In our continuing quest for affordable French wines, here are some we've tasted recently.

2020 Gavoty "Récital" Côtes de Provence Rosé ($23 - The Thief, Walla Walla) - This presents a brilliant copper-tinged pink color and lovely aromas of wild strawberry, pomegranate, tangerine, red currant, pink roses, lavender and pink incense. The flavors, as well, are appealing, with deftly extracted grape skins, pomegranate seeds and Provençal hillside minerals. The resonance continues on the back with fraise and cassis liqueurs and recurring tangerine peel on the dry, lightly spiced finely fruited finish. 18.5/20 points.

2020 Figuière "Signature Magali" Côtes de Provence Rosé ($23 - The Thief) - Composed of 35% Grenache, 35% Cinsaulkt, 20% Syrah and 10% Cabernet, this features a brilliant copper-pink color and enticing aromas of fraises de bois, pomegranate, tangerine, red currants, rose petals, pink lavender and pink incense. The flavors are pleasingly juicy, with notes of grape skins, pomegranate seeds and stony minerals. The back picks up strawberry and currant liqueurs and recurring tangerine peel on the way lightly brisk finish. 18.5/20 points.

The above two wines are quite similar, with the Gavoty a bit spicier and the Figuière a bit crisper.

2019 Domaine Fenouillet Ventoux Rosé ($19 - The Thief) - Ventoux is situated in the southeast section of the Rhone Valley. This Rosé shows a light copper color and intriguing aromas of raspberry, pink cherry, tangerine, pink lavender and pink incense. The flavors are lightly extracted yet well delineated, with notes of gently pressed fruits and wind-blown (ventoux) earth. The back picks up gently pressed fruits, kirsch and framboise, and recurring tangerine peel, followed by a fresh, dry finish. 18/20 points.

2019 Domaine Michel Chignard Fleurie, "Les Moriers" ($26.99 - wine.com) - This Cru Beaujolais is a real charmer. It displays a deep ruby color and seductive aromas of raspberry, cherry, black currant, crushed roses, sweet tobacco, wild violets and stick incense. The flavors are mouth encompassing and vigorous yet supple, with delicious black and blue fruits that are intermixed with licorice, cocoa, black tea and granitic minerals. The penetration continues on the back with pressed fruits, roasted nuts and framboise and creme de cassis liqueurs, followed by a savory, slightly grainy ripe tannin finish. 18.5+/20 points.

2019 Jean-Marc Burgaud Morgon, "Côte de Py" ($27.99 - wine.com) - This is another nice Cru Beaujolais. Deep ruby colored, to emits rich aromas of raspberry, currant, bayberry, crushed roses, tobacco, wild violets and whiffs of incense. The flavors are medium bodied but substantial, with red fruits that are intermixed with red licorice, cocoa, black tea and granitic minerals. On the back, the wine intensifies with pressed fruits, framboise and cassis liqueurs and soft charcoal, followed by a thickly juicy moderate tannin finish that is lifted by bright fruit acids. 18.5+/20 points.

2019 Domaine Guy Breton Chiroubles, "Cuvée Léa" ($35.99 - wine.com) - This is Burgundian style Cru Beaujolais at it's best. It displays a deep brick red color and intense aromas of wild fruits - raspberries, cranberries, black currants - with scents of wild roses, mulberry, pipe tobacco, lavender and oriental incense. The flavors show considerable old vine (60 years) character, with generous yet deep and penetrating fruits that are infused with licorice root, cocoa powder, black tea and hilltop granitic minerals. The wine intensifies further with macerated berries, roasted nuts, framboise and creme de cassis liqueurs and touches of kidskin and graphite (traits of old vine Gamay) followed by a lingering chewy yet smooth ripe tannin finish. 19/20 points.

2019 Domaine de la Chapelle Pouilly-Fuissé, "Vieilles Vignes" ($37 - The Thief) - This comes from Catherine and Pascal Rollet's property (57 year-old vines) in Soulutré, one of the best climats in Pouilly-Fuissé. It shows a brilliant lemon-gold color and floral aromas of pear, white peach, lemon custard, pear tree blossoms, acacia flowers, lemon verbena and white incense. The flavors show wonderful Chardonnay character, with vivid white fruits that are accented by pear skins, peach stones and granitic minerals. The textured back picks up poire and pêche liqueurs and touches of creme fraiche, lemon zest and butternut on the way to a silky lingering finish. 19/20 points.

2018 Domaine Michel Magnien Bourgogne Pinot Noir, Côte d'Or ($35 - Foodscape, Walla Walla) - Magnien is a respected grower in Morey-St. Denis. Aged in amphorae, this exhibits a brick red color and a rich, smoky nose of dark fruits - blackberries, black currants and old tree cherries - with scents of black roses, pipe tobacco, black herbs, anise and incense. The flavors show considerable intensity for Pinot Noir, with dark fruits that are infused with licorice, cocoa, French roast and granitic minerals. The saturation continues own the back with macerated fruits, grilled nuts, kitsch and creme de cassis, followed by a deliciously thick, satisfying finish. 18.5+/20 points.

2018 Domaine Saint Damien Gigondas, "Vieilles Vignes" ($32.99 - wine.com) - Deep ruby colored, this possesses rich, smoky aromas of semi-dried fruits - raspberries, black currants, bayberries, orange peel - with scents of crushed rose petals, tobacco, garrigue, roasted meats and sultry incense. The flavors are thick and chewy, marked by licorice, cocoa, roasted coffee beans and Montmirial minerals. The chewy textured back reveals roasted berries and nuts, mocha, framboise and cassis liqueurs and recurring orange peel, followed by a savory ripe tannin finish. 18.5/20 points.

2017 Domaine Grand Veneur Châteauneuf du Pape, "Le Miocene" ($56.99 - Esquin) - It was during the Miocene Epoch that modern flora and Fauna emerged, including grape vines and cats. Composed of 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 10% Mourvèdre and other varieties, this exhibits a deep ruby-crimson color and rich, smoky aromas of raspberry, black currant, black plum, crushed black roses, sweet tobacco, lavender, sandalwood and smoldering spiced incense. The flavors are thick and generous and deep cored, with red and purple fruits that are infused with licorice root, cocoa, black tea and argillocalleus minerals. On the back, the wine takes a precise turn with macerated fruits, roasted pecans, framboise and creme de cassis liqueurs and touches of suede leather and charcoal, followed by a lengthy, spiced (nutmeg, clove) warm (15% alcohol) sweetish tannin finish. 19+/20 points.