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

Jean-Luc Thunevin Mauvais Garcon 2006

Served With: Beef and Lentil Stew

Five Things: sandlewood, dark berries, tobacco, hot (on open), garagiste

COO: Bordeaux, France

Notes: Probably should have waited another five years as this... took... a... long... time... to... open. But, as with all good things, worth the wait. A nice pairing with the deep, rich stew.

Website: Jean-Luc Thunevin

Rating: Very Good

Tags: Jean-Luc Thunevin, Mauvais Garcon, 2006, Bordeaux, France

Dopff & Irion Gewurztraminer 2007

Served With: Stir-Fry

Five Things: topaz color, apricot, gardenia, minerality, zippy acidity

COO: Alsace, France

Notes: The heat from the spicy stir-fry brought out a flinty character only hinted at on the nose. Nice balance of residual sugar and acidity with a smooth finish

Website: Dopff & Irion

Rating: Very Good

Tags: alsace, dopff & irion, gewurztraminer, france, 2007

Mas de la Dame Les Baux-de-Provence Cuvée Gourmande 2006

Served With: Sunchoke-Kale Hash with Farro (recipe here)

Five Things: leather, pepper, plum, integrated tannins, medium finish

COO: Provence, France

Notes: This smooth and balanced grenache blend from Provence was a great match for the nutty farro and earthy sunchokes and really brought out the pepper in the dish. Lovely.

Website: Mas de la Dame

Rating: Very Good

Tags: Mas de la Dame, Les Baux-de-Provence, Cuvée, 2006, France

Les Acanthes Vin de Pays d'Oc Viognier 2008

Served With: Stroganoff

Five Things: straw, faint grapefruit, mineral, green buds, white pepper

COO: Languedoc Roussillon, France

Notes: I took a flyer on this pairing, hoping the acidity of the viognier would be up to the task of cutting through the mustard and cream sauce of the stroganoff. Alas, it was not to be. In tasting before the meal, the wine seemed a little flat and it didn't perk up against the sauce.

Rating: Good

Tags: Les Acanthes, Vin de Pays d'Oc, Viognier, 2008, Languedoc Roussillon, France

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

Mas de Gourgonnier Les Baux de Provence 2007

Served With: Hearty French Lentil Stew with Herbes de Provence

Five Things: cedar, lavender, strawberry nose, mild tannins, medium weight & finish

COO: Provence, France

Notes: This Rhone blend (Cabernet, Carignane, Grenache, Syrah) hit all the right notes with a hearty winter stew and particularly the harmony between the lavender nose and the Herbes de Provence. Sometimes, the right spices are all it takes to make a wine better.

Website: Mas de Gourgonnier

Rating: Very Good

Tags: Provence, France, Rhone, 2007, lavender, herbes de provence