Amid the Coronavirus pandemic and in between evaluating Washington Wines for the April issue of the Review of Washington Wines, we've been trying some new French wines. Here's what we've had lately.
Burgundy
Louis Bouillot Crémant de Bourgogne Brut Rosé ($22.99 - Safeway) - This sparkling wine offers a copper-pink color, streaming bubbles and aromas of fraises de bois, tangerine, cassis, pink roses and pink incense. The flavors are brisk and lively, with notes of grape skin and stony minerals. The verve continues on the back with crème de cassis and recurring tangerine peel on the way to a finely fruited Brut finish. "This is so much fun," says Lynn. 18+/20 points.
2018 Jean-Marc Burgaud Morgon, "Les Charmes" ($22.99 - wine.com) - This Cru Beaujolais is a real charmer. It shows a purplish-ruby color and enticing aromas of strawberries, red currants, cherries, rosebuds, purple lilac and incense. The flavors are medium bodied but vigorous, with copious red fruits that are endowed with red licorice, cocoa, black tea and granitic minerals. The back picks up pressed berries, fraise and cassis liqueurs and semi-dried cherries, followed by a ripe moderate tannin finish. 18.5/20 points.
2018 Domaine du Prieuré Bourgogne Pinot Noir ($21.99 - Esquin) -Stephen Maurce's Domaine du Prieuré is a respected producer. From a vineyard in Savigny, this wine offers a medium brick red color and attractive aromas of strawberry, red cherry, red currant, rose petals, spring flowers and whiffs of white incense. The medium bodied flavors are charming yet substantial, with notes of red licorice, baker's chocolate and hillside minerals. The back picks up pressed berries, crème de cassis and toast, followed by a soft tannin finish. Quite enjoyable, which gives it a plus. 18+/20 points.
2018 Domaine du Prieuré Bourgogne Hautes Côte de Beaune ($19.99 - Esquin) - The Hautes Côtes de Beaune are the slopes above the Côte de Beaune. Brick red colored, it possesses attractive aromas of strawberry, cherry, currant, rosebuds, pine needles and wood smoke. The flavors are medium bodied and direct but solid, with notes of red licorice, black tea and high elevation earth and minerals. The back picks up fraise and cassis liqueurs and a touch of pencil lead on the way to a nicely juiced soft tannin finish. 18/20 points.
2017 Domaine du Prieuré Savigny-les-Beaune, Les Gollardes ($28.99 - Esquin) - From an 80 acre plot of 40 year-old vines, this wine offers a brick red color and an earthy nose of wild raspberries, cherries, brambly currants, crushed roses, tobacco and wood smoke. The flavors are generous yet focused, with definite Pinot Noir character, marked by cocoa, medium roast coffee beans and hillside earth. On the back, the wine turns chewy textured, with sensations of pressed berries, roasted nuts and creme de cassis, followed by a ripe, slightly grainy moderate tannin finish. 18.5/20 points.
2017 Domaine du Prieuré Savigny-les-Beaune Premier Cru, Les Lavières ($43.99 - Esquin) - Brick red colored, this wine possesses rich, earthy aromas of fraises de bois, cherries, cassis, dried rose petals, tobacco, pine needles and wood smoke. The flavors mirror the aromatics with generous red fruits that are intermixed with licorice, cocoa, medium roast coffee and earth. The chewy character continues on the back with macerated berries, fraise and cerise liqueurs, creme de cassis and pencil shavings, followed by a ripe moderate tannin finish. 18.5+/20 points.
2017 Domaine Saumaise-Michelin Pouilly-Fuissé, "Vignes Blanches" ($38.99 - wine.com) - This is archetypical Pouilly-Fuissé Chardonnay. It displays a brilliant gold color and a beautiful nose of pear, peach, grapefruit, pear tree blossoms, acacia flowers and white incense. The flavors are generous and resonant, with notes of pear skin, peach stone and granitic minerals. The resonance continues on the back with sensations of poire and pêche liqueurs, grapefruit peel and touches of crème fraiche and toast followed by a juicy, lingering finish. 19/20 points.
Rhone Valley
2017 Olivier Dumaine Crozes-Hermitage Blanc, "La Croix du Verre" ($28.99 - Esquin) - This 100% Marsanne shows a brilliant gold color and intriguing aromas of Bosc pear, white peach tangerine, orange blossoms, jasmine and white incense. The flavors are vigorous, with notes of grape and pear skins, sassafras tea and riverside minerals. On the back, the wine turns viscous yet resonant, with poire and pêche liqueurs and touches of crème fraiche and hazelnut, followed by a juicy finish. 18.5/20 points.
2017 Château Fortia Châteauneuf du Pape Blanc ($43.99 - Esquin) - Brilliant gold colored, this emits floral aromas of pear, peach, grapefruit, papaya, melon, pear blossoms, honeysuckle and wet stone. The flavors are vivid and resonant, with notes of pear skin, peach stone and mas minerals. The resonance continues on the back with sensations of poire and pêche liqueurs, orange peel and toasted hazelnuts, followed by a lingering deliciously juicy finish. 19/20 points.
2017 Nôtre Dame des Pallières Lirac ($23.99 - Esquin) - This is a tasty combination of 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah. It shows a deep ruby color and intense aromas of raspberries, black currants and plums, with scents of crushed roses, lavender and spiced incense. The flavors are thick and generous, with lavish red fruits that are intermixed with red licorice, cocoa, black tea and mas earth. The back picks up pressed berries, roasted nuts, crème de cassis, framboise and graphite, followed by a grainy yet smooth tannin finish. Great value. 18.5/20 points.
2017 Crous Saint Martin Châteauneuf du Pape, "Hommage à l'an 1879" ($34.99 - Esquin) - Composed of 80% Grenache and 10% each of Syrah and Mourvèdre, this offers a deep ruby color and an intense nose of raspberry, blueberry, red currant, pomegranate, crushed roses, lavender, sandalwood and spiced incense. The flavors are simultaneously velvety and forceful, with lavish red and blue fruits that are immersed with licorice, cocoa, French roast and mas minerals. The wine invigorates on the back with sensations of macerated berries, roasted nuts, crème de cassis and charcoal followed by a long spiced ripe tannin finish. "This is absolutely delicious," says Lynn. 19/20 points.
2017 Domaine Les Pallières Gigondas, "Les Racines" ($35.99 - wine.com) - This comes from a collaboration of the Brunel and Kermit Lynch Family. Composed of 80% Grenache, 8% Syrah, 7% Cinsault and 5% Clairette, it displays a deep ruby-crimson color and rich, smoky aromas of wild fruits - raspberries, blueberries, brambly currants - with scents of black roses, mulberry, pipe tobacco, cracked pepper and spiced oriental incense. On the palate, the flavors are thick, almost massive (60 - 100 year-old vines) with layers of red and black fruits that are infused with licorice, cocoa, dark roast coffee beans and scorched earth. The saturation continues on the back with macerated berries, roasted nuts, charcoal and baking spices, followed by a long ripe tannin finish. 19/20 points.
2017 Domaine Les Pallières Gigondas, "Terrasse du Diable" ($35.99 - wine.com) - From a terraced vineyard with 50 plus year-old vines, this combination of 90% Grenache and 10% each of Mourvèdre and Clairette offers a deep ruby color and an intoxicating nose of raspberry, cherry, black currant, black roses, bayberry, garrigue (lavender and herbs) and spiced incense. The flavors are mouth encompassing, with red and blue fruits that are intermixed with licorice, dark cocoa, French roast and Montmirial minerals. The saturation continues on the back with macerated berries, roasted nuts, mocha and burnt charcoal, all leading into a lingering, savory ripe tannin finish. 19/20 points.