Domaine de la Quilla Muscadet de Sèvre-et-Maine Sur Lie 2008

Served With: Leek and Potato Soup

Five Things: lemon, tarragon, mineral, thin, one note

COO: Loire Valley, Pays Nantais, Muscadet de Sèvre-et-Maine, France

Notes: It was a hot summer day in desperate need of a cooling wine. This Muscadet wine from the Loire Valley was full of refreshment on the nose, but didn't deliver on that promise in the glass. It fared better with the soup course (leek & potato), but still felt out of balance with a relentless one note citrus profile.

Rating: Meh.

Tags: 2008, france, Loire Valley, Muscadet de Sèvre-et-Maine, Pays Nantais

Comte Lafond Sancerre 2002

Served With: Leek & Shiitake Mushroom Croquettes

Five Things: honey, lemon curd, cypress, soft tannins, white stones

COO: Loire Valley, France

Notes: To be honest, I wasn't sure this 2002 Sancerre that was hiding in the back of the cellar was still going to be "all there." In a nutshell -- it was, and so much more... A well-balanced wine that had the right amount of acidity and finesse to cut through the fried croquettes with the lemon flavor profile complimenting the leeks & mushrooms. I really wish I had another bottle...

Rating: Delicious

Tags: Comte Laford, Sancerre, Loire Valley, France, 2002