French wines to buy in Chevy Chase and Maryland

Herebelow are French wines that I recommend and where to buy them in Chevy Chase and Maryland. A retailer that is not listed here can sell the wine ; he/she only has to contact the merchant or the importer.

French wine values tasted in 2009

 Vouvray - François Pinon - Tradition [demi-sec]

2006 - USD 15 - no manipulation - fruit (citrus) - onctuous, with fruit (honeydew melon, peach, fruit of the loom), a hint of chalk, soft (demi-sec), pure, fresh

A store in Potomac, Maryland: Beltway Fine Wines, 11325 Seven Locks Road, MD 20854, Tel: 410-668-8884

A store in Laurel, Maryland: Corridor Fine Wine and Spirits, 3321 Laurel-Fort Meade Road, MD 20724, Tel: 301-617-8507

 Vouvray - François Pinon - Silex Noir [demi-sec]

2007 - USD 17 - pear or peach - onctuous, intense, pear or peach, less soft than the 2006 Tradition, fresh and even more lively than Les Trois Argiles

A store in Potomac, Maryland: Beltway Fine Wines, 11325 Seven Locks Road, MD 20854, Tel: 410-668-8884

A store in Laurel, Maryland: Corridor Fine Wine and Spirits, 3321 Laurel-Fort Meade Road, MD 20724, Tel: 301-617-8507

 Vouvray - François Pinon - Les Trois Argiles [demi-sec]

2007 - USD 17 - similar to Silex Noir but much more mineral - fruit of the loom, a note of white fruit, a hint of chalk - onctuous, fruit of the loom, a hint of chalk, soft (demi-sec), less intense than Silex Noir, with more body, fresh but no as vivid

A store in Potomac, Maryland: Beltway Fine Wines, 11325 Seven Locks Road, MD 20854, Tel: 410-668-8884

A store in Laurel, Maryland: Corridor Fine Wine and Spirits, 3321 Laurel-Fort Meade Road, MD 20724, Tel: 301-617-8507

French wine values tasted in 2007

 Vouvray - François Pinon - Brut 'méthode traditionnelle' - [chenin]

[2004] - USD 14 - modest nose - small gas beads, toasted loaf bread, dry but wide, as snappy as a Champagne

A store in Potomac, Maryland: Beltway Fine Wines, 11325 Seven Locks Road, MD 20854, Tel: 410-668-8884

A store in Laurel, Maryland: Corridor Fine Wine and Spirits, 3321 Laurel-Fort Meade Road, MD 20724, Tel: 301-617-8507

 Vouvray - François Pinon - Sec - [chenin]

2005 - USD 15 - a white fruit dominates the nose - aromatic intensity, pear, wide, dry, minerally, fresh

A store in Potomac, Maryland: Beltway Fine Wines, 11325 Seven Locks Road, MD 20854, Tel: 410-668-8884

A store in Laurel, Maryland: Corridor Fine Wine and Spirits, 3321 Laurel-Fort Meade Road, MD 20724, Tel: 301-617-8507

French wine values tasted in 2006

 Vouvray - François Pinon - Brut 'méthode traditionnelle' - [Chenin]

[2004] - USD 14 - does not show the toffee note of the 1996 version - subdued nose - peach, toasted loafbread, less wide than the Chidaine, drying (from acidity), fresh

A store in Potomac, Maryland: Beltway Fine Wines, 11325 Seven Locks Road, MD 20854, Tel: 410-668-8884

A store in Laurel, Maryland: Corridor Fine Wine and Spirits, 3321 Laurel-Fort Meade Road, MD 20724, Tel: 301-617-8507

 Vouvray - François Pinon - Sec - [Chenin]

2005 - USD 15 - very natural - citrus, minerally, a hinty of fresh herb - onctuous, very intense, pear, nectarine, wide, minerally, fresh, very pure, more drying than the 2000

A store in Potomac, Maryland: Beltway Fine Wines, 11325 Seven Locks Road, MD 20854, Tel: 410-668-8884

A store in Laurel, Maryland: Corridor Fine Wine and Spirits, 3321 Laurel-Fort Meade Road, MD 20724, Tel: 301-617-8507

 Vouvray - François Pinon - Tradition - [Chenin]

2005 - USD 17 - keep it in a remote corner of the cellar - ripe peach - onctuous, peach, sweet, fresh

A store in Potomac, Maryland: Beltway Fine Wines, 11325 Seven Locks Road, MD 20854, Tel: 410-668-8884

A store in Laurel, Maryland: Corridor Fine Wine and Spirits, 3321 Laurel-Fort Meade Road, MD 20724, Tel: 301-617-8507

French wine values tasted in 2005

 Vouvray - François Pinon - [crémant, 'méthode traditionnelle'] - Sec - [chenin]

1996 - USD 14 - refined and easy, very well-made - dry, fresh, less taste than the same bottling drunk three years earlier

A store in Potomac, Maryland: Beltway Fine Wines, 11325 Seven Locks Road, MD 20854, Tel: 410-668-8884

A store in Laurel, Maryland: Corridor Fine Wine and Spirits, 3321 Laurel-Fort Meade Road, MD 20724, Tel: 301-617-8507

 Vouvray - François Pinon - Tradition - [chenin, Demi-Sec]

2002 - USD 18 - this wine is delicious now but should improve with age, it relaxes on the second day and becomes perfect - pear, apricot - velvety, citrus, quince, broad as suits a Vouvray but firm at mid-palate as often at Pinon's, this is due to an excellent acidity which dries the mouth, mellow, fresh

A store in Potomac, Maryland: Beltway Fine Wines, 11325 Seven Locks Road, MD 20854, Tel: 410-668-8884

A store in Laurel, Maryland: Corridor Fine Wine and Spirits, 3321 Laurel-Fort Meade Road, MD 20724, Tel: 301-617-8507

Price figures are only very rough estimates of the US retail tags, at the date of the tasting.

Wines are selected on personal criteria.

You may also read reviews on recommended wines available in Virginia, or you may request another location at the bottom of this page.