New French Wines

Besides Washington and Oregon wines, we love French wines, especially Burgundies and Rhône ones. Here are our latest discoveries.

2021 Romuald Petit Bourgogne Chardonnay ($21 - The Thief, Walla Walla) - Brilliant lemon gold colored, this possesses attractive aromas of pear, peach, grapefruit, pear tree blossoms, acacia flowers and white incense. The flavors are bright and varietally pure, with white fruits that are accented by grape and pear skins and saline minerals. On the back, the wine enlivens with poire and pêche liqueurs and grapefruit peel, followed by s crisp, nicely fruited finish. Excellent value. 18.5/20 points.

2019 Vignerons de Mancey Bourgogne Pinot Noir ($23 - The Thief) - This shows a medium brick red color and rich aromas of raspberry, cherry, red plum, red roses, tobacco leaf, orange peel and whiffs of stick incense. The varietal flavors are medium bodied yet substantial, with red fruits that are imbued with red licorice, cocoa, orange pekoe tea and earth. On the back, the wine fills out with pressed berries, kirsch and recurring orange peel, followed by a smooth moderate tannin finish. 18.5/20 points.

2020 Moillard Pouilly-Fuissé, Sous La Grotte" ($38.99 - wine.com) - Brilliant lemon-gold colored, this possesses floral aromas of pear, white peach, grapefruit, pear blossoms, acacia flowers, verbena, jasmine and white incense. The flavors are effusive and well wrought, pure Chardonnay, marked by grape and pear skins, peach stones, herbal tea and granitic minerals. The vibrancy continues on the back with poire and pêche liqueurs and touches of hazelnut and grapefruit peel on the lingering, finely fruited finish. "It's really terrific," says Lynn. 19/20 points.

2020 Antoine Sunier Morgon ($30.99 - wine.com) - This is a tasty Cru Beaujolais. Deep ruby colored, to emits perfumed aromas of fraises de bois, cerise, cassis, black roses, lavender, violets and sweet incense. The flavors are deliciously mouth filling, with copious red fruits that are intermixed with red licorice, cola, black tea and granitic minerals. The appeal continues on the back with pressed berries, kirsch and crème de cassis, followed by a chewy moderate tannin finish. The vigor gives it a plus. 18.5+/20 points.

2020 Domaine Bachelet Monnot Maranges Premier Cru La Fussière ($55.99 - wine.com) - Maranges is situated at the southern end of the Côte d'Or. This shows a deep ruby color and enticing aromas of black currants, black cherries and black plums, with scents of black roses, tobacco, violets ynd sweet incense. The flavors are ample yet focused, with red and black fruits that are red licorice, cocoa, black tea and granitic minerals. On the back, the wine fills out with macerated fruits, roasted nuts, mocha, cerise and cassis liqueurs, followed by a lengthy ripe tannin finish, lifted by sturdy fruit acids. 19+/20 points.

2020 Delas Côtes du Rhône "Saint Esprit" ($13.99 - Safeway) - Composed of 60% Grenache and 40% Syrah, this is a nice easy-drinking red. It offers a ruby color and ripe aromas of raspberry, currant, plum, red roses, tobacco leaf, garrigue and spiced incense. The flavors are medium bodied yet substantial, with red fruits that are intermixed with red licorice, cocoa, medium roast coffee beans and earth. On the back, the wine rounds out with framboise and cassis liqueurs and soft charcoal, followed by a juicy moderate tannin finish. 18/20 points.

2021 Domaine de la Modorée Lirac Blanc ($49.99 - wine.com) - Lirac is across the Rhône River from Châteauneuf du Pape. Composed of one-third each of Grenache Blanc, Viognier and Roussanne, this displays a brilliant lemon-gold color and floral aromas of pear-apple, white peach, grapefruit, passion fruit, pear blossoms, jasmine and white incense. The flavors are penetrating, laser-like, with white fruits that are marked by grape and pear skins and riverside minerals. The resonance continues on the back with poire and pêche liqueurs and grapefruit peel, followed by a brisk, lingering well fruited finish. 19+/20 points.

2019 Domaine de Marcoux Lirac, La Lorentine Vineyard ($36.99 - wine.com) - Composed of 40% Grenache with 30% each of Syrah and Mourvèdre, this a beefier than usual South Rhône red. Nearly opaque ruby-crimson colored, it emits intoxicating aromas of blackberries, black currants, black plums, black roses, sweet tobacco, lavender, olives, black violets and spiced incense. The flavors are deliciously mouth filling, with dark fruits that are infused with licorice, cocoa, dark roast coffee and alluvial minerals. The wine intensifies on the back with macerated fruits, roasted nuts and ground charcoal, followed by a chewy, spiced (nutmeg, clove) ripe tannin finish. 19/20 points.

2019 Crous St. Martin Châteauneuf du Pape, "Hommage à l'an 1879" ($41.99 - Esquin) - This is a well priced CdP. Composed of 80% Grenache and 20% each of Syrah and Mourvèdre, it shows a deep ruby color and enticing aromas of raspberry, black currant, black plum, crushed roses, pipe tobacco, lavender, olive and spiced incense. The flavors are mouth filling, with red fruits that are intermixed with licorice, cocoa, black tea and mas minerals. The back picks up pressed berries, roasted nuts framboise and cassis liqueurs, followed by a ripe moderate tannin finish. 19/20 points.

Bodegas Valdemar Spanish Wines

On Friday, February 17, we had lunch at Valdemar Estates. We had the Spanish tasting flight with our chorizo stuffed mushrooms.

2021 Valdemar Rioja Rosé ($25) - Composed of 92% Garnacha and 8% Mazuelo, this shows a brilliant copper-pink color and enticing aromas of strawberry, red currant and Valencia orange, with scents of pink roses, lilac and pink incense. The flavors are crisp and lively, with pink fruits that are accented by grape skins and minerals. The back picks up strawberry and currant liqueurs and recurring orange peel, followed boy a nicely fruited dry finish. 18.5/20 points.

2019 Valdemar Balcon de Pilatos Maturana ($55) - Maturana is an ancient grape that was rescued from extinction by Bodegas Valdemar. It exhibits a deep ruby-crimson color and an intoxicating nose of wild fruits - raspberries, black currants, black plums - with scents of black roses, lilac, sweet tobacco, sandalwood, violets and stick incense. The flavors are deep and focused, intermixed with licorice root, black tea and gravelly minerals. The back picks up macerated dark fruits, roasted nuts and mocha, followed by a lengthy sweet-dry tannin finish. 19+/20 points.

2017 Valdemar Garnacha, La Gargantilla Vineyard ($65) - This 100% Garnacha displays a deep ruby color and a rich, sultry nose of raspberry, blueberry, black currant, orange peel, black roses, tobacco, Spanish lavender and sweet incense. The flavors are thick and chewy with layers of black and blue fruits that are intermixed with licorice, chicory coffee and earth. The back reveals roasted berries, Marcona almonds, toffee and cassis, followed by a lingering sweet-dry finish. 19.5/20 points.

2012 Valdemar Rioja Reserva ($32) - This is a fine rendition of aged Rioja. A blend of 79% Tempranillo, 13% Garnacha, 5% Graciano and 3% Maturana, it shows a deep ruby-garnet color and rich aromas of cherry, plum and fig, with scents of crushed roses, Spanish lavender, orange peel, sandalwood and smoldering incense. The flavors are thick and generous, yet deep, with fleshy fruits that are intermixed with licorice, chicory coffee and earth. The back reveals roasted berries and nuts, toffee and dried orange peel, followed by a lingering, maturing dryish tannin finish. Lynn's favorite. Fine value. 19/20 points.