The good news this week is that the Trump/Navarro 25% tariff on European Union wines has been suspended pending renegotiation of trade agreements. The previous administration's trade policy has been senseless, aimed more at "America First" than reciprocity. So we can now look forward to fairer prices for European wines. Up until now, the tariff hikes have been absorbed mostly by wine producers rather than consumers.

In the meantime, we have been tasting French and Italian wines from various sources. Here are my notes and scores.

Beaujolais

The 2019 vintage has turned out to be an excellent one in the Beaujolais region of Southern Burgundy. Fine weather during harvest resulted in healthy grapes that produced wines with fine extraction and depth. 

2019 Louic Jadot Beaujolais-Villages ($13.99 - Safeway) - This shows a deep ruby color and rich aromas of strawberry, cherry, currant, red roses, bayberry and lightly spiced incense. The flavors, was well, are appealing, with generous young fruits that are intermixed with cola, medium roast coffee and earth. The back picks up fraise and cassis liqueurs on the nicely fruited soft tannin finish. 18/20 points.

2019 Christophe Lapierre Moulin-à-Vent, Domaine de Chênepierre ($21.99 - Esquin) - This Cru Beaujolais is a great value. It displays a deep ruby color and a rich, smoky nose of wild raspberries. black currants, plums, crushed roses, bayberry, tobacco leaf, anise and incense. The flavors are simultaneously supple and vigorous, with notes of licorice, cocoa, French roast and schist minerals. The back picks up macerated berries, mocha, framboise and creme de cassis liqueurs, followed by a sweetish, satisfying finish. 18.5/20 points.

2019 Jean-Marc Burgaud Morgon "Les Charmes" ($25.99 - wine.com) - This is what the French call a "vin tendre," a deliciously supple wine. Deep ruby colored, it possesses enticing aromas of strawberry, cherry, currant, crushed roses, mulberry, lavender and sweet incense. The flavors are ample, yet focused, with notes of red licorice, cocoa powder, black tea and granitic minerals. The back reveals fraise and cassis liqueurs, followed by an, again, supple finish. 18.5/20 points.

2019 Dominique Piron Morgon, Côte du Py ($29.99 -wine.com) - This is another attractive Morgon. It displays a ruby color and aromas of raspberry, cherry, currant, red roses, tobacco, lavender and incense. The flavors are medium bodied but substantial, with red fruits that are imbued with licorice, cocoa, black tea and earth. On the back, the wine turns chewy textured, with sensations of cerise and cassis liqueurs, toffee and mocha, followed by a ripe moderate tannin and acid finish. 18.5/20 points.

2019 Anne-Sophie Dubois Fleurie, "Les Cocottes" ($27 - The Thief, Walla Walla) - This a real charmer. Brick red colored, it possesses seductive aromas of strawberries, cherries, currants, red roses, mulberry, lavender and oriental incense. The medium-bodied flavors are ripe and supple yet focused, with red fruits that are intermixed with red licorice, cocoa powder and pink granite minerals. On the back, a slightly chewy texture emerges, with gently pressed berries, toasted hazelnuts and No. 2 pencil lead, followed by a slightly grainy moderate tannin finish. 18.5/20 points.

2019 Daniel Bouland Côte de Brouilly, "Cuvée Melanie" ($38 - The Thief) - The Côte de Brouilly is a high elevation slope. Ruby-crimson colored, this emits enticing aromas of fraises de bois, blueberrie and black currants, wcih scents of crushed roses, wildflowers, lavender and incense. The flavors are deliciously mouth filling, with notes of red licorice, cocoa powder, black tea and hillside minerals. On the back, the wine takes an elegant turn with pressed berries, toasted hazelnuts and fraise and cassis liqueurs, followed by a lingering chewy yet sleek finish. 19/20 points. 

Maconnais

The 2019 vintage was a fine one for the Maconnais as well, with finely fruited and balanced Chardonnays. Here are two from the estimable negociant, Louis Jadot. 

2019 Louis Jadot Macon-Villages Chardonnay ($12.99 - Safeway) - This offers a brilliant gold color and attractive aromas of pear, peach, grapefruit, pear blossoms, acacia flowers and white incense. The flavors are varietally pure, unencumbered by oak, with notes of grape and pear skins and Macon granitic minerals. The richly textured back picks up pour and pêche liqueurs on the way to a nicely juiced finish. 18+/20 points.

2019 Louis Jadot Pouilly-Fuissé ($24.99 - Safeway) - Partially barrel fermented, this presents a brilliant gold color and floral aromas of pear, peach, citrus, pear tree blossoms, acacia flowers and white incense. The flavors show considerable Chardonnay purity, with notes of pear skins, peach stones and granitic minerals. The resonance continues on the back with sensations of poire and pêche liqueurs and touches of lemon custard and vanilla oak, followed by a faintly honeyed finish. 18.5/20 points.

Two Italian White Gems

The high elevation Adige region ("Sud Tirol") of northern Italy is especially suited for the production of white wines. Here are two lovely examples. 

2019 Kurtasch Müller-Thurgau, Alto Adige ($15.99 - Esquin) - Müller-Thurgau was developed in 1882 from a crossing of Riesling and Madeline Royal by Dr. Hermann Müller of the Swiss Canton of Thurgau. This version displays a brilliant straw color and intriguing aromas of pear, peach, melon, citrus, pear blossoms, Tyrollean wildflowers and lightly spiced incense. The flavors are pleasingly fresh and vibrant, accented by pear and grape skins and Alto Adige granitic minerals. The back picks up pear and peach liqueurs, melon rind and lemon zest, followed by a crisp, nicely fruited finish. Teriffic value. 18.5/20 points. 

2019 Santa Gabriela Pinot Grigio, Valdadige ($15.49 - Safeway) - This presents a brilliant greenish gold color and floral aromas of green apple, white peach, melon, citrus, apple blossoms, jasmine, lemon verbena and white incense. The flavors are fresh and brisk, with notes of grape skins, peach stones and Adige Valley minerals. The back picks up apple and peach liqueurs, toasted hazelnuts, melon rind and lemon zest, followed by a persistently mineraly finish. 18.5/20 points.

Next Week: Portuguese and French wines, including Crémant and the Loire Valley.