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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Bordeaux | 3 | 95-96 (JS) |
Inc. TAX
€284.63 |
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James Suckling (95-96)Very finely textured with pure blue fruit and lavender and violet undertones. It’s full-bodied with pure, focused fruit. Extremely long and refined. Clearly better than the 2018. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 95 (VN (NM)) |
Inc. TAX
€340.08 |
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Vinous - Neal Martin (95)The 2020 Langoa Barton has a wonderful, precise, mineral-driven bouquet with subtle marine scents (oyster shell and Crustacea) that emerge with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with saturated tannins. Stylistically, it's not unlike the Léoville Barton, though this has more control and tension toward the persuasive finish. Glorious—one of the finest releases in recent years and better than the showing just after bottling. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 95 (VN (NM)) |
Inc. TAX
€717.36 |
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Vinous - Neal Martin (95)The 2020 Langoa Barton has a wonderful, precise, mineral-driven bouquet with subtle marine scents (oyster shell and Crustacea) that emerge with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with saturated tannins. Stylistically, it's not unlike the Léoville Barton, though this has more control and tension toward the persuasive finish. Glorious—one of the finest releases in recent years and better than the showing just after bottling. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting. |
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Bordeaux | 2 | 95 (VN (NM)) |
Inc. TAX
€268.08 |
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Vinous - Neal Martin (95)The 2020 Langoa Barton has a wonderful, precise, mineral-driven bouquet with subtle marine scents (oyster shell and Crustacea) that emerge with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with saturated tannins. Stylistically, it's not unlike the Léoville Barton, though this has more control and tension toward the persuasive finish. Glorious—one of the finest releases in recent years and better than the showing just after bottling. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 93-95 (TDB) |
Inc. TAX
€432.26 |
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The Drinks Business (93-95)Langoa-Barton (St Julien; 61% Cabernet Sauvignon; 36% Merlot; 3% Cabernet Franc; 13% alcohol; tasted at the UGCB press tasting and at Lagrange with very similar notes). Another wine that is very true to its own style here. Nutty, with a pleasing ripe natural sweetness to the fruit; a little hint of the oak and a trace (but only that) of vanilla and of grated dark chocolate, almonds and frangipane, alongside the dark plump black cherry and bramble fruit – mulberries too. There is good depth and density to the fruit, which is very pure, though I find the mid-palate a little less defined and precise than with the leading handful of wines of the appellation. My second tasting suggests that’s just a little harsh (and I revise my score up a notch). A great mouthful – with sapid gobbets of fresh fruit. Full and rich, bright and tense. Promising in the context of any vintage and very fine indeed in the context of this one. |
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Bordeaux | 100 | 93-95 (TDB) |
Inc. TAX
€261.12 |
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The Drinks Business (93-95)Langoa-Barton (St Julien; 61% Cabernet Sauvignon; 36% Merlot; 3% Cabernet Franc; 13% alcohol; tasted at the UGCB press tasting and at Lagrange with very similar notes). Another wine that is very true to its own style here. Nutty, with a pleasing ripe natural sweetness to the fruit; a little hint of the oak and a trace (but only that) of vanilla and of grated dark chocolate, almonds and frangipane, alongside the dark plump black cherry and bramble fruit – mulberries too. There is good depth and density to the fruit, which is very pure, though I find the mid-palate a little less defined and precise than with the leading handful of wines of the appellation. My second tasting suggests that’s just a little harsh (and I revise my score up a notch). A great mouthful – with sapid gobbets of fresh fruit. Full and rich, bright and tense. Promising in the context of any vintage and very fine indeed in the context of this one. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 96 (JS) |
Inc. TAX
€700.06 |
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James Suckling (96)Quite a classic wine for this hot and dry year. Excellent depth but also freshness, with convincing ripeness and a very long finish. Just medium to full body, with gritty tannins at the end. The fruit sweetness here is restrained. 60% new oak. Drink or hold. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 96 (JS) |
Inc. TAX
€244.55 |
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James Suckling (96)Quite a classic wine for this hot and dry year. Excellent depth but also freshness, with convincing ripeness and a very long finish. Just medium to full body, with gritty tannins at the end. The fruit sweetness here is restrained. 60% new oak. Drink or hold. |
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Bordeaux | 4 | 96 (JS) |
Inc. TAX
€641.26 |
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James Suckling (96)Quite a classic wine for this hot and dry year. Excellent depth but also freshness, with convincing ripeness and a very long finish. Just medium to full body, with gritty tannins at the end. The fruit sweetness here is restrained. 60% new oak. Drink or hold. |
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Bordeaux | 86 | 96 (JS) |
Inc. TAX
€299.03 |
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James Suckling (96)Quite a classic wine for this hot and dry year. Excellent depth but also freshness, with convincing ripeness and a very long finish. Just medium to full body, with gritty tannins at the end. The fruit sweetness here is restrained. 60% new oak. Drink or hold. |
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Bordeaux | 2 | 95 (JD) |
Inc. TAX
€269.74 |
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Jeb Dunnuck (95)A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, and 3% Cabernet Franc, the 2023 Château Langoa Barton spent 18 months in 60% new French oak before bottling. Cassis, graphite, spring flowers, and liquid minerality all shine here, and it's rich, medium to full-bodied, with a round, layered mouthfeel, just about flawless balance, and a gorgeous finish. It's the finest vintage of this I've tasted, so hats off to the estate’s team. It will evolve gracefully for 20-30 years. There are 8,333 cases produced. Drink 2026-2053. |
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Bordeaux | 85 | 95 (JD) |
Inc. TAX
€264.94 |
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Jeb Dunnuck (95)A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, and 3% Cabernet Franc, the 2023 Château Langoa Barton spent 18 months in 60% new French oak before bottling. Cassis, graphite, spring flowers, and liquid minerality all shine here, and it's rich, medium to full-bodied, with a round, layered mouthfeel, just about flawless balance, and a gorgeous finish. It's the finest vintage of this I've tasted, so hats off to the estate’s team. It will evolve gracefully for 20-30 years. There are 8,333 cases produced. Drink 2026-2053. |
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Bordeaux | 29 | 90 (VN (AG)) |
Inc. TAX
€250.79 |
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Vinous - Antonio Galloni (90)The 2019 Laniote Saint-Émilion has come together nicely in élevage. Crème de cassis, lavender, sweet spice, mocha and espresso give this mid-weight Saint-Émilion lovely flavor complexity and plenty of nuance. Laniote is not terribly complex nor structured, but it is quite attractive, especially for medium-term drinking. |
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Champagne | 1 | 98 (JA) |
Inc. TAX
€595.09 |
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Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (98)Clos Lanson is unusual for making a vintage every year because this 1ha pure Chardonnay plot is in a warm, early-ripening location. Even visually it looks wonderfully bright, greengage/pale silver in colour, with a silky texture and fresh aromatics of apricot blossom and citrus zest. On the palate, you get quince, apricot pit, stone fruits, citrus, white truffle and honeysuckle, just gorgeous layers with grip, tension, and a natural richness that allows them to keep dosage on the low side. Full of generosity and finesse, this will easily last at least another decade. As it opens, walnut, frangipane and flaky pastry notes appear, and it grips on. First time on the Place for this wine. Tasted twice. Winemaker Hervé Dantan. 3g/l dosage, disgorged May 2022, so this will benefit from another year in bottle. They are releasing the 2009 before the cooler 2008 vintage. Vinified in Agonne-forest barrels (the only Lanson cuvée to do so), no new oak, 12 years ageing in cellars. |
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Bordeaux | 12 | 96 (VN (AG)) |
Inc. TAX
€208.60 |
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Vinous - Antonio Galloni (96)The 2009 Larcis Ducasse is an exotic, flamboyant wine endowed with remarkable depth and pure pedigree. Sweet tobacco, mint, pine and red-fleshed fruits are front and center. Even with all of its voluptuousness and richness, the 2009 is firm and quite tannic. Readers should be prepared to cellar it for at least a handful of years. |
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| Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Bordeaux | 3 | 95-96 (JS) |
In Bond
€215.00 |
|||||
James Suckling (95-96)Very finely textured with pure blue fruit and lavender and violet undertones. It’s full-bodied with pure, focused fruit. Extremely long and refined. Clearly better than the 2018. |
|||||||||
|
|
Bordeaux | 1 | 95 (VN (NM)) |
In Bond
€262.00 |
|||||
Vinous - Neal Martin (95)The 2020 Langoa Barton has a wonderful, precise, mineral-driven bouquet with subtle marine scents (oyster shell and Crustacea) that emerge with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with saturated tannins. Stylistically, it's not unlike the Léoville Barton, though this has more control and tension toward the persuasive finish. Glorious—one of the finest releases in recent years and better than the showing just after bottling. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting. |
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|
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Bordeaux | 1 | 95 (VN (NM)) |
In Bond
€555.00 |
|||||
Vinous - Neal Martin (95)The 2020 Langoa Barton has a wonderful, precise, mineral-driven bouquet with subtle marine scents (oyster shell and Crustacea) that emerge with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with saturated tannins. Stylistically, it's not unlike the Léoville Barton, though this has more control and tension toward the persuasive finish. Glorious—one of the finest releases in recent years and better than the showing just after bottling. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting. |
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Bordeaux | 2 | 95 (VN (NM)) |
In Bond
€202.00 |
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Vinous - Neal Martin (95)The 2020 Langoa Barton has a wonderful, precise, mineral-driven bouquet with subtle marine scents (oyster shell and Crustacea) that emerge with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with saturated tannins. Stylistically, it's not unlike the Léoville Barton, though this has more control and tension toward the persuasive finish. Glorious—one of the finest releases in recent years and better than the showing just after bottling. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting. |
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|
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Bordeaux | 1 | 93-95 (TDB) |
In Bond
€319.00 |
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The Drinks Business (93-95)Langoa-Barton (St Julien; 61% Cabernet Sauvignon; 36% Merlot; 3% Cabernet Franc; 13% alcohol; tasted at the UGCB press tasting and at Lagrange with very similar notes). Another wine that is very true to its own style here. Nutty, with a pleasing ripe natural sweetness to the fruit; a little hint of the oak and a trace (but only that) of vanilla and of grated dark chocolate, almonds and frangipane, alongside the dark plump black cherry and bramble fruit – mulberries too. There is good depth and density to the fruit, which is very pure, though I find the mid-palate a little less defined and precise than with the leading handful of wines of the appellation. My second tasting suggests that’s just a little harsh (and I revise my score up a notch). A great mouthful – with sapid gobbets of fresh fruit. Full and rich, bright and tense. Promising in the context of any vintage and very fine indeed in the context of this one. |
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|
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Bordeaux | 100 | 93-95 (TDB) |
In Bond
€197.00 |
|||||
The Drinks Business (93-95)Langoa-Barton (St Julien; 61% Cabernet Sauvignon; 36% Merlot; 3% Cabernet Franc; 13% alcohol; tasted at the UGCB press tasting and at Lagrange with very similar notes). Another wine that is very true to its own style here. Nutty, with a pleasing ripe natural sweetness to the fruit; a little hint of the oak and a trace (but only that) of vanilla and of grated dark chocolate, almonds and frangipane, alongside the dark plump black cherry and bramble fruit – mulberries too. There is good depth and density to the fruit, which is very pure, though I find the mid-palate a little less defined and precise than with the leading handful of wines of the appellation. My second tasting suggests that’s just a little harsh (and I revise my score up a notch). A great mouthful – with sapid gobbets of fresh fruit. Full and rich, bright and tense. Promising in the context of any vintage and very fine indeed in the context of this one. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 96 (JS) |
In Bond
€539.00 |
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James Suckling (96)Quite a classic wine for this hot and dry year. Excellent depth but also freshness, with convincing ripeness and a very long finish. Just medium to full body, with gritty tannins at the end. The fruit sweetness here is restrained. 60% new oak. Drink or hold. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 96 (JS) |
In Bond
€189.00 |
|||||
James Suckling (96)Quite a classic wine for this hot and dry year. Excellent depth but also freshness, with convincing ripeness and a very long finish. Just medium to full body, with gritty tannins at the end. The fruit sweetness here is restrained. 60% new oak. Drink or hold. |
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Bordeaux | 4 | 96 (JS) |
In Bond
€490.00 |
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James Suckling (96)Quite a classic wine for this hot and dry year. Excellent depth but also freshness, with convincing ripeness and a very long finish. Just medium to full body, with gritty tannins at the end. The fruit sweetness here is restrained. 60% new oak. Drink or hold. |
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Bordeaux | 86 | 96 (JS) |
In Bond
€227.00 |
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James Suckling (96)Quite a classic wine for this hot and dry year. Excellent depth but also freshness, with convincing ripeness and a very long finish. Just medium to full body, with gritty tannins at the end. The fruit sweetness here is restrained. 60% new oak. Drink or hold. |
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|
|
Bordeaux | 2 | 95 (JD) |
In Bond
€201.00 |
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Jeb Dunnuck (95)A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, and 3% Cabernet Franc, the 2023 Château Langoa Barton spent 18 months in 60% new French oak before bottling. Cassis, graphite, spring flowers, and liquid minerality all shine here, and it's rich, medium to full-bodied, with a round, layered mouthfeel, just about flawless balance, and a gorgeous finish. It's the finest vintage of this I've tasted, so hats off to the estate’s team. It will evolve gracefully for 20-30 years. There are 8,333 cases produced. Drink 2026-2053. |
|||||||||
|
|
Bordeaux | 85 | 95 (JD) |
In Bond
€197.00 |
|||||
Jeb Dunnuck (95)A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, and 3% Cabernet Franc, the 2023 Château Langoa Barton spent 18 months in 60% new French oak before bottling. Cassis, graphite, spring flowers, and liquid minerality all shine here, and it's rich, medium to full-bodied, with a round, layered mouthfeel, just about flawless balance, and a gorgeous finish. It's the finest vintage of this I've tasted, so hats off to the estate’s team. It will evolve gracefully for 20-30 years. There are 8,333 cases produced. Drink 2026-2053. |
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Bordeaux | 29 | 90 (VN (AG)) |
In Bond
€186.00 |
|||||
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (90)The 2019 Laniote Saint-Émilion has come together nicely in élevage. Crème de cassis, lavender, sweet spice, mocha and espresso give this mid-weight Saint-Émilion lovely flavor complexity and plenty of nuance. Laniote is not terribly complex nor structured, but it is quite attractive, especially for medium-term drinking. |
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|
|
Champagne | 1 | 98 (JA) |
In Bond
€486.00 |
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Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (98)Clos Lanson is unusual for making a vintage every year because this 1ha pure Chardonnay plot is in a warm, early-ripening location. Even visually it looks wonderfully bright, greengage/pale silver in colour, with a silky texture and fresh aromatics of apricot blossom and citrus zest. On the palate, you get quince, apricot pit, stone fruits, citrus, white truffle and honeysuckle, just gorgeous layers with grip, tension, and a natural richness that allows them to keep dosage on the low side. Full of generosity and finesse, this will easily last at least another decade. As it opens, walnut, frangipane and flaky pastry notes appear, and it grips on. First time on the Place for this wine. Tasted twice. Winemaker Hervé Dantan. 3g/l dosage, disgorged May 2022, so this will benefit from another year in bottle. They are releasing the 2009 before the cooler 2008 vintage. Vinified in Agonne-forest barrels (the only Lanson cuvée to do so), no new oak, 12 years ageing in cellars. |
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|
|
Bordeaux | 12 | 96 (VN (AG)) |
In Bond
€170.00 |
|||||
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (96)The 2009 Larcis Ducasse is an exotic, flamboyant wine endowed with remarkable depth and pure pedigree. Sweet tobacco, mint, pine and red-fleshed fruits are front and center. Even with all of its voluptuousness and richness, the 2009 is firm and quite tannic. Readers should be prepared to cellar it for at least a handful of years. |
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