2013 vintage, blanc de noirs. Light golden, lovely balance with some yeasty bread; medium bodied, fresh lemon lime but also good depth; finish is medium length. Really lovely balanced champagne. Seems ready to drink. 92
Deep golden, clean bead; vinous, with depth, requires a bit of concentration and focus; tart and rich at the same time, vibrant bubbles without being too much, superb depth; medium-long finish. Really outperforms its price point. Also seems lovely now and no reason to keep aging it, though it will certainly last. 92-93
Light ruby-garnet; intense aromatics, strawberry, red fruited; palate is light bodied, a bit warm despite 13% alcohol, elegant strawberry, a bit of heat, medium acidity; finish is medium length. Comes across as a bit warm/alcoholic but I love the aromatics. 91
Ruby-garnet; aromatic sous bois, strawberry fruit is muddled and a bit aged; palate is medium bodied, lovely texture and mouthfeel, a bit of warmth, 13.5% alcohol, medium acidity; medium finish. Lovely, and very different than the 2014 served alongside. 91
Light-medium ruby; a bit richer and deeper aromatics, but still red fruited; medium bodied, 13.5% alcohol and shows a bit of heat, red strawberry; medium finish. Not quite as fresh primary fruit than the 2014, and not quite the balance of the 2007. 89-90 This really developed nicely over 1-2 hours. Balanced and elegant now. 90-91
Medium ruby, slight bricking; aromatic, meaty and gamey, red fruited; palate is medium bodied, medium-plus acidity, balanced alcohol 12.5%, nice elegance, red fruited; medium length finish. Really lovely balance, recognizably northern Rhône but not the most complex, though it is lovely and very drinkable. 90
Purple color; aromatic, olive, briney, some smoke; palate is medium bodied, youthful medium tannins, lovely balance, medium alcohol; finish is medium length. Lovely, darker and more savory than the Benetiere, perhaps more what I think of classic northern Rhône but both are lovely. 91
2013 Roses de Jeanne / Cédric Bouchard Champagne Blanc de Noirs Côte de Val Vilaine 92 Points
France, Champagne
2013 vintage, blanc de noirs. Light golden, lovely balance with some yeasty bread; medium bodied, fresh lemon lime but also good depth; finish is medium length. Really lovely balanced champagne. Seems ready to drink. 92
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2013 Marguet Champagne Grand Cru Ambonnay 93 Points
France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru
Deep golden, clean bead; vinous, with depth, requires a bit of concentration and focus; tart and rich at the same time, vibrant bubbles without being too much, superb depth; medium-long finish. Really outperforms its price point. Also seems lovely now and no reason to keep aging it, though it will certainly last. 92-93
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2014 Château des Tours Côtes du Rhône 91 Points
France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône
Light ruby-garnet; intense aromatics, strawberry, red fruited; palate is light bodied, a bit warm despite 13% alcohol, elegant strawberry, a bit of heat, medium acidity; finish is medium length. Comes across as a bit warm/alcoholic but I love the aromatics. 91
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2007 Château des Tours Côtes du Rhône 91 Points
France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône
Ruby-garnet; aromatic sous bois, strawberry fruit is muddled and a bit aged; palate is medium bodied, lovely texture and mouthfeel, a bit of warmth, 13.5% alcohol, medium acidity; medium finish. Lovely, and very different than the 2014 served alongside. 91
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2011 Château des Tours Côtes du Rhône 91 Points
France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône
Light-medium ruby; a bit richer and deeper aromatics, but still red fruited; medium bodied, 13.5% alcohol and shows a bit of heat, red strawberry; medium finish. Not quite as fresh primary fruit than the 2014, and not quite the balance of the 2007. 89-90
This really developed nicely over 1-2 hours. Balanced and elegant now. 90-91
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2012 Marie et Pierre Bénetière Côte-Rôtie Cordeloux 90 Points
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie
Medium ruby, slight bricking; aromatic, meaty and gamey, red fruited; palate is medium bodied, medium-plus acidity, balanced alcohol 12.5%, nice elegance, red fruited; medium length finish. Really lovely balance, recognizably northern Rhône but not the most complex, though it is lovely and very drinkable. 90
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2012 Domaine Auguste Clape Cornas Renaissance 91 Points
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Cornas
Purple color; aromatic, olive, briney, some smoke; palate is medium bodied, youthful medium tannins, lovely balance, medium alcohol; finish is medium length. Lovely, darker and more savory than the Benetiere, perhaps more what I think of classic northern Rhône but both are lovely. 91
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