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.
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France
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| Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Burgundy | 1 | 85 |
Inc. TAX
€1,382.72 |
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Burgundy | 1 | 94+ (VN) |
Inc. TAX
€5,180.98 |
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Vinous (94+)Medium red. Pungent perfume of blood orange, licorice and herbs, lifted by a floral topnote. Tactile but backward, with terrific lift and perfume to the raspberry and crushed fruit flavors. The terrific rising finish displays great energy and a wonderfully light touch. Really stains the palate. With aeration, a deeper smoky, earthy tang and more adamant minerality emerged. A beauty, but lay it down for at least seven or eight years. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 94+ (VN) |
Inc. TAX
€7,276.38 |
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Vinous (94+)Medium red. Pungent perfume of blood orange, licorice and herbs, lifted by a floral topnote. Tactile but backward, with terrific lift and perfume to the raspberry and crushed fruit flavors. The terrific rising finish displays great energy and a wonderfully light touch. Really stains the palate. With aeration, a deeper smoky, earthy tang and more adamant minerality emerged. A beauty, but lay it down for at least seven or eight years. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 93+ (VN) |
Inc. TAX
€1,450.45 |
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Vinous (93+)Medium red. Musky, soil-driven aromas of mocha, licorice, spices, soy sauce and flowers. Sweet, plush, rich and very ripe, but with plenty of energy to the cocoa powder, loam and spice flavors. The impressive, slowly building finish shows a distinctly saline character and a positive dryness. A fascinating wine of terroir, in need of patience. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 93+ (VN) |
Inc. TAX
€9,614.87 |
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Vinous (93+)Medium red. Musky, soil-driven aromas of mocha, licorice, spices, soy sauce and flowers. Sweet, plush, rich and very ripe, but with plenty of energy to the cocoa powder, loam and spice flavors. The impressive, slowly building finish shows a distinctly saline character and a positive dryness. A fascinating wine of terroir, in need of patience. |
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Alsace | 1 | 96 (JS) |
Inc. TAX
€936.78 |
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James Suckling (96)A very complex rose petal and herbal riesling that is ridiculously fresh for almost a decade of age. Very muscular and concentrated, but still cool and fresh with enormous mineral depth at the finish. Just coming to its peak, but decades of aging potential! |
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Burgundy | 1 | 95+ (VN) |
Inc. TAX
€3,417.73 |
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Vinous (95+)The 2008 Chambolle-Musigny Les Amoureuses is endowed with an explosive bouquet and a multi-dimensional, textured core of dark fruit. The inner palate sweetness, richness and nuance here are all breathtaking. The finish seems to last into the next day. This is another spellbinding effort from Mugnier. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 91 (VN (ST)) |
Inc. TAX
€1,699.45 |
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Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (91)(racked two weeks before my visit) Medium red. High-pitched aromas of raspberry, rose petal, white pepper and orange peel. Juicy, precise and mineral-driven, with lovely purity to the blueberry and blackberry flavors. Finishes with noteworthy energy and mounting length. Real wine-class Chambolle. |
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Burgundy | 2 | 97 (WA) |
Inc. TAX
€10,919.20 |
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Wine Advocate (97)The 2008 Musigny is an infant, but it captures the essence of this important red Burgundy vintage to the fullest. There is gorgeous subtlety and nuance to the fruit, along with magnificent aromatics and the most elegant of tannins. The 2008 needs time for the elements to harmonize, but there is no mistaking the profoundness of what is developing in bottle. Today the Musigny shows a little more density and a touch better balance with its tannins than the Bonnes Mares, but both of Mugnier’s Grand Crus in 2008 are truly grand. Anticipated maturity: 2023-2048. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 92+ (VN) |
Inc. TAX
€5,482.38 |
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Vinous (92+)Bright, deep red. Exotic berry aromas are complicated by violet, cocoa, coffee and toast. Then almost surprisingly supple and sweet on the palate, showing a more attractive early balance and more finesse than the 2009 version. The spicy acidulated fruit and floral flavors convey a strong impression of energy. Finishes classically dry and saline, with peppery acidity and a slightly youthful toughness. |
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Champagne | 1 | 100 (VN) |
Inc. TAX
€4,143.73 |
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Vinous (100)The 2008 Extra-Brut Millesime Grand Cru is outrageous. Deep, powerful and explosive, the 2008 possesses tremendous vertical depth. There is a feeling of dimension here that is truly breathtaking. Readers will find a Champagne that marries Selosse’s trademark volume and texture with all of the energy of this great vintage. Lemon confit, dried flowers, mint, chamomile, pear, ginger and light hazelnut notes linger. Time in the glass really helps bring out the elegance and freshness here. I look forward to tasting and drinking the 2008 Selosse in the coming years next to the other great Champagnes of this important vintage in what will surely be a hedonistic, off the charts experience! Needless to say, readers who can latch on to a few bottles should not hesitate. Disgorged: January 16, 2020. |
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Champagne | 1 | 100 (VN) |
Inc. TAX
€30,856.38 |
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Vinous (100)The 2008 Extra-Brut Millesime Grand Cru is outrageous. Deep, powerful and explosive, the 2008 possesses tremendous vertical depth. There is a feeling of dimension here that is truly breathtaking. Readers will find a Champagne that marries Selosse’s trademark volume and texture with all of the energy of this great vintage. Lemon confit, dried flowers, mint, chamomile, pear, ginger and light hazelnut notes linger. Time in the glass really helps bring out the elegance and freshness here. I look forward to tasting and drinking the 2008 Selosse in the coming years next to the other great Champagnes of this important vintage in what will surely be a hedonistic, off the charts experience! Needless to say, readers who can latch on to a few bottles should not hesitate. Disgorged: January 16, 2020. |
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Burgundy | 2 | 91 (WA) |
Inc. TAX
€4,462.19 |
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Wine Advocate (91)Cherry, blackberry, peat, and game in the nose of the Grivot 2008 Vosne Romanee Reignots set the theme for a firm though juicy palate, and salt, chalk, nut oil, and cherry pit notes in an invigorating, downright refreshing finish reminding me of the extent to which the wines in this collection – by design – showcase Pinot virtues that can also apply to white wines. Since there were only around 350 liters, Grivot elected to supplement a new barrique with a new feuillette, which explains a hint of oak resin and slight sense of tannic stiffness that will hopefully be absorbed. Certainly the wine deserves to be attended to for at least a decade. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 94 (WE) |
Inc. TAX
€1,430.66 |
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Wine Enthusiast (94)The aromas of smoky new wood follow through to the wood flavors on the palate. However, it's the powerful sweet black cherry and red berry fruit flavors, layered with fruit tannins and acidity, that are driving this impressive wine. For aging at least six years. |
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Champagne | 2 | 90 (WA) |
Inc. TAX
€656.82 |
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Wine Advocate (90)A blend of roughly equal parts Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, the 2008 Brut Cuvée Josephine was disgorged after ten years sur lattes. Offering up a reserved bouquet of warm biscuits, dried citrus rind and yellow apple, it's medium to full-bodied, with a somewhat firm and compact profile, missing the plenitude that characterizes some of the house's more recent offerings. This is a creditable but somewhat conservative effort that seems to have more to do with the house's past than its future. |
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Champagne | 1 | 90 (WA) |
Inc. TAX
€1,372.19 |
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Wine Advocate (90)A blend of roughly equal parts Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, the 2008 Brut Cuvée Josephine was disgorged after ten years sur lattes. Offering up a reserved bouquet of warm biscuits, dried citrus rind and yellow apple, it's medium to full-bodied, with a somewhat firm and compact profile, missing the plenitude that characterizes some of the house's more recent offerings. This is a creditable but somewhat conservative effort that seems to have more to do with the house's past than its future. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 92 (VN) |
Inc. TAX
€1,925.82 |
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Vinous (92)Medium red. Perfumed, refined aromas of red cherry, rose petal and peppery spices. A juicy, sappy, layered midweight, offering good aromatic lift to the black cherry and licorice flavors. Conveys an impression of breadth without weight and finishes long and spicy. Very fresh and delineated premier cru. |
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Champagne | 1 | 100 (JS) |
Inc. TAX
€700.93 |
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James Suckling (100)This is very structured and framed with an almost red sensibility. Very phenolic. Full-bodied in a tightly wound ball with so much going on. Very pinot like. Mineral and stone. Shell and stone. Iodine. Vinous. The bubbles just fade into the finish of the wine, which goes on for minutes. Turns to toffee and salted caramel with time in the glass. One for the cellar. Great length. Blend of 53% pinot noir, 25% pinot meunier, 22% chardonnay. Disgorged in beginning of 2020. Drink or hold. |
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Champagne | 2 | 100 (JS) |
Inc. TAX
€3,130.38 |
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James Suckling (100)This is very structured and framed with an almost red sensibility. Very phenolic. Full-bodied in a tightly wound ball with so much going on. Very pinot like. Mineral and stone. Shell and stone. Iodine. Vinous. The bubbles just fade into the finish of the wine, which goes on for minutes. Turns to toffee and salted caramel with time in the glass. One for the cellar. Great length. Blend of 53% pinot noir, 25% pinot meunier, 22% chardonnay. Disgorged in beginning of 2020. Drink or hold. |
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Champagne | 1 | 99 (VN) |
Inc. TAX
€2,769.73 |
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Vinous (99)Krug’s 2008 Clos du Mesnil, tasted from two bottles, is a very, very special Champagne. Soaring aromatics, fine, chiseled fruit and understated depth are the signatures of a Champagne that is immediately captivating. Bright, salivating acids run through a core of citrus fruit, lemon oil, slate, chalk, mint and white pepper. A touch of reduction and a superb, fine mousse move the 2008 into a realm that straddles Champagne and a distinctly Burgundian expression of Chardonnay. The 2008 is going to be expensive, and I am already hearing that allocations will be miniscule. For readers who can find it, the 2008 is an essential Clos du Mesnil that will take its place among the greatest vintages made here, specifically the 1979, 1988 and 1996. If anyone wants to organize a comparative tasting of the four, plus maybe the 2004, I’m game! The 2008 Clos du Mesnil is a magnificent Champagne to savor over the next several decades. |
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Champagne | 1 | - |
Inc. TAX
€4,457.20 |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 94 (WA) |
Inc. TAX
€2,528.77 |
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Wine Advocate (94)A 2,700-case blend of 88% Merlot and 12% Cabernet Franc cropped at a low 27 hectoliters per hectare (compare that with 39 hectoliters per hectare in 2009 and 31 in 2010), this superb claret was aged 18 months in 75% new French oak. Mulberry, spring flower, black cherry and raspberry characteristics as well as hints of spice and coffee emerge from this full-bodied, opulent, structured beauty. It should age effortlessly for 15-20 years. |
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Rhone | 1 | 94 (WS) |
Inc. TAX
€1,127.74 |
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Wine Spectator (94)This is pure, driven and well-rounded, with a beam of kirsch, crushed plum and bright red currant fruit coursing through, backed by lingering red licorice, violet and sweet tobacco notes. The long finish is still tightly wound. Best from 2011 through 2025. 150 cases imported. -JM |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 96+ (VN (NM)) |
Inc. TAX
€3,068.77 |
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Vinous - Neal Martin (96+)The 2008 La Mission Haut-Brion has an open, feisty, lively bouquet with blackberry, briary, cedar, black olive and a light seaweed (Japanese nori) aroma. This is wonderful, an intoxicating bouquet. The palate is beautifully balanced with a fine bead of acidity, very focused with good weight and structure. This is a very convincing showing, at the moment more pleasurable than the 2008 Haut-Brion, just so fresh and complex, offering a discrete tertiary, smoke-tinged finish that goes on and on. One of the best 2008s out there. (Tasted at BI Wine & Spirit’s annual 10-Year On tasting.) |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 96+ (VN (NM)) |
Inc. TAX
€1,708.38 |
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Vinous - Neal Martin (96+)The 2008 La Mission Haut-Brion has an open, feisty, lively bouquet with blackberry, briary, cedar, black olive and a light seaweed (Japanese nori) aroma. This is wonderful, an intoxicating bouquet. The palate is beautifully balanced with a fine bead of acidity, very focused with good weight and structure. This is a very convincing showing, at the moment more pleasurable than the 2008 Haut-Brion, just so fresh and complex, offering a discrete tertiary, smoke-tinged finish that goes on and on. One of the best 2008s out there. (Tasted at BI Wine & Spirit’s annual 10-Year On tasting.) |
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Bordeaux | 4 | 96 (WA) |
Inc. TAX
€1,630.38 |
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Wine Advocate (96)A brilliant effort, the 2008 La Mondotte is a candidate for “wine of the vintage.” This blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc hit 14% natural alcohol. Yields were 24 hectoliters per hectare. The wine boasts an opaque purple color along with sweet aromas of mulberries, creme de cassis, blackberries, espresso roast, chocolate and toast. Sweet tannin, an opulent mouthfeel and a flamboyant personality make for a prodigious/compelling wine that can be drunk now or cellared for two decades or more. This is an unbelievable 2008 of extravagant intensity and richness. Bravo! Anticipated maturity: now-2025. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 95 (WA) |
Inc. TAX
€3,632.77 |
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Wine Advocate (95)Fashioned from yields of 18 hectoliters per hectare with 13.5% natural alcohol, the opaque ruby-hued 2008 exhibits tell-tale floral notes intertwined with raspberries, sweet black cherries, licorice and cassis. Medium to full-bodied, beautifully concentrated and strikingly pure as well as multilayered, the 2008, despite its precociousness, will benefit from 2-3 years of bottle age and keep for 20-25 years. It is one of the top successes of the vintage. |
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Bordeaux | 4 | 87-89 (VN (ID)) |
Inc. TAX
€824.11 |
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Vinous - Ian D'Agata (87-89)Medium-deep ruby. Still quite closed nose slowly yields aromas of rhubarb, mint and dark plum, but conveys an impression of depth. More open on the palate, with a fleshy texture to the red cherry and spicy plum flavors. Finishes long and smooth, with a lingering note of black pepper and watermelon. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 98 (WA) |
Inc. TAX
€10,256.77 |
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Wine Advocate (98)A candidate for the -wine of the vintage,- the 2008 should have been purchased before it began to soar in value because of the significance of the number 8 in the Chinese culture (denoting good luck). Representing 40% of the production, this blend of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc offers aromas of high quality unsmoked cigar tobacco, lead pencil shavings, creme de cassis, earth, cedar and asphalt. Full, rich and stunningly concentrated, I doubt it is inferior to the 2010, just more classic as well as slightly more forward and a degree weaker in alcoholic potency (12.5% versus 13.5%). The 2008 should be relatively drinkable in 6-10 years as it is already showing remarkable complexity and breed, and will last for 30-35 years...at the minimum. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 96 (VN (NM)) |
Inc. TAX
€1,166.53 |
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Vinous - Neal Martin (96)The 2008 Lafleur is a wine that I have tasted several times. It mirrored my previous encounters. There is still impressive fruit concentration on the nose, equally distributed between red and black, a hint of clove and just a touch of Italian delicatessen emanating from the Cabernet Franc. The palate has just melted a little since its obdurate infancy, although it is still quite linear and strict. You might argue that the 2008 Lafleur is a little charmless at the moment, but bottle age will sculpt and abrade this Pomerol into a very fine, if slightly aloof wine. (This was not shown at BI Wine & Spirit’s horizontal but a bottle was opened at a private dinner when I was in Bordeaux a few days earlier.) |
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| Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Burgundy | 1 | 85 |
In Bond
€1,107.49 |
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Burgundy | 1 | 94+ (VN) |
In Bond
€4,305.00 |
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Vinous (94+)Medium red. Pungent perfume of blood orange, licorice and herbs, lifted by a floral topnote. Tactile but backward, with terrific lift and perfume to the raspberry and crushed fruit flavors. The terrific rising finish displays great energy and a wonderfully light touch. Really stains the palate. With aeration, a deeper smoky, earthy tang and more adamant minerality emerged. A beauty, but lay it down for at least seven or eight years. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 94+ (VN) |
In Bond
€6,045.00 |
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Vinous (94+)Medium red. Pungent perfume of blood orange, licorice and herbs, lifted by a floral topnote. Tactile but backward, with terrific lift and perfume to the raspberry and crushed fruit flavors. The terrific rising finish displays great energy and a wonderfully light touch. Really stains the palate. With aeration, a deeper smoky, earthy tang and more adamant minerality emerged. A beauty, but lay it down for at least seven or eight years. |
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|
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Burgundy | 1 | 93+ (VN) |
In Bond
€1,205.00 |
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Vinous (93+)Medium red. Musky, soil-driven aromas of mocha, licorice, spices, soy sauce and flowers. Sweet, plush, rich and very ripe, but with plenty of energy to the cocoa powder, loam and spice flavors. The impressive, slowly building finish shows a distinctly saline character and a positive dryness. A fascinating wine of terroir, in need of patience. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 93+ (VN) |
In Bond
€7,990.00 |
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Vinous (93+)Medium red. Musky, soil-driven aromas of mocha, licorice, spices, soy sauce and flowers. Sweet, plush, rich and very ripe, but with plenty of energy to the cocoa powder, loam and spice flavors. The impressive, slowly building finish shows a distinctly saline character and a positive dryness. A fascinating wine of terroir, in need of patience. |
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Alsace | 1 | 96 (JS) |
In Bond
€762.00 |
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James Suckling (96)A very complex rose petal and herbal riesling that is ridiculously fresh for almost a decade of age. Very muscular and concentrated, but still cool and fresh with enormous mineral depth at the finish. Just coming to its peak, but decades of aging potential! |
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Burgundy | 1 | 95+ (VN) |
In Bond
€2,845.00 |
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Vinous (95+)The 2008 Chambolle-Musigny Les Amoureuses is endowed with an explosive bouquet and a multi-dimensional, textured core of dark fruit. The inner palate sweetness, richness and nuance here are all breathtaking. The finish seems to last into the next day. This is another spellbinding effort from Mugnier. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 91 (VN (ST)) |
In Bond
€1,410.00 |
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Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (91)(racked two weeks before my visit) Medium red. High-pitched aromas of raspberry, rose petal, white pepper and orange peel. Juicy, precise and mineral-driven, with lovely purity to the blueberry and blackberry flavors. Finishes with noteworthy energy and mounting length. Real wine-class Chambolle. |
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Burgundy | 2 | 97 (WA) |
In Bond
€9,090.00 |
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Wine Advocate (97)The 2008 Musigny is an infant, but it captures the essence of this important red Burgundy vintage to the fullest. There is gorgeous subtlety and nuance to the fruit, along with magnificent aromatics and the most elegant of tannins. The 2008 needs time for the elements to harmonize, but there is no mistaking the profoundness of what is developing in bottle. Today the Musigny shows a little more density and a touch better balance with its tannins than the Bonnes Mares, but both of Mugnier’s Grand Crus in 2008 are truly grand. Anticipated maturity: 2023-2048. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 92+ (VN) |
In Bond
€4,550.00 |
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Vinous (92+)Bright, deep red. Exotic berry aromas are complicated by violet, cocoa, coffee and toast. Then almost surprisingly supple and sweet on the palate, showing a more attractive early balance and more finesse than the 2009 version. The spicy acidulated fruit and floral flavors convey a strong impression of energy. Finishes classically dry and saline, with peppery acidity and a slightly youthful toughness. |
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|
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Champagne | 1 | 100 (VN) |
In Bond
€3,450.00 |
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Vinous (100)The 2008 Extra-Brut Millesime Grand Cru is outrageous. Deep, powerful and explosive, the 2008 possesses tremendous vertical depth. There is a feeling of dimension here that is truly breathtaking. Readers will find a Champagne that marries Selosse’s trademark volume and texture with all of the energy of this great vintage. Lemon confit, dried flowers, mint, chamomile, pear, ginger and light hazelnut notes linger. Time in the glass really helps bring out the elegance and freshness here. I look forward to tasting and drinking the 2008 Selosse in the coming years next to the other great Champagnes of this important vintage in what will surely be a hedonistic, off the charts experience! Needless to say, readers who can latch on to a few bottles should not hesitate. Disgorged: January 16, 2020. |
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Champagne | 1 | 100 (VN) |
In Bond
€25,695.00 |
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Vinous (100)The 2008 Extra-Brut Millesime Grand Cru is outrageous. Deep, powerful and explosive, the 2008 possesses tremendous vertical depth. There is a feeling of dimension here that is truly breathtaking. Readers will find a Champagne that marries Selosse’s trademark volume and texture with all of the energy of this great vintage. Lemon confit, dried flowers, mint, chamomile, pear, ginger and light hazelnut notes linger. Time in the glass really helps bring out the elegance and freshness here. I look forward to tasting and drinking the 2008 Selosse in the coming years next to the other great Champagnes of this important vintage in what will surely be a hedonistic, off the charts experience! Needless to say, readers who can latch on to a few bottles should not hesitate. Disgorged: January 16, 2020. |
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|
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Burgundy | 2 | 91 (WA) |
In Bond
€3,700.00 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (91)Cherry, blackberry, peat, and game in the nose of the Grivot 2008 Vosne Romanee Reignots set the theme for a firm though juicy palate, and salt, chalk, nut oil, and cherry pit notes in an invigorating, downright refreshing finish reminding me of the extent to which the wines in this collection – by design – showcase Pinot virtues that can also apply to white wines. Since there were only around 350 liters, Grivot elected to supplement a new barrique with a new feuillette, which explains a hint of oak resin and slight sense of tannic stiffness that will hopefully be absorbed. Certainly the wine deserves to be attended to for at least a decade. |
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|
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Burgundy | 1 | 94 (WE) |
In Bond
€1,170.00 |
|||||
Wine Enthusiast (94)The aromas of smoky new wood follow through to the wood flavors on the palate. However, it's the powerful sweet black cherry and red berry fruit flavors, layered with fruit tannins and acidity, that are driving this impressive wine. For aging at least six years. |
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Champagne | 2 | 90 (WA) |
In Bond
€538.00 |
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Wine Advocate (90)A blend of roughly equal parts Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, the 2008 Brut Cuvée Josephine was disgorged after ten years sur lattes. Offering up a reserved bouquet of warm biscuits, dried citrus rind and yellow apple, it's medium to full-bodied, with a somewhat firm and compact profile, missing the plenitude that characterizes some of the house's more recent offerings. This is a creditable but somewhat conservative effort that seems to have more to do with the house's past than its future. |
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|
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Champagne | 1 | 90 (WA) |
In Bond
€1,125.00 |
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Wine Advocate (90)A blend of roughly equal parts Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, the 2008 Brut Cuvée Josephine was disgorged after ten years sur lattes. Offering up a reserved bouquet of warm biscuits, dried citrus rind and yellow apple, it's medium to full-bodied, with a somewhat firm and compact profile, missing the plenitude that characterizes some of the house's more recent offerings. This is a creditable but somewhat conservative effort that seems to have more to do with the house's past than its future. |
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|
|
Burgundy | 1 | 92 (VN) |
In Bond
€1,560.00 |
|||||
Vinous (92)Medium red. Perfumed, refined aromas of red cherry, rose petal and peppery spices. A juicy, sappy, layered midweight, offering good aromatic lift to the black cherry and licorice flavors. Conveys an impression of breadth without weight and finishes long and spicy. Very fresh and delineated premier cru. |
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|
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Champagne | 1 | 100 (JS) |
In Bond
€581.00 |
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James Suckling (100)This is very structured and framed with an almost red sensibility. Very phenolic. Full-bodied in a tightly wound ball with so much going on. Very pinot like. Mineral and stone. Shell and stone. Iodine. Vinous. The bubbles just fade into the finish of the wine, which goes on for minutes. Turns to toffee and salted caramel with time in the glass. One for the cellar. Great length. Blend of 53% pinot noir, 25% pinot meunier, 22% chardonnay. Disgorged in beginning of 2020. Drink or hold. |
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Champagne | 2 | 100 (JS) |
In Bond
€2,590.00 |
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James Suckling (100)This is very structured and framed with an almost red sensibility. Very phenolic. Full-bodied in a tightly wound ball with so much going on. Very pinot like. Mineral and stone. Shell and stone. Iodine. Vinous. The bubbles just fade into the finish of the wine, which goes on for minutes. Turns to toffee and salted caramel with time in the glass. One for the cellar. Great length. Blend of 53% pinot noir, 25% pinot meunier, 22% chardonnay. Disgorged in beginning of 2020. Drink or hold. |
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Champagne | 1 | 99 (VN) |
In Bond
€2,305.00 |
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Vinous (99)Krug’s 2008 Clos du Mesnil, tasted from two bottles, is a very, very special Champagne. Soaring aromatics, fine, chiseled fruit and understated depth are the signatures of a Champagne that is immediately captivating. Bright, salivating acids run through a core of citrus fruit, lemon oil, slate, chalk, mint and white pepper. A touch of reduction and a superb, fine mousse move the 2008 into a realm that straddles Champagne and a distinctly Burgundian expression of Chardonnay. The 2008 is going to be expensive, and I am already hearing that allocations will be miniscule. For readers who can find it, the 2008 is an essential Clos du Mesnil that will take its place among the greatest vintages made here, specifically the 1979, 1988 and 1996. If anyone wants to organize a comparative tasting of the four, plus maybe the 2004, I’m game! The 2008 Clos du Mesnil is a magnificent Champagne to savor over the next several decades. |
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Champagne | 1 | - |
In Bond
€3,705.00 |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 94 (WA) |
In Bond
€2,070.00 |
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Wine Advocate (94)A 2,700-case blend of 88% Merlot and 12% Cabernet Franc cropped at a low 27 hectoliters per hectare (compare that with 39 hectoliters per hectare in 2009 and 31 in 2010), this superb claret was aged 18 months in 75% new French oak. Mulberry, spring flower, black cherry and raspberry characteristics as well as hints of spice and coffee emerge from this full-bodied, opulent, structured beauty. It should age effortlessly for 15-20 years. |
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Rhone | 1 | 94 (WS) |
In Bond
€895.00 |
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Wine Spectator (94)This is pure, driven and well-rounded, with a beam of kirsch, crushed plum and bright red currant fruit coursing through, backed by lingering red licorice, violet and sweet tobacco notes. The long finish is still tightly wound. Best from 2011 through 2025. 150 cases imported. -JM |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 96+ (VN (NM)) |
In Bond
€2,520.00 |
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Vinous - Neal Martin (96+)The 2008 La Mission Haut-Brion has an open, feisty, lively bouquet with blackberry, briary, cedar, black olive and a light seaweed (Japanese nori) aroma. This is wonderful, an intoxicating bouquet. The palate is beautifully balanced with a fine bead of acidity, very focused with good weight and structure. This is a very convincing showing, at the moment more pleasurable than the 2008 Haut-Brion, just so fresh and complex, offering a discrete tertiary, smoke-tinged finish that goes on and on. One of the best 2008s out there. (Tasted at BI Wine & Spirit’s annual 10-Year On tasting.) |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 96+ (VN (NM)) |
In Bond
€1,405.00 |
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Vinous - Neal Martin (96+)The 2008 La Mission Haut-Brion has an open, feisty, lively bouquet with blackberry, briary, cedar, black olive and a light seaweed (Japanese nori) aroma. This is wonderful, an intoxicating bouquet. The palate is beautifully balanced with a fine bead of acidity, very focused with good weight and structure. This is a very convincing showing, at the moment more pleasurable than the 2008 Haut-Brion, just so fresh and complex, offering a discrete tertiary, smoke-tinged finish that goes on and on. One of the best 2008s out there. (Tasted at BI Wine & Spirit’s annual 10-Year On tasting.) |
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Bordeaux | 4 | 96 (WA) |
In Bond
€1,340.00 |
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Wine Advocate (96)A brilliant effort, the 2008 La Mondotte is a candidate for “wine of the vintage.” This blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc hit 14% natural alcohol. Yields were 24 hectoliters per hectare. The wine boasts an opaque purple color along with sweet aromas of mulberries, creme de cassis, blackberries, espresso roast, chocolate and toast. Sweet tannin, an opulent mouthfeel and a flamboyant personality make for a prodigious/compelling wine that can be drunk now or cellared for two decades or more. This is an unbelievable 2008 of extravagant intensity and richness. Bravo! Anticipated maturity: now-2025. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 95 (WA) |
In Bond
€2,990.00 |
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Wine Advocate (95)Fashioned from yields of 18 hectoliters per hectare with 13.5% natural alcohol, the opaque ruby-hued 2008 exhibits tell-tale floral notes intertwined with raspberries, sweet black cherries, licorice and cassis. Medium to full-bodied, beautifully concentrated and strikingly pure as well as multilayered, the 2008, despite its precociousness, will benefit from 2-3 years of bottle age and keep for 20-25 years. It is one of the top successes of the vintage. |
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Bordeaux | 4 | 87-89 (VN (ID)) |
In Bond
€642.00 |
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Vinous - Ian D'Agata (87-89)Medium-deep ruby. Still quite closed nose slowly yields aromas of rhubarb, mint and dark plum, but conveys an impression of depth. More open on the palate, with a fleshy texture to the red cherry and spicy plum flavors. Finishes long and smooth, with a lingering note of black pepper and watermelon. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 98 (WA) |
In Bond
€8,510.00 |
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Wine Advocate (98)A candidate for the -wine of the vintage,- the 2008 should have been purchased before it began to soar in value because of the significance of the number 8 in the Chinese culture (denoting good luck). Representing 40% of the production, this blend of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc offers aromas of high quality unsmoked cigar tobacco, lead pencil shavings, creme de cassis, earth, cedar and asphalt. Full, rich and stunningly concentrated, I doubt it is inferior to the 2010, just more classic as well as slightly more forward and a degree weaker in alcoholic potency (12.5% versus 13.5%). The 2008 should be relatively drinkable in 6-10 years as it is already showing remarkable complexity and breed, and will last for 30-35 years...at the minimum. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 96 (VN (NM)) |
In Bond
€969.00 |
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Vinous - Neal Martin (96)The 2008 Lafleur is a wine that I have tasted several times. It mirrored my previous encounters. There is still impressive fruit concentration on the nose, equally distributed between red and black, a hint of clove and just a touch of Italian delicatessen emanating from the Cabernet Franc. The palate has just melted a little since its obdurate infancy, although it is still quite linear and strict. You might argue that the 2008 Lafleur is a little charmless at the moment, but bottle age will sculpt and abrade this Pomerol into a very fine, if slightly aloof wine. (This was not shown at BI Wine & Spirit’s horizontal but a bottle was opened at a private dinner when I was in Bordeaux a few days earlier.) |
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