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
| Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Burgundy | 1 | 93 (DC) |
Inc. TAX
€403.73 |
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Decanter (93)Typically, there are five vats of village-level Chambolle; this year, there were only two. The colour is a lovely hue if a bit light. The light colour did nothing to impede the aromas, which are as pronounced and elegant as ever, with notes of ripe cherry and roses. The feel is light-bodied, yet the ripe fruit carries through; the supple structure supports it very well and draws it to a satisfying conclusion. The grapes are from four parcels spread around the village. They are given a cold maceration before fermenting with about 30% whole clusters. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 91+ (VN) |
Inc. TAX
€1,384.28 |
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Vinous (91+)Very ripe, lightly resiny aromas of apple, hay, nuts, ginger, minerals and exotic flowers. Youthfully disjointed on the palate, combining penetrating liquid minerality and strong, almost citrussy acidity; I wanted a bit more balancing fruit. Very chewy, salty, concentrated wine with a finishing suggestion of crab apple that suggests late harvesting. With its pronounced acid element, this is tough going today. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 90 (VN) |
Inc. TAX
€3,034.38 |
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Vinous (90)Moderately saturated medium red. Brown spices and oak on the nose. Then pure, dense and complex on the palate, with spicy red fruit flavors and a rather silky texture for the vintage and for this bottling. Comes across as more vivid than the Combottes. This dense, sweet wine has the stuffing to buffer its tannins. Classy, vivid Morey-easier to taste today than the 2007 version. Excellent for this cuvee |
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Burgundy | 1 | 93 (VN) |
Inc. TAX
€496.75 |
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Vinous (93)The 2008 Morey-Saint-Denis Clos de La Bussière is sweet, sensual and totally beguiling, Dark cherries, herbs, violets and white flowers are some of the nuances that emerge from this precise, striking wine. An underpinning of minerality accentuates the energy of the fruit and the wine's overall persistence. This is a gorgeous 2009. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 93 (VN) |
Inc. TAX
€600.53 |
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Vinous (93)As Burgundy lovers know, 2012 was a vintage with abnormally low yields that resulted in deep, concentrated wines. Today, the 2012 shows all of the richness of the year in spades. The natural intensity of the red stone fruit provides a striking foil for swaths of tannin that lurk beneath. Floral, spice and mineral notes develop in the glass hinting at the complexity that will develop over time. With a little air, the 2012 is drinking well today, although it has more than enough pedigree to age beautifully for many years to come. Readers lucky enough to own the 2012 should be thrilled. It is a superb bottle! |
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Burgundy | 2 | 17.5 (JR) |
Inc. TAX
€3,036.72 |
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Jancis Robinson (17.5)Dense and vibrant chock full of dark fruit with a fair amount of leathery tannins. Lots of sinew as well as flesh. Very satisfying. Lots of energy. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 92-94 (WA) |
Inc. TAX
€3,018.72 |
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Wine Advocate (92-94)The 2015 Morey-Saint-Denis 1er Cru Clos de la Bussière, which contains 50% whole bunch fruit, has a clean and precise, almost pixelated bouquet with blackberry, briary and cold limestone scents that gain intensity in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp acidity, quite structured in the mouth with filigree and tensile tannin. This is very focused, linear in style, which is surprising given the warmth during the growing season, with great clarity on the finish. This is just a fantastic Morey-Saint-Denis from Christophe Roumier. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 92 (VN) |
Inc. TAX
€326.93 |
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Vinous (92)The 2017 Morey-Saint-Denis Clos de la Bussière 1er Cru was broody when I first tasted it from barrel. In bottle it has certainly opened up nicely, quintessentially "Morey" in style with dark berry fruit, sous-bois and a very subtle herbal element that derives from a summer that was less warm than 2016 or 2018. The palate is beautifully balanced with a fine bead of acidity, gentle grip and fine-boned tannins. There is wonderful salinity towards the finish, open and dare I say, virtually ready for business. Does it have the substance to deliver long-term cellaring? Of that, I am not so sure, but I don't think this wine really cares to be quite honest. [Readers should note that this markedly improved the second evening after opening, evolving greater cohesion and a little more corpulence.] |
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Burgundy | 1 | 92 (VN) |
Inc. TAX
€2,652.72 |
|||||
Vinous (92)The 2017 Morey-Saint-Denis Clos de la Bussière 1er Cru was broody when I first tasted it from barrel. In bottle it has certainly opened up nicely, quintessentially "Morey" in style with dark berry fruit, sous-bois and a very subtle herbal element that derives from a summer that was less warm than 2016 or 2018. The palate is beautifully balanced with a fine bead of acidity, gentle grip and fine-boned tannins. There is wonderful salinity towards the finish, open and dare I say, virtually ready for business. Does it have the substance to deliver long-term cellaring? Of that, I am not so sure, but I don't think this wine really cares to be quite honest. [Readers should note that this markedly improved the second evening after opening, evolving greater cohesion and a little more corpulence.] |
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| Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Burgundy | 1 | 93 (DC) |
In Bond
€333.00 |
|||||
Decanter (93)Typically, there are five vats of village-level Chambolle; this year, there were only two. The colour is a lovely hue if a bit light. The light colour did nothing to impede the aromas, which are as pronounced and elegant as ever, with notes of ripe cherry and roses. The feel is light-bodied, yet the ripe fruit carries through; the supple structure supports it very well and draws it to a satisfying conclusion. The grapes are from four parcels spread around the village. They are given a cold maceration before fermenting with about 30% whole clusters. |
|||||||||
|
|
Burgundy | 1 | 91+ (VN) |
In Bond
€1,150.00 |
|||||
Vinous (91+)Very ripe, lightly resiny aromas of apple, hay, nuts, ginger, minerals and exotic flowers. Youthfully disjointed on the palate, combining penetrating liquid minerality and strong, almost citrussy acidity; I wanted a bit more balancing fruit. Very chewy, salty, concentrated wine with a finishing suggestion of crab apple that suggests late harvesting. With its pronounced acid element, this is tough going today. |
|||||||||
|
|
Burgundy | 1 | 90 (VN) |
In Bond
€2,510.00 |
|||||
Vinous (90)Moderately saturated medium red. Brown spices and oak on the nose. Then pure, dense and complex on the palate, with spicy red fruit flavors and a rather silky texture for the vintage and for this bottling. Comes across as more vivid than the Combottes. This dense, sweet wine has the stuffing to buffer its tannins. Classy, vivid Morey-easier to taste today than the 2007 version. Excellent for this cuvee |
|||||||||
|
|
Burgundy | 1 | 93 (VN) |
In Bond
€410.00 |
|||||
Vinous (93)The 2008 Morey-Saint-Denis Clos de La Bussière is sweet, sensual and totally beguiling, Dark cherries, herbs, violets and white flowers are some of the nuances that emerge from this precise, striking wine. An underpinning of minerality accentuates the energy of the fruit and the wine's overall persistence. This is a gorgeous 2009. |
|||||||||
|
|
Burgundy | 1 | 93 (VN) |
In Bond
€497.00 |
|||||
Vinous (93)As Burgundy lovers know, 2012 was a vintage with abnormally low yields that resulted in deep, concentrated wines. Today, the 2012 shows all of the richness of the year in spades. The natural intensity of the red stone fruit provides a striking foil for swaths of tannin that lurk beneath. Floral, spice and mineral notes develop in the glass hinting at the complexity that will develop over time. With a little air, the 2012 is drinking well today, although it has more than enough pedigree to age beautifully for many years to come. Readers lucky enough to own the 2012 should be thrilled. It is a superb bottle! |
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|
|
Burgundy | 2 | 17.5 (JR) |
In Bond
€2,510.00 |
|||||
Jancis Robinson (17.5)Dense and vibrant chock full of dark fruit with a fair amount of leathery tannins. Lots of sinew as well as flesh. Very satisfying. Lots of energy. |
|||||||||
|
|
Burgundy | 1 | 92-94 (WA) |
In Bond
€2,495.00 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (92-94)The 2015 Morey-Saint-Denis 1er Cru Clos de la Bussière, which contains 50% whole bunch fruit, has a clean and precise, almost pixelated bouquet with blackberry, briary and cold limestone scents that gain intensity in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp acidity, quite structured in the mouth with filigree and tensile tannin. This is very focused, linear in style, which is surprising given the warmth during the growing season, with great clarity on the finish. This is just a fantastic Morey-Saint-Denis from Christophe Roumier. |
|||||||||
|
|
Burgundy | 1 | 92 (VN) |
In Bond
€269.00 |
|||||
Vinous (92)The 2017 Morey-Saint-Denis Clos de la Bussière 1er Cru was broody when I first tasted it from barrel. In bottle it has certainly opened up nicely, quintessentially "Morey" in style with dark berry fruit, sous-bois and a very subtle herbal element that derives from a summer that was less warm than 2016 or 2018. The palate is beautifully balanced with a fine bead of acidity, gentle grip and fine-boned tannins. There is wonderful salinity towards the finish, open and dare I say, virtually ready for business. Does it have the substance to deliver long-term cellaring? Of that, I am not so sure, but I don't think this wine really cares to be quite honest. [Readers should note that this markedly improved the second evening after opening, evolving greater cohesion and a little more corpulence.] |
|||||||||
|
|
Burgundy | 1 | 92 (VN) |
In Bond
€2,190.00 |
|||||
Vinous (92)The 2017 Morey-Saint-Denis Clos de la Bussière 1er Cru was broody when I first tasted it from barrel. In bottle it has certainly opened up nicely, quintessentially "Morey" in style with dark berry fruit, sous-bois and a very subtle herbal element that derives from a summer that was less warm than 2016 or 2018. The palate is beautifully balanced with a fine bead of acidity, gentle grip and fine-boned tannins. There is wonderful salinity towards the finish, open and dare I say, virtually ready for business. Does it have the substance to deliver long-term cellaring? Of that, I am not so sure, but I don't think this wine really cares to be quite honest. [Readers should note that this markedly improved the second evening after opening, evolving greater cohesion and a little more corpulence.] |
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