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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Burgundy | 1 | 92-94 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£1,271.54 |
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Vinous (92-94)The 2021 Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru comes from three plots. It takes time to unfurl on the nose, eventually offering citrus fruit, popcorn and hints of Mirabelle. The palate is balanced with an attractive, slightly waxy texture. It shows fine depth with the mineralité eventually surfacing with aeration. Afford this three or four years in bottle. |
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Burgundy | 2 | 93-95 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£1,137.62 |
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Vinous (93-95)The 2020 Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru is more expressive and terroir-driven on the nose compared to the Bâtard-Montrachet. The palate is well-balanced with fine poise, taut and fresh, quite spicy towards the finish with admirable length. I can see this ageing well in bottle. Very fine. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 93-95 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£1,285.94 |
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Vinous (93-95)The 2021 Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru is slightly more oxidative in style compared to the Bâtard-Montrachet, with grilled walnut and a subtle flor-like scent emerging with time. The palate is balanced with a vibrant opening. It has a little more horsepower than the Bâtard-Montrachet and a spicier finish. This gains intensity in the glass and does eventually overtake the Bâtard. |
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Burgundy | 2 | 91-94 (IB) |
Inc. VAT
£299.54 |
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Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (91-94)From old vines of around 60-65 years on average. Fresh pale colour with a light green tint. Clear pale colour, slightly smoky, good volume of fruit, the smoke coming out in the mouth as reduction on the seashells. Solid weight here, plus the minerals as well. Pretty good intensity across the piece with density at the back. Drink from 2027-2033. Tasted: June 2022 |
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Burgundy | 1 | 93-96 (BH) |
Inc. VAT
£399.62 |
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Burghound (93-96)Cool and strikingly elegant aromas include those of quinine, white peach, spice and an abundance of classic Chablis notes. The dense yet wonderfully refined medium-weight flavors brim with dry extract on the gorgeously long, balanced and highly complex finale. This is extremely stylish and very promising. (93-95)/2033+ |
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Burgundy | 1 | 95-98 (IB) |
Inc. VAT
£581.54 |
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Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (95-98)(5 Star Wine) Mostly from old vines, a good half planted between 1948 and 1952. Translucent lemon and lime colour. The bouquet is not ready to unfurl yet there is a sense of sublime purity about the nose. A wine in perfect harmony on its wide bench of white fruit. Just a little touch of spice behind, good acidity. Sign up for this! Drink from 2032-2045. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 96 (DC) |
Inc. VAT
£401.54 |
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Decanter (96)Beautiful mix of richness, grace and drive. As always with Fèvre's Les Preuses, this is elegant, long-living and fine. Ultra-stylish and very mineral. From two sections of vines. One situated low down on Les Preuses next to Vincent Dauvissat's plot, on the flatter part facing south, the other on deeper soils, with both adding richness and totalling 2.5ha. |
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Bordeaux | 2 | - |
Inc. VAT
£537.02 |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 97 (JA) |
Inc. VAT
£563.42 |
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Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (97)Give this 5 or 10 minutes to open in the glass because it has a pretty serious structure, deftly weighted, full of white pear, quince and apricot pit, balanced by savoury rosemary, straw and fennel notes, successful and totally moreish. A vintage that had the freshness necessary for great white wines in Bordeaux, and Y pulls away from the pack with this wine. |
Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
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|
Burgundy | 1 | 92-94 (VN) |
In Bond
£1,050.00 |
|||||
Vinous (92-94)The 2021 Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru comes from three plots. It takes time to unfurl on the nose, eventually offering citrus fruit, popcorn and hints of Mirabelle. The palate is balanced with an attractive, slightly waxy texture. It shows fine depth with the mineralité eventually surfacing with aeration. Afford this three or four years in bottle. |
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|
Burgundy | 2 | 93-95 (VN) |
In Bond
£940.00 |
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Vinous (93-95)The 2020 Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru is more expressive and terroir-driven on the nose compared to the Bâtard-Montrachet. The palate is well-balanced with fine poise, taut and fresh, quite spicy towards the finish with admirable length. I can see this ageing well in bottle. Very fine. |
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|
Burgundy | 1 | 93-95 (VN) |
In Bond
£1,062.00 |
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Vinous (93-95)The 2021 Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru is slightly more oxidative in style compared to the Bâtard-Montrachet, with grilled walnut and a subtle flor-like scent emerging with time. The palate is balanced with a vibrant opening. It has a little more horsepower than the Bâtard-Montrachet and a spicier finish. This gains intensity in the glass and does eventually overtake the Bâtard. |
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|
Burgundy | 2 | 91-94 (IB) |
In Bond
£240.00 |
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Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (91-94)From old vines of around 60-65 years on average. Fresh pale colour with a light green tint. Clear pale colour, slightly smoky, good volume of fruit, the smoke coming out in the mouth as reduction on the seashells. Solid weight here, plus the minerals as well. Pretty good intensity across the piece with density at the back. Drink from 2027-2033. Tasted: June 2022 |
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Burgundy | 1 | 93-96 (BH) |
In Bond
£325.00 |
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Burghound (93-96)Cool and strikingly elegant aromas include those of quinine, white peach, spice and an abundance of classic Chablis notes. The dense yet wonderfully refined medium-weight flavors brim with dry extract on the gorgeously long, balanced and highly complex finale. This is extremely stylish and very promising. (93-95)/2033+ |
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Burgundy | 1 | 95-98 (IB) |
In Bond
£475.00 |
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Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (95-98)(5 Star Wine) Mostly from old vines, a good half planted between 1948 and 1952. Translucent lemon and lime colour. The bouquet is not ready to unfurl yet there is a sense of sublime purity about the nose. A wine in perfect harmony on its wide bench of white fruit. Just a little touch of spice behind, good acidity. Sign up for this! Drink from 2032-2045. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 96 (DC) |
In Bond
£325.00 |
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Decanter (96)Beautiful mix of richness, grace and drive. As always with Fèvre's Les Preuses, this is elegant, long-living and fine. Ultra-stylish and very mineral. From two sections of vines. One situated low down on Les Preuses next to Vincent Dauvissat's plot, on the flatter part facing south, the other on deeper soils, with both adding richness and totalling 2.5ha. |
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Bordeaux | 2 | - |
In Bond
£439.50 |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 97 (JA) |
In Bond
£461.50 |
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Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (97)Give this 5 or 10 minutes to open in the glass because it has a pretty serious structure, deftly weighted, full of white pear, quince and apricot pit, balanced by savoury rosemary, straw and fennel notes, successful and totally moreish. A vintage that had the freshness necessary for great white wines in Bordeaux, and Y pulls away from the pack with this wine. |