• Cotes du Rhone Villages – Plan de Dieu, 2017. $34
  • Smell: subtle leather, old berries, earth, vanilla.
  • Taste: Apples, tobacco, wet wood.
  • Other Notes: Pleasant to drink, not too much of a harsh mouth feel even for its youthful tannins and young age.
  • Rating: 89

• Chateau Beau-Sejour Becot, 1998 . ~$80
  • Smells: Lots of berries, chocolate, smoky, oak, vanilla
  • Taste: Tobacco, earth, heavy vanilla, super smooth.
  • Other Notes: Super soft tannins, smell almost reminds me of smoked bacon chocolate.
  • Rating: 96

• Châteauneuf du Pape Domaine du Pagau, 2014. ~$85
  • Smells: meat, pepper, spices,
  • Taste: tobacco, oak, plums.
  • Rating: 92

• Chateau Berliquet Saint-Emillion Grand Cru, 2015
  • Smells: black current, vanilla, spices
  • Taste: plum, cherries, dry mouth feel
  • Notes: the smell puts me back in Paris on a warm day. Lovely glass.
  • Rating: 94

White Wine:

• Le Mont Moelleux, 2017
  • Smells: Ginger, honey, orange peel, lemon
  • Taste: Apricot, mango, persimmons, marmalade.
  • Notes: On the sweeter side of Vouvray, definitely a bit of a thicker fluid. Beautiful light golden color.
  • Rating: 90