I would not buy this particular gift set again, but I certainly would buy a couple of the individual wines! The 2008 Chateau d'Aussieres Blason d'Aussieres AOC Corbieres was outstanding, and the 2009 Louis Bernard Cotes-du-Rhone was also very good. The 2008 Chateau Les Graves de Barrau was creditable, although I've found better Bordeaux at a similar price point. The 2008 Lucien Albrecht Reserve Pinot Blanc Balthazar was good and very interesting, and my first for that varietal. The only real (moderate) disappointments were the 2009 Guy Saget La Petite Perriere Sauvignon Blanc and the 2007 Bouchard Bourgogne Pinot Noir. The Guy Saget was extremely tart and had a note of alcohol heat (surprising at 12.5%), and the Bouchard was so light in body it drank more like a rosé. That's not a bad thing, but it's not what I look for in a Pinot Noir. Still, I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know these wines for the first time.

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Medium magenta garnet color, lighter narrow rim. Deep black cherry character on the nose accompanied by dried herb, vanilla & spice. The palate continues to open even after several hours - full-bodied with sturdy tannins and focused acidity. Black cherry & black fruit make their mark but in a quiet way. The mid-palate is exciting, with chocolaty dried-fruit tannins running headlong into a distinct mineral (almost salty) character. Quiet fruit & mineral finish, lengthy warm linger. This seems to lean toward "Old World" and is outstanding, though I suspect it will age nicely for several years and be even better.

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Pale straw color with a light touch of green. Subtle notes of flint, apple & pear on the nose. The palate adds some citrus to the orchard fruit, with a hint of spice. Understated acidity and a warm, lengthy finish with flavors of apple pie & mineral. This is a well-crafted, high-quality wine, but it doesn't really do much for me. The only way I can describe it is that it seems, well, "fuzzy" to me; I prefer more focus and crispness from the varietal, a la the German model.

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