Kermit Lynch Tasting

How can you miss a Kermit Lynch tasting? This guy brings in some really good not to mention really interesting wines. Any time you see his label on a bottle of wine from a strange region in Europe you know it is going to be an adventure. This was a great tasting showing a wide range of wines from the portfolio. There was a charming rep there who answered some pertinent questions and as always the Winex staff was great. As for the wines themselves they were for the most part superb with the Joguets standing out for me.

• NV Veuve Fourny & Fils Champagne Premier Cru Blanc de Blancs Brut 88 Points

  France, Champagne, Champagne Premier Cru

  All the Veuve Fourny wines show a very pale silver tone. Very fresh and interesting on the nose with a biscuity quality to the aromas of green apple and citrus. There are very subtle flavors on the palate with soft melon and citrus. The acidity is quite bracing and there is a wonderful expression of crunchy minerals. This is very pure and very subtle but there is plenty of backbone so I expect this to improve. 88+

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• NV Veuve Fourny & Fils Champagne Premier Cru Grande Réserve Brut 90 Points

  France, Champagne, Champagne Premier Cru

  This is quite different on the nose with more of an autolytic character showing baked apple and tropical tones. Also very different on the palate with loads of Asian pear, apple, and mineral flavors. This is very dry with obviously low dosage but the density of fruit really counter balances that well, especially on the superb finish. Shows more of an aged character than the previous wine, which is in a more embryonic state.

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• 2002 Veuve Fourny & Fils Champagne Premier Cru Brut Blanc de Blancs Millésime 92 Points

  France, Champagne, Champagne Premier Cru

  Very subtle on the nose with complex aromas of biscuit, apple, and white currant. This offers a lot of mineral density combined with underlying citrus fruit. Concentrated but elegant with great persistence. This is a tremendous expression of Chardonnay and is similar in character to the NV BdB except with more density and length.

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• 2008 La Viarte Friuli Colli Orientali Pinot Grigio 88 Points

  Italy, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Friuli Colli Orientali

  Pale yellow in the glass with a stunning nose of delicate flowers muddled with crushed rocks and underbrush. Soft and slightly fat in the mouth with very delicate flavors of white fruits and spring water. This is the type of wine that is tremendously subtle but wonderfully approachable because of the texture and the seductiveness of the fruit.

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• 2008 La Viarte Friuli Colli Orientali Pinot Bianco 89 Points

  Italy, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Friuli Colli Orientali

  Pale gold with a more fruit driven nose which shows white currant, slate, and grass. This also has a very supple texture but with more explosive minerality, just loads of stones and pears, especially on the finish. The mineral drive in this wine even gives the finish a slight astringent impression but like the last wine it is undeniably seductive.

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• 2008 Pascal Janvier Coteaux du Loir 90 Points

  France, Loire Valley, Coteaux du Loir

  Pale yellow in the glass with a stunning nose of dill, stone fruits, and underlying sweetness. The palate turns to more of a sweet fruit impression (though dry) with pear and honeydew infusion. There is also some mineral complexity that combines with the other components for a very intriguing wine.

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• 2007 Champalou Vouvray 91 Points

  France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Vouvray

  Light pale yellow. An amazingly fine bouquet of strawberry, flowers, melon, citrus, and other berries. I think the berry notes here are quite special for a white. The palate is dry enough with a wonderful interplay of fruit and minerals. The layers of honey, pear, and citrus throughout meld beautifully with the stones on the back end. This wine has tremendous complexity, texture, and balance.

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• 2009 Domaine Dupeuble Pere et Fils Beaujolais Nouveau 86 Points

  France, Burgundy, Beaujolais, Beaujolais Nouveau

  Bright pink purple in the glass. Extreme tutti frutti aromas but certainly pure with kind of a raspberry candy essence. Slight banana tone to the flavors but there is good red fruit here in an approachable style.

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• 2008 Jean Foillard Morgon Côte du Py 91 Points

  France, Burgundy, Beaujolais, Morgon

  Pale purple throughout with extreme perfume on the nose showing aromas of red berries, spices, and the essence of flowers. Simply gorgeous and strikingly Pinot like. The palate is just as stunning and complex with earth, baking spice, cherry, and berries. Very balanced with a spice streak running throughout which had me wondering if this saw any new oak, but no it is the terroir! In my limited experience with Beaujolais this is easily the best I have ever had.

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• 2007 Catherine et Pierre Breton Bourgueil Les Galichets 89 Points

  France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Bourgueil

  Dark red purple in the glass. Nice punchy nose with crunchy aromas of currant leaf and blackberry. Supple elegant red fruit flavors of cherry and raspberry on the palate with approachable tannins and solid balance. This is somewhat primary but it is certainly slurpable at this stage and should gain more character with age.

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• 2005 Charles Joguet Chinon Franc de Pied Les Varennes du Grand Clos 94 Points

  France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Chinon

  Deep red purple core with a vibrant purple rim. Dark pure aromas on the nose with notes of soft crushed currant, blackberry, minerals, and violets. I always love when you get these hauntingly aromatic bouquets on Chinon. Tons of crunchy red currant fruit on the palate with leafy complexity, fresh acidity, and firm tannins. Simply superb with plenty of structure, though it is drinking great now because of the balance.

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• 2005 Charles Joguet Chinon Clos de la Dioterie 94 Points

  France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Chinon

  These wines have great color with dense red purples all the way to the edge. This is more spice driven on the nose with currant leaf, loads of complex berries, and tree bark. The fruit is more dark and brooding on the palate with flavors of blackberry and black currant. Also more structured than the Franc de Pied with a greater concentration of tannins, fruit, and acidity. Maybe not as approachable at this stage but with more potential. 94+

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• 2006 Domaine La Tour Vieille Collioure Puig Ambeille 88 Points

  France, Languedoc Roussillon, Roussillon, Collioure

  Clear red purple in the glass. Very distinct and pungent on the nose with earth/clay and stems. This is just as crazy on the palate with stems, earth, and underlying fruit. Somewhat astringent but interesting nonetheless because of the unique vein of musk running throughout.

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• 2006 Domaine d'Aupilhac Mont Baudile Le Carignan 90 Points

  France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Mont Baudile

  Dark purple with aromas of black cherry, boysenberry, and underbrush. There is one potent aroma running through this thing that seems to be some kind of herb or vegetable. Nice earthy and stemy fruit running through the palate that is dark but adequate for the structure. Good overall balance and wonderful character makes this very nice.

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• 2006 Domaine Tempier Bandol 91 Points

  France, Provence, Bandol

  Pure purple red throughout. Meaty, herbal, complex, and driven on the nose with dark fruit notes such as blackberry and licorice. Nice red fruit flavors through the finish. The structure is solid here with strong but not too firm tannins, nice acidity, and good overall balance. Quite approachable actually and should develop beautifully.

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• 2006 Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Crau 93 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  Pale brick red which thins at the rim. Very typical perfumed Châteauneuf nose with kirsch, garrigue, and that slight spirits essence. Superb concentration on the palate with flavors of cherry, licorice, brush, and earth. Heady to be sure with plenty of spicy flavor density but remains elegant in the context of Châteauneuf, probably because of the delicate structure.

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• 2008 Tintero Moscato d'Asti Sori Gramella 87 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Asti, Moscato d'Asti

  Pale silver with an attractive nose of fresh cut flowers, mint, and stones. I find this has a Riesling tone to the flavors with an off dry style. Solid and slurpable but not a ton of flavor.

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• NV Patrick Bottex Bugey Cerdon "La Cueille" Methode Ancestrale 85 Points

  France, Bugey, Bugey Cerdon

  Off pink/purple in the glass. Pretty and simple on the nose with a raspberry and grape soda character. Much of the same on the palate with cherry/raspberry soda, kind of like that seltzer you use to drink as a kid. Somewhat winey on the finish but this comes across too much like a wine cooler.

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