Bon Courage Chardonnay Prestige Cuvée 2015 South Africa

APPEARANCE

Clarity: clear
Intensity/Color: pale/lemon

NOSE:
Condition:  clean
Intensity: medium
Aroma Characteristics: apples, grapefruit, oak, minerality

PALATE
Sweetness: dry
Acidity: medium/high
Body: medium
Flavour characteristics: as per aroma, classic new world chardonnay although something slightly bitter in aftertaste
Finish: medium+


CONCLUSIONS
Quality: good


I found the following vivino review useful:

1) If you like a full blown wooded new world Chardonnay than this is your cup of tea… Gun flint and new oak backed by citrus and some butter. The crisp minerality is nice but the oak is somewhat overdone for my taste buds.
2) typische chardonnay. Grapefruit, limoen, butterscotch, vanille en perzik.
https://www.vivino.com/wineries/za-bon-courage/wines/andres-fame-2015 

Esk Valley Chardonnay Hawke's Bay NZ

APPEARANCE

Clarity: clear
Intensity/Color: pale/lemon

NOSE:
Condition:  clean
Intensity: medium+
Aroma Characteristics: apples/tropical fruit, plenty of oak, something bready/umami, minerality (hint of petrol)

PALATE
Sweetness: dry
Acidity: medium/high
Body: medium
Flavour characteristics: as per aroma, some minerality (almost petrol)
Finish: medium+



CONCLUSIONS
Quality: good/very-good


I found the following vivino reviews useful:

1) Light gold in colour. Lightly buttered toast apricot juice. Ripe peach apricot stone oak is there but very much a background rather than primary influence very gentle acidity but still with long lingering finish.
2) Bright pale gold in colour. Nectarine with hint of tropical & white floral notes on the nose. Elegant balanced with finesse rather than a big block buster. Pure fruit white peach little to no oak influence apparent. Well balanced refined with finesse on the finish as well very approachable acidity.
https://www.vivino.com/wineries/esk-valley-estate/wines/chardonnay-9999

Stephane Aladame Montagny 1Er Cru Les Vignes Derrière 2014 - Côte Chalonnaise · France

APPEARANCE
Clarity: clear
Intensity/color: pale lemon


NOSE:
Condition:  clean
Intensity: medium
Aroma Characteristics: apples, peaches, lychee, apricot, honey, yeast/some minerality

PALATE
Sweetness: dry
Acidity: high
Body: medium
Tannin: nonw
Flavour characteristics:  apples, pineapple, citrus/lemon, hint of minerality/petrol
Finish: medium/long

CONCLUSIONS
Quality: good/very-good




I found the following vivino review useful:

1) Prominent nose. Medium body wine. Good acidity. Grapefruit, a note of Sesame, Apple, citrus fruits. Long length.
2) Sweet and butter, bit of almond and petrol. High alcohol (13%). 

https://www.vivino.com/wineries/stephane-aladame/wines/montagny-1er-cru-les-vignes-derriere-2014 

J. Lohr Falcon’s Perch Pinot Noir - Monterey California

APPEARANCE

Clarity: clean

Intensity/color: Garnet with long legs

NOSE:

Condition:  clean

Intensity: medium

Flavour characteristics: red fruits (strawberry, red cherry), some spice (white pepper) and leather on the nose, oak/toast

Aroma Characteristics: fruits, flowers, spices, vegetables, oak aromas, other

PALATE

Sweetness: dry

Acidity: medium/high

Body light/medium

Tannin: medium

Flavour characteristics:  red fruits (strawberry, red cherry), mushrooms

Finish: medium

CONCLUSIONS

Quality: good/very-good

I found the following vivino reviews/comments useful:

Hey hey its time for Monterey! Continuing the quest to discover great American wines. This pinot is on the sweet side with a plum texture - slightly chilled quite enjoyable with our bangers and mash dish tonight. Aromas of rose petal strawberry and white pepper with a smokey finale. Not too complex imo but then again not expected at this price point for a Californian wine. 84 points.
https://www.vivino.com/wineries/j-lohr-vineyards-and-winery/wines/falcons-perch-monterey-county-pinot-noir-2014

and

Pinot Noir reflects its terroir, or place of origin, more than just about any other variety. That's certainly part of its broad appeal, and right now, there is revolution happening in California.
...
Richer Pinot Noir, from warmer regions like the Russian River Valley tends to exhibit more dark fruit, in general, they are fuller wines with greater concentration and higher alcohol, up to 15% ABV.
Pinots from cooler regions like Sonoma Coast are lighter-bodied and display more red fruit, floral notes and have brighter acidity, often with a dash of minerality. Alcohol percentage and even the color of the wine can clue you in when shopping.
Interesting facts: “Sideways” catapulted California Pinot Noir to stardom, since the release of the hit movie in 2004, Pinot Noir production has grown by a whopping 81%.
https://www.vivino.com/wine-styles/californian-pinot-noir

Charly Nicolle Les Fourneaux Chablis Premier Cru 2013

APPEARANCE

Clarity: clear

Intensity/Color: pale/lemon

NOSE:

Condition:  clean

Intensity: medium

Aroma Characteristics: apples, citrus, peaches, oak/vanilla (toasted barrels … hints of caramel), white pepper

PALATE

Sweetness: dry

Acidity: high

Body: medium

Tannin: none

Flavour characteristics:  green apples, lemon, minerality (earthy)

Finish: medium/long

CONCLUSIONS

Quality:very-good (will probably get even better over next 1-2 years)

I found the following vivino review useful:

1) Classic butterscotch and vanilla on the nose (although very light), but heavy citrus and minerality on the palate. A lovely tartness on the finish. For me it lacks a certain elegance, but it's a good Chablis by any measure.

2) Clear light straw color. The nose showed clean bright citrus. On the palate the wine confirmed the citrus notes with a gravel/rocky finish. A very classic Chablis

https://www.vivino.com/wineries/charly-nicolle/wines/les-fourneaux-chablis-premier-cru-2013



Bouchard Père & Fils Beaune du Château Premier Cru

APPEARANCE
Clarity: clear
Intensity/color:medium/garnet


NOSE:
Condition:  clean
Intensity: medium
Flavour characteristics: red fruits (strawberry, red cherry), some spice (white pepper) and white pepper, leather

PALATE
Sweetness: dry
Acidity: medium/high
Body light/medium
Tannin: light (irony)
Flavour characteristics:  red fruits (strawberry, red cherry), mushrooms, pine treee
Finish: medium

CONCLUSIONS
Quality: good/very-good (possibly a bit too young to drink now)




I found the following vivino reviews useful :

1) Nice earth, leather, anise and mushroom elements that I normally don't find so well balanced at this price point. Slowly opened up to reveal more and more complexity. Definitely a wine to decant and let develop over the course of a meal.

2) The nose is full of flowers and fruit. Pretty to look at and delightful to drink. The red fruits dominate, perhaps cherry first followed by raspberry. Drink now or hold in a controlled environment for years.

https://www.vivino.com/wineries/bouchard-pere-and-fils/wines/beaune-du-chteau-premier-cru-2011 

Esk Valley Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2015 Hawke's Bay · New Zealand

APPEARANCE

Clarity: clear

Intensity/Colour: pale (watery) lemon

NOSE:

Condition:  clean

Intensity: pronounced

Aroma Characteristics:

• grapefruit, gooseberry,
• grasses, asparagus, cats pea
• Some petrol like minerality

PALATE

Sweetness: dry

Acidity: medium/+

Body: light/medium (but higher than the Sancerre)

Tannin: none

Flavour characteristics: pear, pear drop, white pepper

Finish: medium+

CONCLUSIONS

Quality: very-good

I found the following vivino review useful:

GOODALL AROUND SB-NZ Good bottle of SB form Marlborough region in New Zealand.

On the nose is gentle with abundant tropical fruits.

The tropical fruit is first on the palate with a level of nice sweetness, followed by some citrus and notes of fresh herbs and little cat pea which introduces some clean acidity.

Dry and full bodied with a crisp finish, leaving a sensation of freshness in the length.

https://www.vivino.com/wineries/esk-valley-estate/wines/marlborough-sauvignon-blanc-2015

Alphonse Mellot - Sancerre - La Moussière Blanc 2015

APPEARANCE
Clarity: clear (filtered)
Intensity/color: pale lemon (no green huge)


NOSE: 
Condition:  clean 
Intensity: medium+ 
Aroma Characteristics: apple, asparagus, candy like sweetness

PALATE
Sweetness: dry
Acidity: high 
Body light/medium
Tannin: no 
Flavour characteristics: apple, citrus, minerality (stony/salty quality)
Finish: medium
Blance: High Acidity well balanced by intense fruit and minerality

CONCLUSIONS
Quality: good (now) / very-good in a few years



I found the following vivino review useful:

Organic & Byodinamic producer. 

This sauvignon Blanc is coming from new and old vines owned by the estate. 

Half of it is fermented in steel, half in new casks. Light colour.Closed on nose.  

The palate shows a citrus backbone with delicate stone fruit notes. 

Sharp acidity. Good mineral finish but a bit short. Young & simple. 

https://www.vivino.com/wineries/alphonse-mellot/wines/la-moussiere-sancerre-2015