(5) Wines from France

• Our rating:
• Wine 101 style: soft
• Look for at: wine.com

Les Charmes from Cav de Lugny is the best selling white Burgundy in the US. Produce from a single vineyard of old vines, this Macon is a little richer and rounded in the mouth than most. Showing green apple, a little mineral, and a touch of parmesan cheese, this is a great wine for a simple meal or for simply drinking. ($10)

• Our rating:
• Wine 101 style: sleek
• Look for at: wine.com

This rosé from the south of France is one of my favorite wines of the summer. Sabine is a blend of Syrah, Grenache, and Cinsault that shows watermelon, raspberry, dried flowers, and a smooth dry finish. The 13.5% alcohol may show through if you are sensitive to that sort of thing. ($11.75)

• Our rating:
• Wine 101 style: smooth
• Look for at: wine.com

Sideways did a lot to discourage Merlot sales, but this 2005 from Medoc might help folks get over their Merlot anxiety. Made from 50% Merlot, 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 12% Cabernet Franc, this wine offers a nose of spiced cherries and cassis. In the glass, the dark red fruit is supported by an ample structure of fine grained tannin. Drink this wine tonight or hold it for a year or two to see what the 2005 vintage was all about. This wine is an inexpensive way to try a great vintage. ($17-22)

• Our rating:
• Wine 101 style: fruity and earthy
• Look for at: wine.com

Our first fruity and earthy wine, you can tell this wine from the south of France was made for the American market, because it lists the varietal on the label. You can also tell by the taste profile. This Pinot is about as fruit-forward as a French winemaker can go. The unripe red fruit struggle against a little eggplant in the nose, but this passes with a little air time. Unripe red fruit, supported by soft tannins, give the ’06 a nice and drinkable character. The wine has plenty of acid to pair with red meat or pork. ($11-13)

• Our rating:
• Wine 101 style: sparkling
• Look for at: wine.com

I picked up this wine at K&L Liquors in San Francisco, where it is a staff selection, and I can see why. We tried the Ariston along side a special cuvee from Bollinger. The Bollinger managed to surpass the Ariston by a nose, but at half the price, I would recommend you get two bottles of the Ariston. In the glass, the Ariston is fresh and crisp with a medium-fine mousse and a touch of chocolate on the end. This is a great aperitif, and it also goes very nicely with a summer’s afternoon in Golden Gate Park. ($27)

• Our rating:
• Wine 101 style: earthy
• Look for at: wine.com

This modestly priced Burgundy Pinot Noir has a nice color of dark garnet. With red fruit and earthy notes in the nose, it follows through in the mouth with plenty of food-loving acid and relatively soft tannins (for a Burgundy). Pretty good alone, but I imagine this wine would really shine with roast chicken or a good winter dish. ($18-20)

• Our rating:
• Wine 101 style: rich
• Look for at: wine.com

This is one of the longest wine names of the year. I suggest that you rip the picture and take it with you when you go buy this wine. The ’06 Clos du Four from Comte Lafon is a good white Burgundy wine. The nose has green fruit, some lees, mineral, and a little petroleum. In the mouth, the wine is full-bodied and round with medium acid and a long finish. ($35-40)

• Our rating:
• Wine 101 style: earthy
• Look for at: wine.com

Domain Albert Grivault is one of three producers in Clos Blanc. The 10.3 acre premier vineyard is the southernmost of the premier cru vineyards in Pommard. I have had the ’02 in the cellar since I got it at release, and this is the first taste that I have had of it. The nose is classic Pommard — barnyard, forest floor, and bit of red fruit. For sure, the wine still has lots of fine tannin, but it is balanced, approachable, and a great drink. I wish I had lots more bottles of this vintage from Grivault just to see how far this wine will go. ($?, $50 @ release)

• Our rating:
• Wine 101 style: sleek
• Look for at: wine.com

This village selection is a blend of Cinsault, Grenache, and Syrah (CGS) produced from 40 year old vines. Like many of the ’07 CGS blends, this one was a fine nose of peaches and strawberries. In the mouth, this rosé is not as elegant as some of the others, but it does provide nice red fruit with a round feel. ($18-22)

• Our rating:
• Wine 101 style: sleek
• Look for at: wine.com

Triennes rosé is from the Var region in the South of France. The region is known for easy drinking rosé, and this blend of Cinsault, Syrah, and Merlot fits the bill. For the money, this is my favorite rosé so far this year. The wine has a refreshing nose of candied red fruit and a great mouth feel. Medium bodied with good acid, a long finish, and only 12.5% alcohol, this wine is great for a hot summer day. ($15-18)