Alsace, Rhône & Rest of France

{***}{region} Beaujolais {region}
{color} Red{color}              {maturity}drink-now{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will keep{maturity-text}
{vintage}2019{vintage}
{***}

The value for money is staggering and when you taste the depth of fruit and breathe in the heavenly perfume of this wild, red-fruited wine your senses will be in orbit. The texture is mesmerising because it is silky smooth and the finish is prickles with refreshing spice and earth notes.

{***}{region}Southern France{region}
{color} Red{color}                                                               {maturity}drink-now{maturity} {maturity-text}Drink now{maturity-text}
{vintage}2019{vintage}
{ratings}
 [] International Wine Challenge® 2020 Commended Wine Winner {ratings}       {***}

Very pure, round and flavorful supported by beautiful acidity adding body and volume. there is a fine and elegant aromatic framework enhancing length. Beautiful, sharp structure.

{***}{region} Côtes de Provence{region}
{color} Rose {color}                                                               {maturity}drink-now{maturity} {maturity-text}Drink now{maturity-text}
{vintage}2019{vintage}{***}

37% Macabeu, 34% Vermentino, 21% Sauvignon Blanc, 6% Grenache Blanc, 2% Marsanne-Roussanne. This wine is a unique blend of different vintages : 2017 (90%) 2016 (8%) 2014 (2%). At once fresh and greedy, it expresses beautiful aromatic nuances on the nose and an invigorating touch on the mouth.

{***}{region} Roussillon {region}
{color} White {color}                                                               {maturity}drink-now{maturity} {maturity-text}Drink now{maturity-text}
{vintage}NV{vintage}{***}

32% Vermentino, 30% Sauvignon, 20% Macabeu, 14% Grenache Blanc, 3% Marsanne & Roussanne and 1% Grenache Gris. The nose a fascinating nut-inflected mix of orchard and citrus fruit, with hints of the pine forest. On the palate it is nutty, earthy with refined fruit and prominent minerality.

{***}{region} Roussillon {region}
{color} White {color}                                                               {maturity}ready-keep{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will keep{maturity-text}
{vintage}2013{vintage}{***}

This cuvée is made from Carignan, Syrah and Grenache fruit from old vines which are farmed biodynamically and planted high in the foothills of the Pyrenees. The high altitude allows the fruit to retain a lovely freshness which gives this wine finesse and elegance. Made using minimum amounts of sulphur, this red has plenty of ripe blackcurrant and red berry fruit which sit alongside leather, thyme and a subtle “animal note”, which is present enough to give complexity without overwhelming the palate as some natural wines can do. Aged at the domaine, this is ready for drinking, although it will mature very gracefully should one wish to keep it for a while.

{***}{region} Roussillon {region}
{color} Red {color}                                                               {maturity}ready-keep{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will keep{maturity-text}
{vintage}2013{vintage}{***}

Picked from Francois Cotat's youngest vines, from 5 years upwards, still within the confines of the village of Chavignol if on slightly flatter ground. The net result is a Francois Cotat wine that can be lapped up if its youth. As you would expect, the wine shows impeccable manners, along with a crystalline purity, freshness and scintillating detail. Perfect as an aperitif or with starters.

{***}
{region}Loire{region}
{color}White{color}
{maturity}ready-keep{maturity}
{maturity-text}Ready, but will keep{maturity-text}
{vintage}2018{vintage}
{ratings}                                                                                                                                 [] Robert Parker:: 90/100                                                                          [] Jancis Robinson:: 17/20
{ratings} 
{***}

François Cotat's Sancerre ‘Les Monts Damnés’ vineyard is perched on a steep hillside, facing south, with thin topsoils. These “damned mountains” provide the most chiseled, vibrant and deeply profound of Cotat’s Sancerres'. Racked and bottled according to the lunar calendar the wine is bottled by hand, unfined and unfiltered. On the nose Monts Damnés offers real refinement, purity and intensity, with some floral top notes. The palate is initially rich, with a real feeling of density and viscosity, but then the classic Monts Damnés minerality kicks in; the wine is fine, elegant and chalky with an intense freshness that leaves a clean and energetic finish. Drink 2020-2026.

{***}{region} Sancerre{region}
{color} White{color}

{maturity}ready-improve{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will improve{maturity-text} {vintage}2018{vintage}{***}

André Ostertag is one of the region’s most important representatives of biodynamic viticulture. Here, his Pinot Blanc reaches the perfect ripeness, revealing a refined, fresh and elegant profile. There are hints of white flowers, white fruits, citrus fruits, hazelnut and bergamot. On the palate, there is good tension, a saline finish and nice aromatic length. Enjoy this wine by itself or with aperitif.

{***}
{region}Alsace{region}
{color}White{color}                                                               {maturity}drink-now{maturity} {maturity-text}Drink now{maturity-text}
{vintage}2017{vintage}{***}

The 2016 Pinot Gris Zellberg is deep and intense but pure and stony on the nose. Rich, smooth and elegant, this is a very intense, perfectly ripe and textured Zellberg with fine but still young and grippy tannins and delicious acidity. Lush, long and fruity but still young. - The Wine Advocate

{***}{region}Alsace{region}
{color} White{color}                                                               {maturity}ready-improve{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will improve{maturity-text}
{vintage}2017{vintage}
{ratings}
   [] The Wine Advocate:: 93/100{ratings}        {***}

Barrel-fermented in old oak, this wine is a step away from sweeter Alsatian examples. Orchard and stone-fruit complement notes of almond and ginger on the nose and palate. Textural and long, the finish is defined by fresh acidity and impressive fruit concentration. Drink now to 2023.

{***}
{region}Alsace{region}
{color}White{color}                                                               {maturity}drink-now{maturity} {maturity-text}Drink now{maturity-text}
{vintage}2017{vintage}{***}

Located on the top and the southwest slopes of the hill of Epfig, the Fronholz vineyard gives wines with marked minerality, firm acidity, and elegant aromas that can be rather discreet in their youth.

{***}{region} Alsace {region}
{color} White {color}

{maturity}drink-now{maturity} {maturity-text}Drink now{maturity-text}

{vintage}2016{vintage}{***}

Coming from a very hot, steep, south-facing slope on red sandstone and gneiss, the 2015 Heissenberg Riesling (picked on September 24) opens stunningly cool, clear, precise and fresh, with lemon flavors but also the crystallinity of milled gneiss and sandstone rocks. On the palate, this is an intense, ripe, concentrated and straight but juicy Riesling with a firm tannin structure and well-integrated acidity. It is pretty dense, rich, long and intense and reveals a great, complex finish with grip and even gooseberry flavors.

{***}{region}Alsace{region}
{color}White{color}                                                               {maturity}ready-keep{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will keep{maturity-text}

{ratings}         
[]The Wine Advocate:: 93/100
{ratings}

{vintage}2017{vintage}{***}

An expansive palette of grape varieties adds to the ensemble of Beaucastel's Châteauneuf-du-Pape in 2007, be it the white pepper from the Counoise, the hedgerow from the Cinsault, the notes of summer pudding from the Syrah or the pure red berry fruit from the Grenache. It is however the power of the dominant Mourvèdre with its notes of charcuterie and bacon rind, which intimates longevity and a satisfying crescendo over the next fifteen years.

{***}
{region}Rhône{region}
{color}Red{color}
{maturity}ready-improve{maturity}
{maturity-text}Ready, but will improve{maturity-text}
{vintage}2007{vintage}
{ratings}
[]The Wine Advocate::96/100
[]Jancis Robinson::18/20
{ratings}
{***}

The 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee de Mon Aieul is just now starting to shed a tiny amount of its abundant baby fat that's been front and center since release. Still, it pulls no punches in its thrilling aromas and flavors of kirsch liqueur, roasted garrigue, black raspberries, incense, cured meats and licorice, and it is about as quintessential Grenache as you can find. Thrillingly concentrated, intense, perfumed and layered with incredible balance, this full-bodied beauty should hit its peak in another 2-3 years and keep for at least a decade after that.

{***}{region} Rhone{region}
{color} Red {color}                   {maturity}drink-now{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will keep{maturity-text}
{vintage}2007{vintage}

{ratings}
 [] The Wine Advocate:: 99/100        
{ratings} 

{***}

Deep ruby. Expressive aromas of ripe blackberry, boysenberry, licorice and olive paste show very good clarity and pick up a smoky nuance as the wine stretches out. Juicy and energetic on the palate, offering concentrated black and blue fruit flavors complemented by a building floral pastille note. Shows noticeable weight on the broad, gently tannic finish, which echoes the dark berry and licorice notes. 93pts Vinous

{***}{region}Rhône{region}
{color}Red{color}                                                                                           {maturity}laying-down{maturity} {maturity-text}For laying down{maturity-text}
{vintage}2016{vintage}{***}

The intensely golden colored 1989 Vouvray Clos du Bourg Moelleux Premire Trie offers a clear, deep, rich, spicy and intense stone fruit flavor intermixed with coolish earthy/mineral and some nutty flavors. Very fruit-intense, elegant and really sappy on the palate, with less concentration compared to the corresponding Le Mont but with a mineral and tannic tension, this is a full-bodied, dense and persistent Chenin that is still extremely young but should age well for for decades. According to Nol Pinguet there was no botrytis in 1989: The berries were absolutely healthy when they dried on the vines in a vintage that is the best I have ever made and stays side by side with the legendary 1947.

Mouton’s most opulent cuvée, Cote Chatillon is a heady mixture of exotic and stone fruit, mineral, floral and creamy oak flavours. It shows both power and elegance and should satisfy any fan of the full bodies wines of this appellation. Try it with chicken or white fish quenelles or with creamy mushroom dishes.

{***}{region} Rhone{region}
{color} White {color}                                                               {maturity}drink-now{maturity} {maturity-text}Drink now{maturity-text}
{vintage}2018{vintage}{***}