France - All White Wines
France is revered for its exceptional white wines, which showcase the country's rich winemaking heritage, diverse terroirs, and unwavering commitment to quality. Today, let us embark on a journey through the best white wines that France has to offer, exploring renowned vineyards and the regions that give birth to these extraordinary expressions.
In Burgundy, the appellations of Chablis, Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet and Chassagne-Montrachet stand tall as the epitome of excellence in white wine production. Wineries such as Domaine Raveneau, Domaine Dauvissat, and Domaine Leflaive craft mesmerizing Chardonnays that capture the essence of the region's unique Kimmeridgian limestone soils. These wines exhibit precision, purity, and a remarkable balance of mineral notes, citrus flavors, and vibrant acidity.
Moving to the Loire Valley, the vineyards of Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé are celebrated for their exceptional Sauvignon Blancs. Domaine Vacheron, Domaine Didier Dagueneau, and Domaine Pascal Jolivet create expressive and terroir-driven wines that showcase the region's distinct flinty minerality, zesty citrus, and herbaceous undertones.
Further northeast in France, in the region of Alsace, vineyards such as Domaine Zind-Humbrecht, Domaine Trimbach, and Domaine Weinbach produce stunning white wines from varietals like Riesling, Gewürztraminer, and Pinot Gris. These wines display remarkable depth, aromatic complexity, and a balance between sweetness and acidity, reflecting the region's unique microclimates and granite-rich soils.
In Bordeaux, the region of Graves is renowned for its white wines, particularly those crafted from the classic grape varieties of Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon. Château Haut-Brion, Château Pape Clément, and Domaine de Chevalier are esteemed vineyards that produce rich and age-worthy white Bordeaux wines. These wines exhibit a beautiful interplay of tropical fruit flavors, vibrant acidity, and a touch of toasty oak.
Finally, in the Rhône Valley, the appellation of Condrieu shines as a beacon of excellence in Viognier production. Renowned vineyards such as Domaine Georges Vernay and Domaine Yves Cuilleron create remarkable Viognier wines that seduce the senses with their exotic aromas of apricot, peach, and delicate floral notes. These wines showcase richness, elegance, and a silky texture that lingers on the palate.
France - All White Wines
| Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
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Bordeaux | 1 | 100 (VN (NM)) |
Inc. VAT
£4,957.24 |
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Vinous - Neal Martin (100)Just weeks after tasting the 2001 Château d’Yquem at the estate, another bottle was served at a lunch in London and it was perfection. The aromatics are practically identical and likewise the palate, but this bottle, which had been decanted, displays a scintilla more tension, perhaps more "vibrancy" that so effortlessly counterbalances the richness. Irrespective of points, it is simply one of the most magnificent wines of any kind that can pass your lips. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 100 (WS) |
Inc. VAT
£2,131.24 |
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Wine Spectator (100)This is very long and intense. Really impressive. Full and very sweet, yet racy and fresh, with spicy botrytis character. Fantastic. Score range: 95-100 -JS |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 99 (WS) |
Inc. VAT
£2,119.24 |
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Wine Spectator (99)A lovely, creamy, tropical style, with mango, papaya and guava notes lending a caressing feel, while singed almond and warm piecrust accents blossom through the lush finish. Just when you think that's all there is, toasted coconut, fig, orange blossom and persimmon details kick in, lending length and dimension. The finish is ridiculously long. Best from 2020 through 2060. -JM |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 97 (VN (NM)) |
Inc. VAT
£710.41 |
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Vinous - Neal Martin (97)The 2014 d'Yquem has a complex bouquet with buttered toast, almond, honey and peach skin aromas. It opens with greater zeal than its peers, there is more immediacy here. The palate is very well balanced with crisp acidity, a finely tuned and satisfying Sauternes with style and grace, evincing great tension and mineral drive towards the finish. Superb. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 100 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£2,109.62 |
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Wine Advocate (100)Following a very long harvest stretching nearly two months, the 2015 Château d'Yquem came in at 13.9% alcohol and 144 grams per liter of residual sugar, sporting a pH of 3.65 and six grams per liter of tartaric acid. None of these numbers, however, even remotely begin to tell you how profound this wine is. The nose opens with electric notes of ripe pineapples, green mango, orange blossoms and lemon tart with hints of fungi, lime zest, crushed rocks and jasmine. The freshness on the palate is just astonishing, permeating and lifting layer upon layer of tropical fruits and earthy notions, all encased in a sumptuous texture and culminating in a very, very long, mineral-tinged finish. Truly, this is a legendary vintage for d'Yquem. I've been conservative with my drinking window here, and I would not be at all surprised if our descendants are drinking this vintage well into the next century. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 100 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£2,311.24 |
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Wine Advocate (100)Following a very long harvest stretching nearly two months, the 2015 Château d'Yquem came in at 13.9% alcohol and 144 grams per liter of residual sugar, sporting a pH of 3.65 and six grams per liter of tartaric acid. None of these numbers, however, even remotely begin to tell you how profound this wine is. The nose opens with electric notes of ripe pineapples, green mango, orange blossoms and lemon tart with hints of fungi, lime zest, crushed rocks and jasmine. The freshness on the palate is just astonishing, permeating and lifting layer upon layer of tropical fruits and earthy notions, all encased in a sumptuous texture and culminating in a very, very long, mineral-tinged finish. Truly, this is a legendary vintage for d'Yquem. I've been conservative with my drinking window here, and I would not be at all surprised if our descendants are drinking this vintage well into the next century. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 98 (VN (NM)) |
Inc. VAT
£1,803.62 |
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Vinous - Neal Martin (98)Owners LVMH took the decision to delay the release of the 2019 Yquem until spring 2022. It was tasted with winemaker Sandrine Garbay in London. After the summer drought when Sauternes received just 2.5mm of rain until 26 July, that day saw a 112mm deluge that replenished underground reserves and gave ripening the push it needed. Dry and warm conditions prevailed throughout September when there was no sign of botrytis infection. That was finally provoked by 38mm of rain between 21 and 25 of September, followed by warm clement weather. After minor picking of Sauvignon Blanc on 7 of October, the main harvest began in earnest on 10 October. Pickers worked over the following five days, including Sunday. Time was of the essence because, as forecasts predicted, the weather suddenly changed on 14 of October with 40mm or rain. After that, the picking teams skirted between showers between 17 and 22 of October, though by now the fruit had begun to deteriorate. Therefore, the key aspect of this Yquem is the extremely tight picking window. The final blend contains 138g/L residual sugar, which is slightly less than the previous vintage, with 5.5g/L total acidity and 14.4% alcohol. Tasting the 2019, I noticed that it has a slightly paler hue compared to recent vintages (though I never read too much into the colour of young Sauternes.) For certain, it has a highly-aromatic bouquet that is beguiling in purity, enticing aromas of honeysuckle and saffron, soon joined by camomile, white flowers and orange blossom. It has wonderful delineation and gains intensity with aeration. The palate is supremely well-balanced with fine bead of acidity. Very harmonious and armed with just the right amount of viscosity, this Yquem is surprisingly understated at first but gains presence, offering irresistible flavours of layers of honey, lemongrass, lemon thyme and orange pith. Yquem is so tempting in its youth, but I feel that this vintage will repay those with the nous to cellar for at least a decade. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | - |
Inc. VAT
£2,243.09 |
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Burgundy | 1 | - |
Inc. VAT
£352.18 |
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Discerning palates will savour the complex layers of the Daniel Etienne Defaix Chablis 1er Cru Cote Lechet 2007, a masterful creation hailing from a renowned 400-year-old family vineyard in Chablis, France. Crafted meticulously from vines aged between 35 and 80 years, this esteemed Premier Cru marries palate-intensive precision with majestic minerality intrinsic to the Limestone-rich soils of the Cote Lechet slopes. A testament to the distinguished winemaking methods of Daniel Etienne Defaix, this vintage enjoys an extended maturation process in stainless steel vats, yielding an exquisite balance of brightness, vivacity, and opulence that lingers on the palate. Expect divine expressions of ripe fruits harmonising sublimely with mature, savoury notes, echoing the wisdom of the venerable vine stocks it originates from. Ideal for collectors and connoisseurs alike, the Daniel Etienne Defaix Chablis 1er Cru Cote Lechet 2007 is both the essence of Chablis tradition and an invigorating exploration of terroir individuality. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 92 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£764.47 |
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Wine Advocate (92)Bottled in February 2021 (no, that isn't a typo), Defaix's 2009 Chablis 1er Cru Côte de Léchet wafts from the glass with aromas of honeycomb, golden orchard fruit, apricot, spices and dried white flowers. Medium to full-bodied, broad and satiny, it's a lively, saline wine that concludes with a delicately nutty finish. |
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Burgundy | 1 | - |
Inc. VAT
£2,282.47 |
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Burgundy | 1 | 91-93 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£1,460.47 |
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Vinous (91-93)(25% new oak): Bright yellow. A touch of reduction but still a captivating fruitiness to the aromas and flavors of lemon, lime and crushed stone. Rich, savory, concentrated wine with a restrained sweetness and enlivening underlying minerality. More tactile, pliant and deep than the Poruzots. This silky, edge-free wine finishes classically dry and long, with lovely lemony lift and grip. |
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Loire | 1 | 93 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£1,113.64 |
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Vinous (93)The 2019 Pouilly Fumé Silex shows an initial tenderness, sitting quietly and not shouting that it's made it into your glass. This is a wine that has its act together, feeling integrated and balanced with plentiful concentration and a savory long finish. A delicate dill note, which is a characteristic of oaked Sauvignon peeks out amid the hush. |
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Loire | 1 | 93-94 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£1,006.84 |
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Vinous (93-94)While this was a warm season leading to richness in many wines from the region, the Silex 2020 shows ripe fruit, but there's no sense of being overblown. The fine line that races through many wines relying on flint-based parcels is there, carrying the nectarine and oak-derived vanilla flavors, but its influence never tips into austerity nor firmness. There's a sense of tenderness that runs through its core while remaining light in body. |
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Burgundy | 1 | - |
Inc. VAT
£220.18 |
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The Domaine de Bellene Coteaux Bourguignons L'Eclos des Abeilles 2020 is produced in the heart of Burgundy, France. A delight to fine wine enthusiasts, this wine is an expression of the bespoke dedication and artistry of winemaker Nicolas Potel. Domaine de Bellene, founded in 2005, exemplifies Potel's commitment towards environmental sustainability and valorising terroir. This wine hails from vineyards cultivated using biodynamic principles, yielding an organic blend of Gamay and Pinot Noir grapes. The 2020 vintage is distinct, promising a bold yet nuanced profile. A nose of ripe cherries, spices and undergrowth, precedes a palate that boasts of juicy ripe tannins and crisp acidity. Seductive red fruit and earthy tones harmonise, culminating in a balanced, savoury finish - a testament to the high quality of Bellene's traditional winemaking techniques. The Domaine de Bellene Coteaux Bourguignons L'Eclos des Abeilles 2020 is a remarkable and essential addition to any discerning wine collection. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 98 (JS) |
Inc. VAT
£612.04 |
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James Suckling (98)This is really powerful and structured with superb muscle and phenolic tension. Yet, it’s formed and polished, layered and dense. Full-bodied, but energetic and focused. Vibrant acidity. Goes on for minutes. Citrus, stone, straw, salt and chalk. Incredible. Try after 2023. |
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Bordeaux | 2 | 97-98 (JS) |
Inc. VAT
£1,065.67 |
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James Suckling (97-98)This is dense and very structured with phenolic tension and depth. Full-bodied, lightly phenolic with sliced apples, cooked pears and lemons. Lively and intense. Solid as a rock. This is one to watch. |
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Burgundy | 1 | - |
Inc. VAT
£265.24 |
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Burgundy | 1 | 95 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£2,719.24 |
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Vinous (95)(two barrels produced, vs. a normal eight): Bright, pale yellow. Vibrant aromas of lemon gelato and wild herbs. Very complex, pure and refined, boasting an utterly silky, seamless texture to its intense citrus peel, fresh herb and mineral flavors. Really outstanding inner-mouth energy here, followed by a slowly mounting finish that saturates the taste buds. A great wine in the making, but not for drinking anytime soon. (I found the 2017 version a bit juicier and fruitier, and there will be ten barrels of the younger vintage as the crop level was generous.) According to winemaker Frédéric Barnier, 2017 has more sweetness as a vintage, but while the '17 Chevalier-Montrachet is round, opulent and tasty, the '16 is extremely pure, fresh and linear, and will expand with time in the cellar. But even today it's silky, tactile, edge-free and extremely long. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 96 (JS) |
Inc. VAT
£2,983.24 |
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James Suckling (96)Very attractive and fresh aromas of wet stones and fine limes with youthful peaches and green mango. The scintillatingly long and powerful palate is pinned in place with bracing acidity and has unwavering length of peaches and citrus fruit. Breathtaking finish. Drink or hold. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 96-98 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£2,127.62 |
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Vinous (96-98)The 2019 Chevalier-Montrachet Demoiselles Grand Cru is beautifully defined on the nose, featuring wonderful crushed limestone and gunflint scents that permeate the green apple aromas. Very focused and intense. The palate is extremely well balanced with a powerful opening, very saline and so full of energy. Enormous weight and presence toward the finish. This is an outstanding Chevalier-Montrachet from Jadot. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 95-97 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£2,397.62 |
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Wine Advocate (95-97)The king of the cellar on the white side of the ledger is the 2020 Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru Les Demoiselles (Domaine des Héritiers Jadot), a striking wine that unfurls in the glass with notes of citrus oil, white flowers, buttered popcorn, chalky soil tones, beeswax and spices. Full-bodied, multidimensional and layered, it's muscular and concentrated, with racy acids, an abundance of structuring dry extract and a long, resonant finish. It is worth a special effort to seek out. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 95-97 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£2,865.14 |
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Vinous (95-97)The 2021 Chevalier-Montrachet Demoiselles Grand Cru is a step up from the Bâtard-Montrachet in terms of complexity and mineralité. Yellow plum and pressed flower hints emerge and lend more complexity with time. The palate is well balanced with a crisp line of acidity. This Chevalier gathers momentum towards a detailed, lightly spiced finish with just the right amount of extract. The 2021 has real pedigree. |
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Savoie | 1 | - |
Inc. VAT
£321.64 |
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Explore a genuine revelation created in the Alpine expanse of Savoie. A part of the innovative Belluard family legacy since 1947, Domaine Dominique Belluard Monsieur Gringet 2020 is a rare find, sculpted from organic Gringet grapes, an ancient Savoie variety, that flourish within the clayey chalk soils of Ayse. The meticulous nurturing of Domaine Dominique Belluard, both in biodynamic viticulture and manual grape harvesting, imparts it the distinct effervescence and character. Matured in Burgundian casks, lees ageing elevates Monsieur Gringet 2020 depth and complexity. On the nose, chromatic spectrum of floral, mineral and spice accents unfurl. On the palate, the vintage thrills with vibrant notes of citrus, pear and honeysuckle. Structure, elegance, and high acidity make it ageworthy too. Domaine Dominique Belluard Monsieur Gringet 2020 most befits seafood, particularly shellfish, stimulating refined culinary moments. A quintessential representation of the Ayse terroir, this wine exhibits the Belluard's commitment to preserving the region's viticulture. |
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Rhone | 1 | 97 (JD) |
Inc. VAT
£340.84 |
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Jeb Dunnuck (97)I was able to taste two 2019s. Looking first at the 2019 Saint-Péray Roussanne, it has a tight, reductive, mineral-laced bouquet of quince, grilled peach, white flowers, and crushed stone. Gorgeous on the palate as well, it's full-bodied, has a round, layered textured, perfect balance, and one heck of a great finish. It reminds me of a great vintage of Château Beaucastel's Vieille Vignes Blanc. |
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Rhone | 1 | 94 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£537.89 |
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Vinous (94)Translucent, green-hued yellow. Assertive orchard and pit fruit and orange peel scents are complemented by building honey and fennel flourishes. Concentrated and energetic on the palate, offering intense white peach, pear and tangerine flavors that become spicier as the wine opens up. A floral quality appears on the seamless finish, which shows a hint of smokiness and excellent persistence. This wine was raised in a 75/25 combination of unlined 500-liter amphoras and neutral demi-muids. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 92 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£743.09 |
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Wine Advocate (92)The 2015 Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru has a lovely bouquet: hints of grilled almond and pine nuts fusing with the citrus fruit, tight at first but opening nicely with aeration. The palate is very well balanced, tightly-bound at the moment, not a heavy or powerful Corton-Charlemagne, but sporting a very attractive, fresh and stony, slightly reserved finish. Nothing extraordinary or overly-ambitious, nevertheless, this is a well-made Corton-Charlemagne from the domaine. |
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Loire | 1 | 98 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£441.20 |
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Vinous (98)The 2016 Sancerre Clos La Néore is almost Riesling-like in its firm yet fine personality, its unswerving purity and its clear translation of place. Don't expect a seductive Sancerre, this is dry and steely with an appealing bitterness making for a very grown up white wine. It's starting to show early signs of development in its light almond/lanolin character alongside lemon tea. It offers exceptional concentration while being light bodied and provides a steely core of acidity, keeping the wine together and powering on. If you have any in your cellar, I can make myself available for dinner. |
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Loire | 1 | - |
Inc. VAT
£441.20 |
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Crafted by esteemed winemaker Edmond Vatan, the Sancerre Clos La Neore 2017 is a fine example of terroir-driven vinification. Produced in the heart of France's Loire valley, it's one of the last remaining single plots of Sancerre, offering unrivalled purity and typicity of the region. The Edmond Vatan Sancerre Clos La Neore 2017 demonstrates an exquisite balance of ripe fruit, minerality, and palate-gripping acidity. Hand-harvested from vines averaging 50-years-old on Kimmeridgian marl soils, this prestigious Sauvignon Blanc ferments naturally in old wooden foudres to enhance its inherent complexity. With a limited production, the wine reveals a striking, crystal-clear golden hue alongside an aromatic profile of citrus zest, ripe apple, and flinty undertones. It's exceptionally layered, showing vibrant fruit, precise acid, and a lingering finish. Best consumed after carefully decanting, Edmond Vatan Sancerre Clos La Neore 2017 is a sought-after vintage deserving of a place in the cellars of discerning neophytes and seasoned collectors alike. |
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Burgundy | 2 | - |
Inc. VAT
£609.67 |
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| Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
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Bordeaux | 1 | 100 (VN (NM)) |
In Bond
£4,115.00 |
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Vinous - Neal Martin (100)Just weeks after tasting the 2001 Château d’Yquem at the estate, another bottle was served at a lunch in London and it was perfection. The aromatics are practically identical and likewise the palate, but this bottle, which had been decanted, displays a scintilla more tension, perhaps more "vibrancy" that so effortlessly counterbalances the richness. Irrespective of points, it is simply one of the most magnificent wines of any kind that can pass your lips. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 100 (WS) |
In Bond
£1,760.00 |
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Wine Spectator (100)This is very long and intense. Really impressive. Full and very sweet, yet racy and fresh, with spicy botrytis character. Fantastic. Score range: 95-100 -JS |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 99 (WS) |
In Bond
£1,750.00 |
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Wine Spectator (99)A lovely, creamy, tropical style, with mango, papaya and guava notes lending a caressing feel, while singed almond and warm piecrust accents blossom through the lush finish. Just when you think that's all there is, toasted coconut, fig, orange blossom and persimmon details kick in, lending length and dimension. The finish is ridiculously long. Best from 2020 through 2060. -JM |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 97 (VN (NM)) |
In Bond
£588.00 |
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Vinous - Neal Martin (97)The 2014 d'Yquem has a complex bouquet with buttered toast, almond, honey and peach skin aromas. It opens with greater zeal than its peers, there is more immediacy here. The palate is very well balanced with crisp acidity, a finely tuned and satisfying Sauternes with style and grace, evincing great tension and mineral drive towards the finish. Superb. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 100 (WA) |
In Bond
£1,750.00 |
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Wine Advocate (100)Following a very long harvest stretching nearly two months, the 2015 Château d'Yquem came in at 13.9% alcohol and 144 grams per liter of residual sugar, sporting a pH of 3.65 and six grams per liter of tartaric acid. None of these numbers, however, even remotely begin to tell you how profound this wine is. The nose opens with electric notes of ripe pineapples, green mango, orange blossoms and lemon tart with hints of fungi, lime zest, crushed rocks and jasmine. The freshness on the palate is just astonishing, permeating and lifting layer upon layer of tropical fruits and earthy notions, all encased in a sumptuous texture and culminating in a very, very long, mineral-tinged finish. Truly, this is a legendary vintage for d'Yquem. I've been conservative with my drinking window here, and I would not be at all surprised if our descendants are drinking this vintage well into the next century. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 100 (WA) |
In Bond
£1,910.00 |
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Wine Advocate (100)Following a very long harvest stretching nearly two months, the 2015 Château d'Yquem came in at 13.9% alcohol and 144 grams per liter of residual sugar, sporting a pH of 3.65 and six grams per liter of tartaric acid. None of these numbers, however, even remotely begin to tell you how profound this wine is. The nose opens with electric notes of ripe pineapples, green mango, orange blossoms and lemon tart with hints of fungi, lime zest, crushed rocks and jasmine. The freshness on the palate is just astonishing, permeating and lifting layer upon layer of tropical fruits and earthy notions, all encased in a sumptuous texture and culminating in a very, very long, mineral-tinged finish. Truly, this is a legendary vintage for d'Yquem. I've been conservative with my drinking window here, and I would not be at all surprised if our descendants are drinking this vintage well into the next century. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 98 (VN (NM)) |
In Bond
£1,495.00 |
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Vinous - Neal Martin (98)Owners LVMH took the decision to delay the release of the 2019 Yquem until spring 2022. It was tasted with winemaker Sandrine Garbay in London. After the summer drought when Sauternes received just 2.5mm of rain until 26 July, that day saw a 112mm deluge that replenished underground reserves and gave ripening the push it needed. Dry and warm conditions prevailed throughout September when there was no sign of botrytis infection. That was finally provoked by 38mm of rain between 21 and 25 of September, followed by warm clement weather. After minor picking of Sauvignon Blanc on 7 of October, the main harvest began in earnest on 10 October. Pickers worked over the following five days, including Sunday. Time was of the essence because, as forecasts predicted, the weather suddenly changed on 14 of October with 40mm or rain. After that, the picking teams skirted between showers between 17 and 22 of October, though by now the fruit had begun to deteriorate. Therefore, the key aspect of this Yquem is the extremely tight picking window. The final blend contains 138g/L residual sugar, which is slightly less than the previous vintage, with 5.5g/L total acidity and 14.4% alcohol. Tasting the 2019, I noticed that it has a slightly paler hue compared to recent vintages (though I never read too much into the colour of young Sauternes.) For certain, it has a highly-aromatic bouquet that is beguiling in purity, enticing aromas of honeysuckle and saffron, soon joined by camomile, white flowers and orange blossom. It has wonderful delineation and gains intensity with aeration. The palate is supremely well-balanced with fine bead of acidity. Very harmonious and armed with just the right amount of viscosity, this Yquem is surprisingly understated at first but gains presence, offering irresistible flavours of layers of honey, lemongrass, lemon thyme and orange pith. Yquem is so tempting in its youth, but I feel that this vintage will repay those with the nous to cellar for at least a decade. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | - |
In Bond
£1,850.00 |
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Burgundy | 1 | - |
In Bond
£255.00 |
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Discerning palates will savour the complex layers of the Daniel Etienne Defaix Chablis 1er Cru Cote Lechet 2007, a masterful creation hailing from a renowned 400-year-old family vineyard in Chablis, France. Crafted meticulously from vines aged between 35 and 80 years, this esteemed Premier Cru marries palate-intensive precision with majestic minerality intrinsic to the Limestone-rich soils of the Cote Lechet slopes. A testament to the distinguished winemaking methods of Daniel Etienne Defaix, this vintage enjoys an extended maturation process in stainless steel vats, yielding an exquisite balance of brightness, vivacity, and opulence that lingers on the palate. Expect divine expressions of ripe fruits harmonising sublimely with mature, savoury notes, echoing the wisdom of the venerable vine stocks it originates from. Ideal for collectors and connoisseurs alike, the Daniel Etienne Defaix Chablis 1er Cru Cote Lechet 2007 is both the essence of Chablis tradition and an invigorating exploration of terroir individuality. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 92 (WA) |
In Bond
£605.00 |
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Wine Advocate (92)Bottled in February 2021 (no, that isn't a typo), Defaix's 2009 Chablis 1er Cru Côte de Léchet wafts from the glass with aromas of honeycomb, golden orchard fruit, apricot, spices and dried white flowers. Medium to full-bodied, broad and satiny, it's a lively, saline wine that concludes with a delicately nutty finish. |
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Burgundy | 1 | - |
In Bond
£1,870.00 |
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Burgundy | 1 | 91-93 (VN) |
In Bond
£1,185.00 |
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Vinous (91-93)(25% new oak): Bright yellow. A touch of reduction but still a captivating fruitiness to the aromas and flavors of lemon, lime and crushed stone. Rich, savory, concentrated wine with a restrained sweetness and enlivening underlying minerality. More tactile, pliant and deep than the Poruzots. This silky, edge-free wine finishes classically dry and long, with lovely lemony lift and grip. |
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Loire | 1 | 93 (VN) |
In Bond
£912.00 |
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Vinous (93)The 2019 Pouilly Fumé Silex shows an initial tenderness, sitting quietly and not shouting that it's made it into your glass. This is a wine that has its act together, feeling integrated and balanced with plentiful concentration and a savory long finish. A delicate dill note, which is a characteristic of oaked Sauvignon peeks out amid the hush. |
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Loire | 1 | 93-94 (VN) |
In Bond
£823.00 |
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Vinous (93-94)While this was a warm season leading to richness in many wines from the region, the Silex 2020 shows ripe fruit, but there's no sense of being overblown. The fine line that races through many wines relying on flint-based parcels is there, carrying the nectarine and oak-derived vanilla flavors, but its influence never tips into austerity nor firmness. There's a sense of tenderness that runs through its core while remaining light in body. |
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Burgundy | 1 | - |
In Bond
£145.00 |
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The Domaine de Bellene Coteaux Bourguignons L'Eclos des Abeilles 2020 is produced in the heart of Burgundy, France. A delight to fine wine enthusiasts, this wine is an expression of the bespoke dedication and artistry of winemaker Nicolas Potel. Domaine de Bellene, founded in 2005, exemplifies Potel's commitment towards environmental sustainability and valorising terroir. This wine hails from vineyards cultivated using biodynamic principles, yielding an organic blend of Gamay and Pinot Noir grapes. The 2020 vintage is distinct, promising a bold yet nuanced profile. A nose of ripe cherries, spices and undergrowth, precedes a palate that boasts of juicy ripe tannins and crisp acidity. Seductive red fruit and earthy tones harmonise, culminating in a balanced, savoury finish - a testament to the high quality of Bellene's traditional winemaking techniques. The Domaine de Bellene Coteaux Bourguignons L'Eclos des Abeilles 2020 is a remarkable and essential addition to any discerning wine collection. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 98 (JS) |
In Bond
£494.00 |
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James Suckling (98)This is really powerful and structured with superb muscle and phenolic tension. Yet, it’s formed and polished, layered and dense. Full-bodied, but energetic and focused. Vibrant acidity. Goes on for minutes. Citrus, stone, straw, salt and chalk. Incredible. Try after 2023. |
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Bordeaux | 2 | 97-98 (JS) |
In Bond
£856.00 |
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James Suckling (97-98)This is dense and very structured with phenolic tension and depth. Full-bodied, lightly phenolic with sliced apples, cooked pears and lemons. Lively and intense. Solid as a rock. This is one to watch. |
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Burgundy | 1 | - |
In Bond
£205.00 |
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Burgundy | 1 | 95 (VN) |
In Bond
£2,250.00 |
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Vinous (95)(two barrels produced, vs. a normal eight): Bright, pale yellow. Vibrant aromas of lemon gelato and wild herbs. Very complex, pure and refined, boasting an utterly silky, seamless texture to its intense citrus peel, fresh herb and mineral flavors. Really outstanding inner-mouth energy here, followed by a slowly mounting finish that saturates the taste buds. A great wine in the making, but not for drinking anytime soon. (I found the 2017 version a bit juicier and fruitier, and there will be ten barrels of the younger vintage as the crop level was generous.) According to winemaker Frédéric Barnier, 2017 has more sweetness as a vintage, but while the '17 Chevalier-Montrachet is round, opulent and tasty, the '16 is extremely pure, fresh and linear, and will expand with time in the cellar. But even today it's silky, tactile, edge-free and extremely long. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 96 (JS) |
In Bond
£2,470.00 |
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James Suckling (96)Very attractive and fresh aromas of wet stones and fine limes with youthful peaches and green mango. The scintillatingly long and powerful palate is pinned in place with bracing acidity and has unwavering length of peaches and citrus fruit. Breathtaking finish. Drink or hold. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 96-98 (VN) |
In Bond
£1,765.00 |
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Vinous (96-98)The 2019 Chevalier-Montrachet Demoiselles Grand Cru is beautifully defined on the nose, featuring wonderful crushed limestone and gunflint scents that permeate the green apple aromas. Very focused and intense. The palate is extremely well balanced with a powerful opening, very saline and so full of energy. Enormous weight and presence toward the finish. This is an outstanding Chevalier-Montrachet from Jadot. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 95-97 (WA) |
In Bond
£1,990.00 |
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Wine Advocate (95-97)The king of the cellar on the white side of the ledger is the 2020 Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru Les Demoiselles (Domaine des Héritiers Jadot), a striking wine that unfurls in the glass with notes of citrus oil, white flowers, buttered popcorn, chalky soil tones, beeswax and spices. Full-bodied, multidimensional and layered, it's muscular and concentrated, with racy acids, an abundance of structuring dry extract and a long, resonant finish. It is worth a special effort to seek out. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 95-97 (VN) |
In Bond
£2,378.00 |
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Vinous (95-97)The 2021 Chevalier-Montrachet Demoiselles Grand Cru is a step up from the Bâtard-Montrachet in terms of complexity and mineralité. Yellow plum and pressed flower hints emerge and lend more complexity with time. The palate is well balanced with a crisp line of acidity. This Chevalier gathers momentum towards a detailed, lightly spiced finish with just the right amount of extract. The 2021 has real pedigree. |
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Savoie | 1 | - |
In Bond
£252.00 |
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Explore a genuine revelation created in the Alpine expanse of Savoie. A part of the innovative Belluard family legacy since 1947, Domaine Dominique Belluard Monsieur Gringet 2020 is a rare find, sculpted from organic Gringet grapes, an ancient Savoie variety, that flourish within the clayey chalk soils of Ayse. The meticulous nurturing of Domaine Dominique Belluard, both in biodynamic viticulture and manual grape harvesting, imparts it the distinct effervescence and character. Matured in Burgundian casks, lees ageing elevates Monsieur Gringet 2020 depth and complexity. On the nose, chromatic spectrum of floral, mineral and spice accents unfurl. On the palate, the vintage thrills with vibrant notes of citrus, pear and honeysuckle. Structure, elegance, and high acidity make it ageworthy too. Domaine Dominique Belluard Monsieur Gringet 2020 most befits seafood, particularly shellfish, stimulating refined culinary moments. A quintessential representation of the Ayse terroir, this wine exhibits the Belluard's commitment to preserving the region's viticulture. |
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Rhone | 1 | 97 (JD) |
In Bond
£268.00 |
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Jeb Dunnuck (97)I was able to taste two 2019s. Looking first at the 2019 Saint-Péray Roussanne, it has a tight, reductive, mineral-laced bouquet of quince, grilled peach, white flowers, and crushed stone. Gorgeous on the palate as well, it's full-bodied, has a round, layered textured, perfect balance, and one heck of a great finish. It reminds me of a great vintage of Château Beaucastel's Vieille Vignes Blanc. |
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Rhone | 1 | 94 (VN) |
In Bond
£429.00 |
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Vinous (94)Translucent, green-hued yellow. Assertive orchard and pit fruit and orange peel scents are complemented by building honey and fennel flourishes. Concentrated and energetic on the palate, offering intense white peach, pear and tangerine flavors that become spicier as the wine opens up. A floral quality appears on the seamless finish, which shows a hint of smokiness and excellent persistence. This wine was raised in a 75/25 combination of unlined 500-liter amphoras and neutral demi-muids. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 92 (WA) |
In Bond
£600.00 |
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Wine Advocate (92)The 2015 Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru has a lovely bouquet: hints of grilled almond and pine nuts fusing with the citrus fruit, tight at first but opening nicely with aeration. The palate is very well balanced, tightly-bound at the moment, not a heavy or powerful Corton-Charlemagne, but sporting a very attractive, fresh and stony, slightly reserved finish. Nothing extraordinary or overly-ambitious, nevertheless, this is a well-made Corton-Charlemagne from the domaine. |
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Loire | 1 | 98 (VN) |
In Bond
£365.00 |
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Vinous (98)The 2016 Sancerre Clos La Néore is almost Riesling-like in its firm yet fine personality, its unswerving purity and its clear translation of place. Don't expect a seductive Sancerre, this is dry and steely with an appealing bitterness making for a very grown up white wine. It's starting to show early signs of development in its light almond/lanolin character alongside lemon tea. It offers exceptional concentration while being light bodied and provides a steely core of acidity, keeping the wine together and powering on. If you have any in your cellar, I can make myself available for dinner. |
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Loire | 1 | - |
In Bond
£365.00 |
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Crafted by esteemed winemaker Edmond Vatan, the Sancerre Clos La Neore 2017 is a fine example of terroir-driven vinification. Produced in the heart of France's Loire valley, it's one of the last remaining single plots of Sancerre, offering unrivalled purity and typicity of the region. The Edmond Vatan Sancerre Clos La Neore 2017 demonstrates an exquisite balance of ripe fruit, minerality, and palate-gripping acidity. Hand-harvested from vines averaging 50-years-old on Kimmeridgian marl soils, this prestigious Sauvignon Blanc ferments naturally in old wooden foudres to enhance its inherent complexity. With a limited production, the wine reveals a striking, crystal-clear golden hue alongside an aromatic profile of citrus zest, ripe apple, and flinty undertones. It's exceptionally layered, showing vibrant fruit, precise acid, and a lingering finish. Best consumed after carefully decanting, Edmond Vatan Sancerre Clos La Neore 2017 is a sought-after vintage deserving of a place in the cellars of discerning neophytes and seasoned collectors alike. |
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Burgundy | 2 | - |
In Bond
£476.00 |
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