Wednesday, May 30, 2018

Northern Rhônes Recently Tasted: Gonon, Alain Graillot, Gripa



posted by Claude Kolm has been writing The Fine Wine Review since 1986. At the end of 2014, it switched to a blog in order to allow more timely and in depth information about estates. @ 7:40 AM  

Monday, May 28, 2018

Northern Rhônes Recently Tasted: Ferraton, François, Gérard, Gilles

(Continue reading here.)

posted by Claude Kolm has been writing The Fine Wine Review since 1986. At the end of 2014, it switched to a blog in order to allow more timely and in depth information about estates. @ 8:40 AM  

Saturday, May 26, 2018

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posted by Claude Kolm has been writing The Fine Wine Review since 1986. At the end of 2014, it switched to a blog in order to allow more timely and in depth information about estates. @ 1:10 AM  

Northern Rhône Wines Recently Tasted: Bécheras, Cuilleron, Curtat, and Faury



The wines from 2016 generally have more acidity and freshness but less sensuality than their 2015 counterparts. Both make for very good drinking for serious Rhône drinkers. (Continue reading here.)

posted by Claude Kolm has been writing The Fine Wine Review since 1986. At the end of 2014, it switched to a blog in order to allow more timely and in depth information about estates. @ 1:06 AM  

Saturday, May 19, 2018

More Jura Wines Recently Tasted: Fruitière Vinicole d'Arbois, Montbourgeau/Deriaux, Overnoy, Pignier

(Originally published 19 May 2018.)

(Continue reading here.)

posted by Claude Kolm has been writing The Fine Wine Review since 1986. At the end of 2014, it switched to a blog in order to allow more timely and in depth information about estates. @ 11:42 PM  

Jura Wines Recently Tasted: L'Aigle à Deux Têtes/Le Roy, Arnoux/Cellier des Tiercelines, Baud, Domaine de la Borde/Mareschal, Champ Divin/Closset, Clavelin

(Originally published 19 May 2018.)
Despite the small quantity of wine made in the Jura, prices remain, for the most part, attractive. With the disastrously small vintage in 2017, that could easily change, though, at least until there is another vintage (hopefully 2018) to replenish the stocks. 

If you don’t already know the Jura wines with their firm acidities and original expression of grapes well-known elsewhere (Chardonnay, Pinot Noir) and grapes   associated almost exclusively with the Jura (Savagnin, Trousseau, and Poulsard), I encourage your making the effort. (Continue reading here.)

posted by Claude Kolm has been writing The Fine Wine Review since 1986. At the end of 2014, it switched to a blog in order to allow more timely and in depth information about estates. @ 3:47 AM  

Monday, May 14, 2018

More Reds from Southwest France: Ilbert/Château Combel-la-Serre, Jouves, Château Laurou/Salmona, Château Peyros/Lesgourgues. Plageols, Le Roc

Plenty of very good values to be had here. (Continue reading here.)

posted by Claude Kolm has been writing The Fine Wine Review since 1986. At the end of 2014, it switched to a blog in order to allow more timely and in depth information about estates. @ 1:02 PM  

Sunday, May 13, 2018

Southwest France Reds Recently Tasted: Château Bellevue la Forêt/Grant, L:a Colombière/Cauvin, Clos la Coutale/Bernède, Élian da Ros, Château la Grave/Bernède

Particularly with the shortage of crop in many parts of Europe, wine prices are rising quite rapidly. Some of the best values for your money in France remain in the Southwest. (Continue reading here.)

posted by Claude Kolm has been writing The Fine Wine Review since 1986. At the end of 2014, it switched to a blog in order to allow more timely and in depth information about estates. @ 12:39 PM  

Friday, May 11, 2018

Olivier LEFLAIVE Frères (Puligny-Montrachet) -- 2016 Whites Tasted from Bottle



Over the years, I’ve had very little wine from this Leflaive, the reason being that I never found anything interesting that made me want to try more. A couple of years ago that began to change, and others also seemed to notice something going on here. Curiously, this occurred despite the fact that Frank Grux, who has been in charge of making the wines since 1988, still remains at the head of winemaking.

When I inquired of the domaine, I was told that the grapes are now harvested a bit earlier than before, less new oak is used, and there is less bâtonnage (stirring of the lees) than before. Whether that’s the full story or if there’s more to be told, these wines show that there are wines worthy of interest now. (Continue reading here.)

posted by Claude Kolm has been writing The Fine Wine Review since 1986. At the end of 2014, it switched to a blog in order to allow more timely and in depth information about estates. @ 12:06 PM  

Tuesday, May 8, 2018

Domaine Albert MOROT (Beaune) -- 2016 Tasted from Bottle


When one thinks of Beaune, one thinks first of the négociants who own large portions of the vineyards. Then there are “outsiders" from other villages, such as Lafarge and de Montille in Volnay, who make Beaune wines that one frequently finds on good Burgundy lists. But there are good vignerons in Beaune producing wine, and none better that I know than Albert Morot. 

As with all producers in Beaune and Savigny, Morot was badly affected by the frost in late April. No wine was produced from Grèves, Marconnets, Dessus des Marconnets, or the white Savigny vineyard. Overall, the estate produced 23 hl/ha.

Harvesting began on 21 September. All grapes were destemmed in 2016. About 30% new oak is used, a combination of Chassin Père & Fils and François Frères, and the toast is medium.

Morot bottled these wines in November 2017, and they appear to be very good for early and medium-term drinking. (Continue reading here.)

posted by Claude Kolm has been writing The Fine Wine Review since 1986. At the end of 2014, it switched to a blog in order to allow more timely and in depth information about estates. @ 1:45 PM  

Sunday, May 6, 2018

RIDGE VINEYARDS: Spring 2018 National Releases

These are the spring 2018 national releases from Ridge. (Continue reading here.)

posted by Claude Kolm has been writing The Fine Wine Review since 1986. At the end of 2014, it switched to a blog in order to allow more timely and in depth information about estates. @ 10:42 AM  

Saturday, May 5, 2018

More Wines from the Beaujolais and Southern Burgundy Recently Tasted: Dupré, Foillard, Château de Poncié, Robert-Denogent, La Soeur Cadette/Valentin Montanet, Jean-Paul Thévenet, Thévent & Fils, Thillardon, Château du Thivin/Geoffray, Tripoz

More interesting wines from the region, mostly from the 2016 vintage. (Continue reading here.)

posted by Claude Kolm has been writing The Fine Wine Review since 1986. At the end of 2014, it switched to a blog in order to allow more timely and in depth information about estates. @ 5:33 PM  

Friday, May 4, 2018

2016 Beaujolais recently tasted: Berthier, Breton, Chanrion/Vôute des Crozes, Chignard, Diochon/Paternotre, Drouhin/Hospices de Belleville

This is a classic-styled vintage with very good wines available. Looking down the road, there isn't going to be very much available from 2017 (a statement that applies to all of France, save Burgundy), so you may want to consider stocking up. (Continue reading here.)

posted by Claude Kolm has been writing The Fine Wine Review since 1986. At the end of 2014, it switched to a blog in order to allow more timely and in depth information about estates. @ 4:52 PM  

Tuesday, May 1, 2018

CHANSON (Beaune) -- 2016 Part II: Whites Tasted from Bottle


My introduction to Chanson is here.
This selection of whites is good, but not as impressive as the selection of reds I previously reviewed.

The Savigny-Hauts Marconnets, Beaune-Clos des Mouches, and Corton-Vergennes are estate wines, the Viré-Clessé and Chablis are négociant wines. (Continue reading here.)

posted by Claude Kolm has been writing The Fine Wine Review since 1986. At the end of 2014, it switched to a blog in order to allow more timely and in depth information about estates. @ 4:48 PM