Wines
of the Week:
Fabulous French Sips - Under $20, 90 Points
Finding
good French wine isn't difficult. Finding affordable French
wine isn't hard either. However, when one tries to combine the
two characteristics, that can be a challenge. Thankfully our
tasting panel has done the work for you. Here are a handful
of bottles available for $20 or less that still deliver high
quality. Cheers!
Click
on labels to enlarge |
Saint-Roch
2015 Chimeres
Winery:
Saint-Roch
Grape(s): Grenache,
Syrah, & Carignan
Region: Rhone Valley, France
Year:
2015
Special Designation: n/a
Farming Certification:
n/a
Price: 15-20
Review:
Notes of cherries, plums, and raspberries play among undertones
of spice and herbs on the nose. The palate showcases flavors
of cherry, plum, and blackberry that move into accents
of pepper, anise, and wild herbs. Nice fruit and structure,
along with a savory pop, make this a wine worth checking
out.
Rating: 90 |
|
Lavau
2015 Rasteau
Winery:
Lavau
Grape(s): 50%
Syrah & 50% Grenache
Region: Rhone
Valley, France
Year:
2015
Special Designation: n/a
Farming Certification:
n/a
Price: 15-20
Review:
The nose is a comb of spicy, fruity, and earthy elements.
Cocoa tannins frame flavors of blackberry, cherry, pepper,
and forest floor. Offering a good balance of fruit, spice,
and earth, it's a ideal wine to open when serving a robustly
flavored lamb dish.
Rating: 90 |
|
Chateau
de Landiras 2014 Graves Bordeaux
Winery:
Chateau
de Landiras
Grape(s): 75%
Merlot & 25% Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Bordeaux,
France
Year:
2014
Special Designation: n/a
Farming Certification:
n/a
Price: 15-20
Review:
A mix of dried cherries, dried currants, earth, and anise
come together on the nose. Flavors of dried black cherry
and bramble berry emerge on the palate, alongside elements
of dusty earth. Plush but very dry, it drinks very cleanly.
Fans of classic Bordeaux should check this out.
Rating: 91 |
|
Clos
Des Lunes 2015 Lune D'Argent
Winery:
Clos
Des Lunes
Grape(s): 70%
Semillon & 30% Sauvignon Blanc
Region: Bordeaux,
France
Year:
2015
Special Designation: n/a
Farming Certification:
n/a
Price: 15-20
Review:
A combination of apples, pears, and white flowers rises
up from a glass. On the palate, flavors of golden apple,
white peach, and Asian pear meld with nuances of minerals
and honeysuckle. A good body and balanced acidity make
this a very approachable wine.
Rating: 90 |
By
Jason Barlow
Other
Related Links:
96
— 100 |
Spectacular |
92
— 95 |
Outstanding |
89
— 91 |
Great |
85
— 88 |
Good |
81
— 84 |
Solid |
|
*Wines
rated with a "+" need
a bit more time to reach peak quality
but will
do so over the coming years
|