New French Wines
Here are our latest discoveries in exceptional yet affordable French wines.
2020 Nicolas Idiart Sancerre Sauvignon Blanc ($27.99 - Esquin) - This is the first Sancerre I've seen with Sauvignon Blanc on the front label. It is a fine rendition of the grape. Brilliant lemon-gold colored, it possesses floral aromas of Anjou pear, peach, quince, Casaba melon, grapefruit, pear blossoms, jasmine and wet stone. The flavors are fresh and brisk, with notes of grape and pear skins, peach stones and chalky minerals. On the back the wine enlivens further with poire and pêche liqueurs, melon rind and grapefruit peel, followed by a persistently mineraly, crisp finish. 18.5/20 points.
2020 Régis Minet Pouilly Fumé, Vieilles Vignes ($30.99 - Esquin) - Pouilly-sur-Loire is across the river from Sancerre. This shows a brilliant light gold color and floral aromas of Bosc pear, white peach, Crenshaw melon, a hint of quince, with scents of pear blossoms, meadow flowers and wet stone. The flavors are vivid and refined, marked by grape and pear skins, cut grass and saline minerals. The resonance continues on the back with poire William liqueur and hazelnut, followed by s crisp yet silky finish. 18.5+/20 points.
2019 Domaine Perraud de la Grande Burette Mâcon-Villages, Vieilles Vignes ($18.99 - wine.com) - This offers a brilliant lemon-gold color and attractive aromas of pear, white peach, pear blossoms, acacia flowers (a trait of Mâconnais) and white incense. The flavors are pure Chardonnay, with bright white and yellow fruits that are accented by grape and pear skins and slate minerals. The vibrancy continues on the back with poire and pêche liqueurs and almond, followed by a crisp finish. A cut above the usual Mâcon Villages which gives it a plus. 18+/20 points.
2019 Jean-Marc Boillot Bourgogne Blanc ($26.99 - wine.com) - This comes from a grower in Pommard. It shows a brilliant gold color and enticing aromas of pear, white peach, citrus and wet stone, with scents of pear blossoms, acacia flowers and white incense. The flavors are mouth filling and resonate with notes of pear, peach stones and hillside minerals. On the back, the wine turns silky textured yet well delineated, with poire and pêche liqueurs, light oak (30% new) and a touch of creaminess (full malolactic) on the finish. 18.5/20 points.
2018 Justin Girardin Santenay Blanc, "Les Terrasses de Bienvaux" ($32.99 - Esquin) - Santenay is situated at the southern end of the Côte d'Or. This Chardonnay presents a brilliant gold color and lovely aromas of Bosc pear white peach, citrus, pear blossoms, wisteria and a hint of butternut. The flavors are vivid and true to variety, with crisp yet viscous white fruits that are imbued with peach stones and stony minerals. The resonance continues on the back with poire and pêche liqueurs and recurring butternut, followed by a lingering, finely fruited finish. 18.5+/20 points.
2019 Domaine de Chênepierre Chénas ($21.99 - Esquin) - Chénas is one of the least well known us of Beaujolais. This one received a Medaille d'Or at the Concours des Vins du Beaujolais. It offers a deep purplish-ruby color and engaging aromas of raspberry, black currant, black roses, purple lilac, rubbed sage and sweet incense. The flavors are generous and vigorous a fewous, with notes of red licorice, cocoa powder and schist minerals. On the back, the wine turns chewy yet silky textured, with pressed fruits, mocha, and framboise and creme de cassis liqueurs, followed by a pleasing moderate ripe tannin finish. 18.5/20 points.
Affordable 2019 California Pinot Noirs
I read in winemag.com (the on-line publication of the Wine Enthusiast) that the 2019 Pinot Noirs from California were exceptional and included many excellent values. I picked up a few from wine.com and at supermarkets and found them to offer high quality for their prices.
2019 Bogle Vineyards Pinot Noir, California ($10.98 - Super 1) - This was one of the Best Buys in the winemag.com article (89 points). It shows a medium brick red color and aromas of red fruits - strawberry, cherry, currant - with scents of rosebuds, orange peel and whiffs of stick incense. The medium bodied flavors are generous and fruit driven, with notes of red licorice, cola and earth. The back picks up pressed fruits, strawberry and kirsch liqueurs, followed by s well fruited soft tannin finish. 17.5/20 points.
2019 La Crema Pinot Noir, Monterey ($16.99 - Safeway) - This shows a medium brick red color and attractive aromas of strawberry, cherry, red currant, rosebuds, orange peel and wafts of orange incense. The flavors are medium bodied and direct, with pleasing red fruits that are intermixed with red licorice, cocoa powder, orange pekoe tea and Monterey wind-blown earth. The appeal continues on the back with gently pressed fruits, kirsch and recurring orange peel, followed by a plush soft tannin finish. 18/20 points.
2019 La Crema Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast ($21.99 - Safeway) - This is a fine example of cool climate Pinot Noir. I shows a brick red color and attractive aromas of raspberry, cherry, black currant, orange peel, forest carpet and incense. The flavors are generous yet substantial, with notes of red licorice, cola, orange pekoe tea and coastal wind blown earth. On the back, the focus increases with pressed fruits, framboise and cassis liqueurs, recurring orange peel and touches of nougat and cherry preserves, followed by a pleasing moderate tannin finish, lifted by bright fruit acids. 18.5/20 points.
2019 Hartford Court Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley ($34.99 - wine.com) - The Russian River Valley in Sonoma County is one of the best AVAs for Pinot Noir. This one shows a brick red color and engaging aromas of wild strawberries, black currants, crushed rose petals, sweet tobacco, forest carpet, orange peel and sweet incense. The flavors are simultaneously lavish and deep, with copious red fruits that are intermixed with red licorice, Belgian chocolate, black tea and riverside minerals. On the back, the wine invigorates with macerated fruits, roasted pecans, recurring orange peel and soft charcoal, followed by a lingering sweetish tannin finish. The highest quality/price ratio of the Pinots tasted. 19/20 points.
2019 Hanzell "Sebella" Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast ($35.99 - wine.com) - Brick red colored, this wine possesses attractive aromas of fraises de bois, cherries, brambly currants, crushed roses, tobacco leaf, cedar, forest carpet and orange incense. The flavors are rich and chewy, with notes of licorice root, cola, black tea and gravel and loam. The back reveals macerated berries, roasted nuts, fraise and cassis liqueurs and soft charcoal, followed by a slightly grainy ripe tannin finish. 18.5+/20 points.
2019 Melville Pinot Noir, Sta. Rita Hills ($41.99 - wine.com) - The Santa Rita Hills of the Central Coast is another fine AVA for Pinot Noir. This one shows a medium brick red color and intriguing aromas of fraises de bois, cherries, red currants, crushed red roses, mulberry, pine needles and whiffs of stick incense. The flavors, as well, are distinctive, with tasty medium bodied red fruits that are imbued with red licorice, cocoa, orange pekoe tea and Santa Rita wind blown earth. On the back, the velvety texture is enlivened by bright fruit acids on the soft tannin finish. 19/20 points.
2019 Twomey Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley ($49.99 - wine.com and Safeway) - Twomey is a part of the Family of Silver Oak. This is the priciest but best of the Pinots tasted. It shows a brick red color and a seductive nose of fraises de bois, red cherries, brambly currants, crushed rose petals, forest carpet, orange peel and whiffs of sweet incense. The flavors, as well, are attention-getting, with lavish yet focused red fruits that are infused with red licorice, cocoa powder, Earl Grey tea and Russian River gravelly loam. On the back, the wine takes an elegant turn with pressed fruits, fraise and cassis liqueur, recurring orange peel and charcoal stick, followed by a lengthy ripe moderate tannin finish, lifted by fruit acids. 19+/20 points.