creme decassi and charcoal, followed by a satisfying moderate tannin finish. 18.5/20 points.

2016 Château d'Arsac, Margaux, Cru Bourgeois ($25 - Last Bottle) - Composed of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon and 28% Merlot, this Bordeaux offers a semi opaque ruby color and rich aromas of blackberry, cherry, plum, black roses, mulberry, pipe tobacco, cedar and wood smoke. The flavors, as well, are attention getting, with dark fruits that are intermixed with licorice, cocoa, French roast and minerals. The back picks up macerated berries, roasted nuts and toffee, followed by a dryish yet ripe tannin finish. 18.5/20 points.

Spanish Wines

Lately, we have been trying some wines from the Rioja district of northwest Spain. Made from the Tempranillo grape, sometimes with a bit of Graciano, Mazuelo or Garnacha, they range from the modern to the traditional style. 

2016 Cune Rioja, Crianza ($12.98 - Super 1) - This entry level Rioja offers a ruby-garnet color and a nose of raspberries, cherries, currants, semi dried roses, tobacco and wood smoke. The flavors are medium bodied, yet well delineated, with notes of licorice, chicory coffee and earth. The back picks up roasted berries and nut, tart cherries and mocha, followed by a soft dryish tannin finish. 18/20 points.

2015 Marqués de Murrietta Rioja Reserva, "Finca Ygay" ($25.99 - wine.com) - Composed of 80% Tempranillo, 12% Graciano, 6% Mazuela and 2% Garnacha, this steers a mid course between the modern and traditional styles. It shows a ruby-garnet color and rich, smoky aromas of raspberries, cherries, plums, crushed roses, tobacco, cedar and incense. The flavors mirror the aromatics with ample yet focused semi-dried fruits that are imbued with licorice, cocoa, medium roast coffee and earth. The back picks up roasted berries and almonds and touches of almonds and American oak, followed by a ripe moderate sweet-dry tannin finish. 18.5/20 points.

2015 Bodegas Muga Rioja Reserva ($27.99 - wine.com) - Bodegas Muga produces wines in a modern yet traditional style. Deep ruby colored, this emits rich, smoky aromas of blackberries, black cherries, black currants, mulberry, maduro wrapper and incense. The flavors are full and bold, with notes of black licorice, cocoa, chicory coffee and alluvial minerals. The vigor continues on the back with sensations of macerated berries, tart cherries and roasted almonds, followed by a sweet-dry tannin finish. 18.5/20 points. 

2010 La Rioja Alta "Vina Ardanza" Rioja Reserva, Selection Especial ($32.99 - wine.com) - Rioja Reservas can age well and this is a fine example. Composed of 80% Tempranillo and 20% Garnacha, this shows a ruby-garnet color and rich aromas of semi dried fruits - raspberries, cherries, currants, and a hint of fig - with scents of dried roses, tobacco, orange peel, sandalwood and wood smoke. The flavors have smoothed out with barrel aging along with notes of licorice root, chicory coffee and dusty earth. The textured  back reveals sensations of roasted berries and nuts, cherry liqueur and recurring orange peel, followed by a lingering dryish finish whose tannins are beginning to resolve. 19/20 points.

The following wines were tasted at Valdemar Estates winery in Walla Walla which features the Estate's Rioja wines as well as those of the winery.

2016 Conde Valdemar Rioja Crianza ($22) - Composed of 90% Tempranillo and 10% Mazuelo and aged 16 months in American oak, this offers a ruby color and an aromatic nose of raspberry, cherry, currant, black roses, mulberry, vanillin and wood smoke. The flavors are generous yet focused, with notes of licorice, cocoa. chicory coffee and earth. The back picks up macerated berries, roasted coconut, tart cherries and burnt toast, followed by a ripe dryish moderate tannin finish. 18+/20 points.

2012 Conde Valdemar Rioja Reserva ($30) - This is 85% Tempranillo with 10% Graciano and 5% Garnacha, aged 26 months in American and French oak. It shows a semi-opaque ruby color and intoxicating aromas of dark fruits - cherries, plums, black currants - with scents of black roses, mulberry, tobacco, sandalwood, a hint of basaltic, and spiced incense. The flavors are bold and direct, yet complex, with notes of licorice, coffee beans and dusty earth. The intensity continues on the back with roasted berries and nuts, mocha, toasty oak and graphite, followed by a deep sweet-dry tannin finish. 18.5+/20 points. 

2010 Conde Valdemar Rioja Gran Reserva ($50) - Composed of 85% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano and 5% Matura from old vines in Rioja Alavesa and aged 32 months in 75% French and 25% American oak, this exhibits a semi opaque ruby-garnet color and rich, sultry aromas of black cherries, plums, black currants, tobacco, vanillin, cedar and spiced incense. The flavors are full and mouth encompassing, with notes of black licorice, dark cocoa, dark roast coffee and black earth. The penetration continues on the back with roasted fruits, grilled almonds, mocha, ground charcoal and toasty oak, followed by a long, full yet elegant sweet-dry tannin finish. 19+/20 points.