France
The vast and diverse wine regions of France, each with its own unique terroirs, grape varieties, and winemaking techniques, are a treasure trove.
In Bordeaux, the birthplace of some of the world's most iconic wines, esteemed vineyards such as Château Lafite Rothschild, Château Margaux, Château Latour, and Château Haut-Brion produce exceptional red wines, showcasing the art of blending Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Malbec. The region is also renowned for its exquisite white wines, with vineyards like Château d'Yquem and Domaine de Chevalier producing legendary sweet wines.
Moving to Burgundy, the vineyards of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Domaine Leroy, and Domaine Armand Rousseau capture the essence of the region's revered terroir, crafting exquisite red wines from the Pinot Noir grape. Meanwhile, Domaine Leflaive and Domaine Coche-Dury are celebrated for their world-class white wines, predominantly made from Chardonnay.
The Champagne region, known for its sparkling wines, boasts illustrious houses such as Krug, Dom Pérignon, and Moët & Chandon, as well as grower-producers like Pierre Péters and Jacques Selosse. These vineyards create exceptional sparkling wines using the traditional method, offering a symphony of delicate bubbles, elegant flavors, and vibrant acidity.
In the Rhône Valley, iconic vineyards like Chapoutier, E. Guigal, and Château de Beaucastel produce remarkable red wines in the northern appellations of Hermitage, Côte-Rôtie, and Cornas, showcasing the elegance and power of Syrah. Further south, Châteauneuf-du-Pape is celebrated for its rich and full-bodied red blends, with Château Rayas and Clos des Papes leading the way.
In Alsace, vineyards such as Domaine Zind-Humbrecht and omaine Trimbach craft exquisite white wines, including Riesling, Gewürztraminer, and Pinot Gris, expressing the region's unique terroir and varietal character.
These are just a few highlights among the diverse array of wines that France offers. From the Loire Valley's crisp whites and elegant reds to the Languedoc-Roussillon's bold and robust wines, each region presents its own vinous treasures.
France
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Inc. TAX€449.86
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Inc. TAX€658.54
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Inc. TAX€408.26
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Wine Advocate (100)
Deeper and richer, the 2010 Chateauneuf du Pape Deus ex Machina has been nothing short of perfection on the 3-4 times I’ve been lucky enough to try it. Muscular and powerful, with a serious, full-bodied profile, it gives up incredible aromas and flavors of creme de cassis, licorice, graphite, beef blood and loamy earth. Like most 2010s at this stage, it’s backwards and dense, and needs to be forgotten for another couple of years. This beauty will have 2-3 decades of overall longevity.Inc. TAX€1,708.66 -
Jeb Dunnuck (100)
More cured meats, spice, loamy soil notes, and an incredible core of kirsch and currant fruits emerge from the 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Deus Ex Machina. Deep, incredibly concentrated, multi-dimensional and long, it reminds me of the 2007 at this same point in time. This cuvée is always a 60/40 split of Grenache and Mourvèdre, brought up in tank and new demi-muids, and in top vintages, needs 2-5 years of bottle age to really shine, yet I always also fine a certain accessibility given its balance and purity. It’s capable of lasting for two decades.Inc. TAX€1,078.66 -
Wine Advocate (97)
Another terrific effort from this estate, the 2018 Chateauneuf du Pape Deus Ex Machina shares a sense of elegance with its vintage stablemate, the La Combe des Fous. Kirsch, stone fruit, black cherries, licorice, pomegranate…the list could go on and on. And while the wine is undeniably full-bodied, it doesn't come across as heavy or hot, instead being built on a lacy, silky structure of fine tannins and rounded acids that linger on the finish.Inc. TAX€809.86 -
Inc. TAX€809.86
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Inc. TAX€903.86
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Wine Advocate (94)
One of the vintage's top wines, the 2008 Chateauneuf du Pape la Combe des Fous continues to drink splendidly. Brandied cherries and dried herbs mark the nose, while the full-bodied palate is velvety and open-knit, with shadings of cocoa and a bit of savory, meaty development. It does dry out a bit as it sits in the glass, but it should continue to drink well through 2020 at least.Inc. TAX€977.58 -
Vinous (94)
Full ruby. An exotic, highly perfumed bouquet evokes red and dark berry preserves, star anise and a whiff of Grand Marnier. Juicy, palate-coating raspberry and boysenberry flavors show a felicitous blend of power and vivacity, with no rough edges and slow-building spiciness. Closes on a sweet note, with lingering anise and floral notes.Inc. TAX€1,630.38 -
Wine Advocate (96)
The 2012 Châteauneuf du Pape la Combe des Fous is another gorgeous wine from this estate that offers incredible richness while never seeming heavy, cumbersome or over-the-top. A blend of 60% Grenache, 20% Syrah and the rest Muscardin, Vaccarese and Cinsault, it exhibits thrilling cassis, black raspberry, chocolate, crushed flowers and exotic spice. Full-bodied, seamless and incredibly elegant, it has the polish and balance to drink nicely now, but will evolve for 15 years or more.Inc. TAX€911.86 -
Vinous (93-95)
Opaque ruby. Intensely perfumed aromas of ripe dark berries, candied lavender, cola and white pepper, accompanied by a hint of musky earth in the background. Juicy and broad on the palate, offering alluringly sweet black currant, cherry liqueur and spicecake flavors that pick up a refreshingly bitter edge with air. The dark berry note repeats strongly on the youthfully tannic finish, which clings with superb persistence and lingering florality.Inc. TAX€1,731.31 -
Vinous (93-95)
Opaque ruby. Intensely perfumed aromas of ripe dark berries, candied lavender, cola and white pepper, accompanied by a hint of musky earth in the background. Juicy and broad on the palate, offering alluringly sweet black currant, cherry liqueur and spicecake flavors that pick up a refreshingly bitter edge with air. The dark berry note repeats strongly on the youthfully tannic finish, which clings with superb persistence and lingering florality.Inc. TAX€925.06 -
Jeb Dunnuck (98)
Deep ruby-colored and offering a heavenly bouquet of black raspberries, toasted spiced, cured meats, licorice, and cured meats, the 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Combes des Fous is awesome on the palate, with a silky, seamless profile that just keeps on going. Possessing ultra-fine tannin, no hard edges, and a huge finish, it’s a phenomenal bottle of wine. The fact that it was bottled just one month ago makes this showing even more impressive.Inc. TAX€686.26 -
Vinous (94-95)
Shimmering ruby-red. Powerful, mineral- and spice-accented raspberry and cherry preserve scents are complemented by hints of incense, vanilla and potpourri. Smooth and impressively concentrated, offering energetic red fruit liqueur, spicecake and lavender pastille flavors lifted by juicy acidity and a jolt of smoky minerality. Plush yet lively in character, with an emphatic floral note on a strikingly long finish that features fine-grained tannins that sneak in late.Inc. TAX€698.26 -
Jeb Dunnuck (98)
The star of the show in 2018 is the 2018 Châteauneuf Du Pape La Combe Des Fous, which has an incredible mix of complexity, power, and elegance that’s something to behold. Sporting a deep purple/plum color as well as a killer bouquet of blackcurrants, lavender, peppery garrigue, graphite, and white chocolate, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a seamless, multi-dimensional texture, incredible tannins, and a gorgeous finish. This is as good as 2018 gets, and while it’s already impossible to resist, it’s going to evolve for 15+ years.Inc. TAX€614.26 -
Jeb Dunnuck (100)
Starting off a trio of truly magical wines, the 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape La Combe Des Fous checks in as 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah, and the rest Vaccarèse and Cinsault raised in tank and demi-muids. Sensationally pure cassis and blackberry fruits as well as complex notes of lavender, Provençal garrigue, ground pepper, and flowers all define this full-bodied 2019, which displays the vintage’s ripe, perfumed style while bringing more finesse, elegant, and purity than just about every other wine out there. It’s the finest vintage of this cuvée I’ve tasted and has another 15-20 years of prime drinking ahead of it.Inc. TAX€983.86 -
Inc. TAX€754.07
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Wine Advocate (100)
More flamboyant, open and exotic, with notes of kirsch liqueur, cassis, toasted almonds, sandalwood, lavender, and crushed flowers that you can smell from across the room, the 2009 Chateauneuf du Pape Sanctus Sanctorum expands on the palate, with incredible concentration, building, sweet tannin and a finish that just won’t quit. Where the 2010 cuts a more focused path, this puppy is overflowing with fruit and texture. It too is a perfect wine that will evolve for another couple decades, yet given this showing, don’t hesitate to crack bottles over the coming couple of years.Inc. TAX€1,399.45 -
Jeb Dunnuck (100)
One of the greatest young wines I’ve ever tasted is the 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Sanctus Sanctorum which is 100% old vine Grenache sourced from a single parcel in the La Crau lieu-dit. Lighter in color than both the Combes des Fous and Ex Machina, it offers a heavenly perfume of kirsch liqueur, crushed rocks, exotic spices, and graphite. This beauty hits the palate with an incredible display of opulent, decent fruit paired with an elegance and seamlessness that needs to be tasted to be believed. With building richness, no weight, ultra-fine tannins, and a finish that won’t quit, it’s released only in magnum, so it will take upward of a decade to hit maturity and will keep for 20+ years. Hats off to the Maurel family and their consultant Philippe Cambie!Inc. TAX€709.15 -
Inc. TAX€857.05
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Inc. TAX€661.45
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Inc. TAX€763.15
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Inc. TAX€970.15
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Experience an exquisitely crafted French vintage with the Cros de la Mure Chateauneuf Du Pape Le Bois Pointu 2017. Hailing from the illustrious Rhone Valley, this red blend superbly exemplifies the region's laudable terroir. Each grape is harvested with meticulous care from the emblematic vineyards of Le Bois Pointu, committed to preserving the singular character of their wines. Within each bottle lies an intoxicating blend of robust Grenache, sophisticated Syrah, and elegant Mourvèdre, matured in French oak barrels for 12 months, imbuing the wine with rich complexity.
From the distinguished producer Cros de la Mure, celebrated for their dedication to environmental sustainability and top-notch vinification, this vintage excels in every sip. Revel in the harmony of its robust black fruit flavours, warm spice notes and a delicate undertone of earthy truffles. Share the Cros de la Mure Chateauneuf Du Pape Le Bois Pointu 2017 with discerning guests for an exceptional wine-drinking occasion. A consummate embodiment of fine French winemaking.
Inc. TAX€502.12 -
Inc. TAX€836.72
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Jeb Dunnuck (94)
I loved the 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape from this brilliant team, and it should be snatched up by readers looking for a classic, impeccably made Châteauneuf du Pape to drink over the coming decade or more. Ripe black cherries, blackberries, Provençal garrigue, pepper, and Southern France street market-like nuances all emerge on the nose, and it's medium to full-bodied, with a seamless, elegant texture, ultra-fine tannins, and a great finish. Don't miss it. The blend is 70% Grenache and 15% each of Syrah and Mourvèdre.Inc. TAX€282.47 -
Vinous (90-92)
Bright purple. Mineral-laced aromas of dark berries, cola and fresh flowers, with a peppery overtone. Lively and precise on the palate, offering bitter berry skin and spicecake flavors that put on weight with air. Closes silky and long, with firm tannins and spicy snap.Inc. TAX€696.53 -
Wine Advocate (96-98)
A prodigious effort, the 2016 Chateauneuf du Pape Les Hautes Brusquieres Cuvee Speciale was yet to be bottled during my June visit. It offers up sweet floral aromas, hints of thyme and rosemary and bold cherry fruit. Full-bodied and creamy-velvety in texture, it's a hugely seductive mouthful of wine that I found difficult to spit. If it emerges from the bottling process looking like this, buyers will have huge smiles on their faces.Inc. TAX€344.26 -
Wine Advocate (96-98)
Superbly concentrated, the 2017 Chateauneuf du Pape Les Hautes Brusquieres Cuvee Speciale takes floral and tea-like complexities and layers them delicately over crisp raspberries and stone fruits. A blend of 60% Grenache and 40% Syrah, it's full-bodied, velvety and long, with an attractive briny note on the finish.Inc. TAX€451.06
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In Bond€351.00
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In Bond€504.00
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In Bond€318.00
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Wine Advocate (100)
Deeper and richer, the 2010 Chateauneuf du Pape Deus ex Machina has been nothing short of perfection on the 3-4 times I’ve been lucky enough to try it. Muscular and powerful, with a serious, full-bodied profile, it gives up incredible aromas and flavors of creme de cassis, licorice, graphite, beef blood and loamy earth. Like most 2010s at this stage, it’s backwards and dense, and needs to be forgotten for another couple of years. This beauty will have 2-3 decades of overall longevity.In Bond€1,400.00 -
Jeb Dunnuck (100)
More cured meats, spice, loamy soil notes, and an incredible core of kirsch and currant fruits emerge from the 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Deus Ex Machina. Deep, incredibly concentrated, multi-dimensional and long, it reminds me of the 2007 at this same point in time. This cuvée is always a 60/40 split of Grenache and Mourvèdre, brought up in tank and new demi-muids, and in top vintages, needs 2-5 years of bottle age to really shine, yet I always also fine a certain accessibility given its balance and purity. It’s capable of lasting for two decades.In Bond€875.00 -
Wine Advocate (97)
Another terrific effort from this estate, the 2018 Chateauneuf du Pape Deus Ex Machina shares a sense of elegance with its vintage stablemate, the La Combe des Fous. Kirsch, stone fruit, black cherries, licorice, pomegranate…the list could go on and on. And while the wine is undeniably full-bodied, it doesn't come across as heavy or hot, instead being built on a lacy, silky structure of fine tannins and rounded acids that linger on the finish.In Bond€651.00 -
In Bond€651.00
-
In Bond€731.00
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Wine Advocate (94)
One of the vintage's top wines, the 2008 Chateauneuf du Pape la Combe des Fous continues to drink splendidly. Brandied cherries and dried herbs mark the nose, while the full-bodied palate is velvety and open-knit, with shadings of cocoa and a bit of savory, meaty development. It does dry out a bit as it sits in the glass, but it should continue to drink well through 2020 at least.In Bond€796.00 -
Vinous (94)
Full ruby. An exotic, highly perfumed bouquet evokes red and dark berry preserves, star anise and a whiff of Grand Marnier. Juicy, palate-coating raspberry and boysenberry flavors show a felicitous blend of power and vivacity, with no rough edges and slow-building spiciness. Closes on a sweet note, with lingering anise and floral notes.In Bond€1,340.00 -
Wine Advocate (96)
The 2012 Châteauneuf du Pape la Combe des Fous is another gorgeous wine from this estate that offers incredible richness while never seeming heavy, cumbersome or over-the-top. A blend of 60% Grenache, 20% Syrah and the rest Muscardin, Vaccarese and Cinsault, it exhibits thrilling cassis, black raspberry, chocolate, crushed flowers and exotic spice. Full-bodied, seamless and incredibly elegant, it has the polish and balance to drink nicely now, but will evolve for 15 years or more.In Bond€736.00 -
Vinous (93-95)
Opaque ruby. Intensely perfumed aromas of ripe dark berries, candied lavender, cola and white pepper, accompanied by a hint of musky earth in the background. Juicy and broad on the palate, offering alluringly sweet black currant, cherry liqueur and spicecake flavors that pick up a refreshingly bitter edge with air. The dark berry note repeats strongly on the youthfully tannic finish, which clings with superb persistence and lingering florality.In Bond€1,395.00 -
Vinous (93-95)
Opaque ruby. Intensely perfumed aromas of ripe dark berries, candied lavender, cola and white pepper, accompanied by a hint of musky earth in the background. Juicy and broad on the palate, offering alluringly sweet black currant, cherry liqueur and spicecake flavors that pick up a refreshingly bitter edge with air. The dark berry note repeats strongly on the youthfully tannic finish, which clings with superb persistence and lingering florality.In Bond€747.00 -
Jeb Dunnuck (98)
Deep ruby-colored and offering a heavenly bouquet of black raspberries, toasted spiced, cured meats, licorice, and cured meats, the 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Combes des Fous is awesome on the palate, with a silky, seamless profile that just keeps on going. Possessing ultra-fine tannin, no hard edges, and a huge finish, it’s a phenomenal bottle of wine. The fact that it was bottled just one month ago makes this showing even more impressive.In Bond€548.00 -
Vinous (94-95)
Shimmering ruby-red. Powerful, mineral- and spice-accented raspberry and cherry preserve scents are complemented by hints of incense, vanilla and potpourri. Smooth and impressively concentrated, offering energetic red fruit liqueur, spicecake and lavender pastille flavors lifted by juicy acidity and a jolt of smoky minerality. Plush yet lively in character, with an emphatic floral note on a strikingly long finish that features fine-grained tannins that sneak in late.In Bond€558.00 -
Jeb Dunnuck (98)
The star of the show in 2018 is the 2018 Châteauneuf Du Pape La Combe Des Fous, which has an incredible mix of complexity, power, and elegance that’s something to behold. Sporting a deep purple/plum color as well as a killer bouquet of blackcurrants, lavender, peppery garrigue, graphite, and white chocolate, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a seamless, multi-dimensional texture, incredible tannins, and a gorgeous finish. This is as good as 2018 gets, and while it’s already impossible to resist, it’s going to evolve for 15+ years.In Bond€488.00 -
Jeb Dunnuck (100)
Starting off a trio of truly magical wines, the 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape La Combe Des Fous checks in as 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah, and the rest Vaccarèse and Cinsault raised in tank and demi-muids. Sensationally pure cassis and blackberry fruits as well as complex notes of lavender, Provençal garrigue, ground pepper, and flowers all define this full-bodied 2019, which displays the vintage’s ripe, perfumed style while bringing more finesse, elegant, and purity than just about every other wine out there. It’s the finest vintage of this cuvée I’ve tasted and has another 15-20 years of prime drinking ahead of it.In Bond€796.00 -
In Bond€606.00
-
Wine Advocate (100)
More flamboyant, open and exotic, with notes of kirsch liqueur, cassis, toasted almonds, sandalwood, lavender, and crushed flowers that you can smell from across the room, the 2009 Chateauneuf du Pape Sanctus Sanctorum expands on the palate, with incredible concentration, building, sweet tannin and a finish that just won’t quit. Where the 2010 cuts a more focused path, this puppy is overflowing with fruit and texture. It too is a perfect wine that will evolve for another couple decades, yet given this showing, don’t hesitate to crack bottles over the coming couple of years.In Bond€1,160.00 -
Jeb Dunnuck (100)
One of the greatest young wines I’ve ever tasted is the 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Sanctus Sanctorum which is 100% old vine Grenache sourced from a single parcel in the La Crau lieu-dit. Lighter in color than both the Combes des Fous and Ex Machina, it offers a heavenly perfume of kirsch liqueur, crushed rocks, exotic spices, and graphite. This beauty hits the palate with an incredible display of opulent, decent fruit paired with an elegance and seamlessness that needs to be tasted to be believed. With building richness, no weight, ultra-fine tannins, and a finish that won’t quit, it’s released only in magnum, so it will take upward of a decade to hit maturity and will keep for 20+ years. Hats off to the Maurel family and their consultant Philippe Cambie!In Bond€583.00 -
In Bond€708.00
-
In Bond€545.00
-
In Bond€628.00
-
In Bond€801.00
-
Experience an exquisitely crafted French vintage with the Cros de la Mure Chateauneuf Du Pape Le Bois Pointu 2017. Hailing from the illustrious Rhone Valley, this red blend superbly exemplifies the region's laudable terroir. Each grape is harvested with meticulous care from the emblematic vineyards of Le Bois Pointu, committed to preserving the singular character of their wines. Within each bottle lies an intoxicating blend of robust Grenache, sophisticated Syrah, and elegant Mourvèdre, matured in French oak barrels for 12 months, imbuing the wine with rich complexity.
From the distinguished producer Cros de la Mure, celebrated for their dedication to environmental sustainability and top-notch vinification, this vintage excels in every sip. Revel in the harmony of its robust black fruit flavours, warm spice notes and a delicate undertone of earthy truffles. Share the Cros de la Mure Chateauneuf Du Pape Le Bois Pointu 2017 with discerning guests for an exceptional wine-drinking occasion. A consummate embodiment of fine French winemaking.
In Bond€396.00 -
In Bond€651.00
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Jeb Dunnuck (94)
I loved the 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape from this brilliant team, and it should be snatched up by readers looking for a classic, impeccably made Châteauneuf du Pape to drink over the coming decade or more. Ripe black cherries, blackberries, Provençal garrigue, pepper, and Southern France street market-like nuances all emerge on the nose, and it's medium to full-bodied, with a seamless, elegant texture, ultra-fine tannins, and a great finish. Don't miss it. The blend is 70% Grenache and 15% each of Syrah and Mourvèdre.In Bond€213.00 -
Vinous (90-92)
Bright purple. Mineral-laced aromas of dark berries, cola and fresh flowers, with a peppery overtone. Lively and precise on the palate, offering bitter berry skin and spicecake flavors that put on weight with air. Closes silky and long, with firm tannins and spicy snap.In Bond€536.00 -
Wine Advocate (96-98)
A prodigious effort, the 2016 Chateauneuf du Pape Les Hautes Brusquieres Cuvee Speciale was yet to be bottled during my June visit. It offers up sweet floral aromas, hints of thyme and rosemary and bold cherry fruit. Full-bodied and creamy-velvety in texture, it's a hugely seductive mouthful of wine that I found difficult to spit. If it emerges from the bottling process looking like this, buyers will have huge smiles on their faces.In Bond€263.00 -
Wine Advocate (96-98)
Superbly concentrated, the 2017 Chateauneuf du Pape Les Hautes Brusquieres Cuvee Speciale takes floral and tea-like complexities and layers them delicately over crisp raspberries and stone fruits. A blend of 60% Grenache and 40% Syrah, it's full-bodied, velvety and long, with an attractive briny note on the finish.In Bond€352.00