France Wines

wines

Some buttery notes emerge under the delicate lemony characters, giving depth and seamless balance to the zingy acidity. It should develop additional complexity with more time in bottle. Montée de Bouffant is a parcel on steep slopes at 240m above the village of Chavignol. The grapes are harvested by machine and fermented in a mix of concrete and stainless steel and then aged for six months. The first record of the 35-hectare domaine is from 1510 and Laurent Reverdy, who took over from his father Alain in 2000, is the 14th generation.Decanter | 93 DEC

I was drinking 2014 Leflaive Batard Montrachet, which was an epic $1,000 bottle by the way, and then popped this Sancerre. To my surprise, it just exploded from the glass, and in complete opposition to the weight of the Batard Montrachet, the Sancerre’s purity and laser- like precision stood out big time. Most Sancerres are fun for being light and grassy, but this is the next level connoisseur Sancerre. It has the purity and elegance of the wine I was drinking beside it, yet it’s only $39.99 / bottle. Best of breed.Dave Sokolin | 95+ DSThe 2022 La Cotes des Monts Damnés is a ripe, full-bodied style with power and weight. It is pure, fragrant and attractive even in youth, with floral and richly fruity characters - all nectarine and pineapple flavors. Expect a concentrated, intense wine that retains a sense of purpose and a lightly chalky texture. One for the long haul.Vinous Media | 93 VM

Domaine Filliatreau’s 2023 Saumur-Champigny Blanc “Cuvée Lena” is a fine bottle, with the bounce and cut of young chenin blanc fruit beautifully wed to its underlying limestone soils. The bouquet hops from the glass in a refined constellation of green apple, quince, chalky soil tones, a touch of lanolin and a topnote of dried flowers. On the palate the wine is bright, full-bodied and complex, with a lovely girdle of acidity, excellent focus, a fine core of fruit and a long, well balanced and nicely soil-driven finish. This is still youthful and will drink with even more generosity with a bit of bottle age, but even in its zesty youth it is immensely tasty. 2024-2045. 92.John Gilman | 92 JG