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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James Suckling (97)
Very cool, delicate and floral with daring elegance. Not the most powerful wine of this ripe vintage, but extremely refined. A very long finish that is marked by chalky minerality. The way that it literally blossoms in the glass after half an hour suggests that this masterpiece has at least a couple of decades of life ahead of it. Decant if you want to drink now.Inc. VAT£1,435.22 -
Wine Advocate (95+)
As readers know Trimbach's iconic Clos Sainte Hune comes from a 1.67 hectare plot on the Grand Cru Rosacker but is sold as Clos Ste Hune since 1919. The densely planted vines are pretty old (more than 50 years on average), with the oldest planted in the 1940s and the youngest in the 1980s. Bottled, like all the prestigious wines of Trimbach in April 2014, the 2013 Riesling Clos Ste Hune shows a very clear and deep, dusty/smoky, mineral nose which impressively reflects the Muschelkalk terroir. Rich, precise and pure also on the nobly textured and highly elegant palate this expressive and full-bodied Riesling is penetrating mineral and piquant but also very juicy. The finish is extremely long and complex. Very promising and stunningly accessible already. However, this wine won't be in the market before 2019/20.Inc. VAT£812.81 -
Vinous (98+)
Luminous straw. Penetrating nuances of lime and guava join the lemon verbena, jasmine, mineral and white stone fruit aromas on the knockout, captivating nose. Then dense, complex and multilayered, offering profound flavors of fresh citrus fruit, sweet spices and talcum powder. Closes extremely long, clean and precise; this is a young white wine of utterly mesmerizing beauty. I find this to be one of the best young CSHs I have ever tasted; it is stylistically different but almost on the same quality level as the marvelous 2010 CSH. One sniff (never mind taste) and I was left almost speechless - and I’m not usually one who keeps his mouth shut when I recognize a truly great wine.Inc. VAT£854.81 -
Vinous (98+)
Luminous straw. Penetrating nuances of lime and guava join the lemon verbena, jasmine, mineral and white stone fruit aromas on the knockout, captivating nose. Then dense, complex and multilayered, offering profound flavors of fresh citrus fruit, sweet spices and talcum powder. Closes extremely long, clean and precise; this is a young white wine of utterly mesmerizing beauty. I find this to be one of the best young CSHs I have ever tasted; it is stylistically different but almost on the same quality level as the marvelous 2010 CSH. One sniff (never mind taste) and I was left almost speechless - and I’m not usually one who keeps his mouth shut when I recognize a truly great wine.Inc. VAT£739.22 -
Wine Advocate (93)
The 2005 Riesling Cuvee Frederic Emile follows the lead of the “reserve” bottling in offering palpable extract yet elegance and refinement. Peach, apricot, apricot kernel, lime, and pungent floral notes in the nose lead to a juicy mouthful of citrus and pit fruit with further invigoration added by accents of salt, huckleberry and toasted pumpkin seeds. Blazingly bright in its citricity and palate-staining in its fruit, nut, and mineral intensity, this displays an amazing tiny-berry concentration and utmost clarity when one considers its having been rained on early in October – tribute to an impeccable viticultural regime as well as the breezy location (on the Osterberg) of these vines. It won’t be released until 2010, by which time it can be expected to have “shut down” and re-opened, as well as – I hasten to add – to promise further richness and complexity over the following 12-15 years. Chalk dust, sea breeze and lime in the nose of their 2004 Riesling Reserve set the rather austere tone for this densely-concentrated wine. A hint of muskiness signals an exotic aspect that runs right though a minerally-intense finish that really shows the wines ripe but ultra-bright acidity. This (like some of the other 2004s) appears to already be in the process of shutting down a bit, leading me to wonder whether it might hit the market while in a vinous trough.Inc. VAT£721.24 -
Wine Advocate (96)
The 2008 Riesling Cuvée Frédéric Emile is now in the market and readers shouldn't miss seeking it out. This is a gorgeously matured dry Riesling classic from Ribeauvillé that drinks perfectly today and pairs with many kind of dishes. The wine has an intense citrus color and opens with a very clear, deep, dense and aromatic bouquet of dried fruits along with herbal and mineral aromas. Full-bodied, pure and elegant, yet complex and mineral on the palate, this is a silky textured but well-structured dry Riesling with intense and persistent fruit, fine tannins and lingering salinity. Bottled April 2009, this is a great dry Riesling blend from the Grands Crus Geisberg and Osterberg.Inc. VAT£547.24 -
Vinous (92)
Bright pale straw-green. Fresh nose of green apple, quince lime and herbs. Then minty, almost peppery flavors of green fig, apple and gooseberry. Finishes long and suave with zippy acidity and a hint of minerality at the back. This is still very young but magically combines precision, concentration and refinement as only this cuvée manages. Strikes me as an earlier maturing version of Fréderic Emile, but will undoubtedly be another great star in this wine’s constellation history.Inc. VAT£547.24 -
Jeb Dunnuck (95-97)
Another brilliant white from Jean-Luc Thunevin, the 2019 Château Valandraud Blanc has a stunning array of pineapple and melon fruit as well as complex notes of spice, white flowers, and a chalky, earthy mineral character. It's beautifully balanced, full-bodied, has integrated acidity, and a great, great finish. I'd put it up with the top whites in the vintage.Inc. VAT£449.26 -
Wine Spectator (94)
There's a racy tension here, with vivid acidity and an underlying streak of minerality, yet this is elegant overall, with a finely detailed mousse and well-meshed flavors of ripe raspberry, nectarine, Earl Grey tea and biscuit. Offers a long, chalk-tinged finish. Disgorged August 2016. Drink now through 2030.Inc. VAT£2,119.24 -
Decanter (96)
It is quite something to be invited to the launch of Champagne Veuve Clicquot 2008 at Clos des Lambrays, one of the finest grands crus of Burgundy's Côte de Nuits and acquired by LVMH in April 2014. It was rumoured to have paid close to €100m. The Veuve Clicquot 2008 is VC Chef de Caves Dominique Demarville’s first solo vintage. What fascinated him at Lambrays was winemaker Thierry Brouin’s consummate talent in capturing from the red iron-rich soil a wonderfully bright character in the wine- so fresh, rich yet elegant, density and delicacy in magical harmony. The same can be said for my two coups de coeur in Clicquot 2008. --- Veuve Clicquot 2008 (Magnum) --- Shimmering green-gold. Easily up several notches from the bottle. Perfect balance of freshness, ripe acidity and complex vinosity to come. Near perfect wine, patina of seasoned spice of subtle oak. --- Elegant and complex Champagne with plenty of fine mousse and flavours of toast, smoke and roasted fruit notes to balance the fresh acidity. A refined and refreshing fullbodied wine in a gastronomic style with the potential to drink well for many years.Inc. VAT£624.04 -
Wine Spectator (92)
Tightly knit, focused by racy acidity and a streak of minerality, this offers subtle notes of white peach, anise, biscuit and kumquat. The refined finish echoes a smoky note.Inc. VAT£400.84 -
Vinous (95)
The NV (2012) Extra Brut Fidele is another fabulous wine from Vouette & Sorbée. Here, the richness of Pinot Noir comes through loud and clear in the wine's depth and overall richness. Creamy and beautifully layered throughout, the 2012 hits all the right notes. Red berry, mint, flowers, sweet spices and candy fill out the wine's broad frame effortlessly. What a gorgeous wine this is. Simply put, the 2012 is a total knock-out. Disgorged: January 6, 2015.Inc. VAT£618.04 -
James Suckling (97)
Breathtaking nose of tropical flowers and foliage after rain, with a whiff of smoke in the air. This has spectacular elegance and minerality for a wine of this stature (14.5% alcohol). I love the fresh-ginger note that already suggests the kind of dishes that would pair beautifully with this masterpiece of restrained extravagance. Only a hint of sweetness at the ravishing finish. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink or hold.Inc. VAT£386.69 -
James Suckling (97)
If you’ve never tasted a great Alsace pinot gris, here is the place to start! All the richness and creaminess we expect from this category, but married to lively acidity and pristine clarity. We love the super ripe pear bouquet with hints of exotic fruit and flowers. No perceptible tannins and still dry enough at the delicately spicy and mineral finish to be food-flexible. Drink or hold.Inc. VAT£350.69 -
Jeb Dunnuck (96)
The NV Vin de France Arcane Le Fou is another unique wine from this incredible winemaker. This cuvée focuses on different clones of Grenache as well as just about every permitted variety out there (although it’s 85% Grenache). It has a big, sweet nose of blueberries, black cherries, lavender, and peppery incense as well as a full-bodied, layered, powerful yet seamless style on the palate. With no hard edges, silky tannins, and a big finish, it’s a singular wine (it’s mostly from vines in Châteauneuf Du Pape) to enjoy over the coming 10-15 years.Inc. VAT£165.89 -
Inc. VAT£1,197.64 -
Inc. VAT£466.40 -
Inc. VAT£537.02 -
Inc. VAT£1,057.84 -
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.Inc. VAT£563.42 -
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.Inc. VAT£928.24 -
Inc. VAT£576.13
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James Suckling (97)
Very cool, delicate and floral with daring elegance. Not the most powerful wine of this ripe vintage, but extremely refined. A very long finish that is marked by chalky minerality. The way that it literally blossoms in the glass after half an hour suggests that this masterpiece has at least a couple of decades of life ahead of it. Decant if you want to drink now.In Bond£1,188.00 -
Wine Advocate (95+)
As readers know Trimbach's iconic Clos Sainte Hune comes from a 1.67 hectare plot on the Grand Cru Rosacker but is sold as Clos Ste Hune since 1919. The densely planted vines are pretty old (more than 50 years on average), with the oldest planted in the 1940s and the youngest in the 1980s. Bottled, like all the prestigious wines of Trimbach in April 2014, the 2013 Riesling Clos Ste Hune shows a very clear and deep, dusty/smoky, mineral nose which impressively reflects the Muschelkalk terroir. Rich, precise and pure also on the nobly textured and highly elegant palate this expressive and full-bodied Riesling is penetrating mineral and piquant but also very juicy. The finish is extremely long and complex. Very promising and stunningly accessible already. However, this wine won't be in the market before 2019/20.In Bond£672.00 -
Vinous (98+)
Luminous straw. Penetrating nuances of lime and guava join the lemon verbena, jasmine, mineral and white stone fruit aromas on the knockout, captivating nose. Then dense, complex and multilayered, offering profound flavors of fresh citrus fruit, sweet spices and talcum powder. Closes extremely long, clean and precise; this is a young white wine of utterly mesmerizing beauty. I find this to be one of the best young CSHs I have ever tasted; it is stylistically different but almost on the same quality level as the marvelous 2010 CSH. One sniff (never mind taste) and I was left almost speechless - and I’m not usually one who keeps his mouth shut when I recognize a truly great wine.In Bond£707.00 -
Vinous (98+)
Luminous straw. Penetrating nuances of lime and guava join the lemon verbena, jasmine, mineral and white stone fruit aromas on the knockout, captivating nose. Then dense, complex and multilayered, offering profound flavors of fresh citrus fruit, sweet spices and talcum powder. Closes extremely long, clean and precise; this is a young white wine of utterly mesmerizing beauty. I find this to be one of the best young CSHs I have ever tasted; it is stylistically different but almost on the same quality level as the marvelous 2010 CSH. One sniff (never mind taste) and I was left almost speechless - and I’m not usually one who keeps his mouth shut when I recognize a truly great wine.In Bond£608.00 -
Wine Advocate (93)
The 2005 Riesling Cuvee Frederic Emile follows the lead of the “reserve” bottling in offering palpable extract yet elegance and refinement. Peach, apricot, apricot kernel, lime, and pungent floral notes in the nose lead to a juicy mouthful of citrus and pit fruit with further invigoration added by accents of salt, huckleberry and toasted pumpkin seeds. Blazingly bright in its citricity and palate-staining in its fruit, nut, and mineral intensity, this displays an amazing tiny-berry concentration and utmost clarity when one considers its having been rained on early in October – tribute to an impeccable viticultural regime as well as the breezy location (on the Osterberg) of these vines. It won’t be released until 2010, by which time it can be expected to have “shut down” and re-opened, as well as – I hasten to add – to promise further richness and complexity over the following 12-15 years. Chalk dust, sea breeze and lime in the nose of their 2004 Riesling Reserve set the rather austere tone for this densely-concentrated wine. A hint of muskiness signals an exotic aspect that runs right though a minerally-intense finish that really shows the wines ripe but ultra-bright acidity. This (like some of the other 2004s) appears to already be in the process of shutting down a bit, leading me to wonder whether it might hit the market while in a vinous trough.In Bond£585.00 -
Wine Advocate (96)
The 2008 Riesling Cuvée Frédéric Emile is now in the market and readers shouldn't miss seeking it out. This is a gorgeously matured dry Riesling classic from Ribeauvillé that drinks perfectly today and pairs with many kind of dishes. The wine has an intense citrus color and opens with a very clear, deep, dense and aromatic bouquet of dried fruits along with herbal and mineral aromas. Full-bodied, pure and elegant, yet complex and mineral on the palate, this is a silky textured but well-structured dry Riesling with intense and persistent fruit, fine tannins and lingering salinity. Bottled April 2009, this is a great dry Riesling blend from the Grands Crus Geisberg and Osterberg.In Bond£440.00 -
Vinous (92)
Bright pale straw-green. Fresh nose of green apple, quince lime and herbs. Then minty, almost peppery flavors of green fig, apple and gooseberry. Finishes long and suave with zippy acidity and a hint of minerality at the back. This is still very young but magically combines precision, concentration and refinement as only this cuvée manages. Strikes me as an earlier maturing version of Fréderic Emile, but will undoubtedly be another great star in this wine’s constellation history.In Bond£440.00 -
Jeb Dunnuck (95-97)
Another brilliant white from Jean-Luc Thunevin, the 2019 Château Valandraud Blanc has a stunning array of pineapple and melon fruit as well as complex notes of spice, white flowers, and a chalky, earthy mineral character. It's beautifully balanced, full-bodied, has integrated acidity, and a great, great finish. I'd put it up with the top whites in the vintage.In Bond£354.50 -
Wine Spectator (94)
There's a racy tension here, with vivid acidity and an underlying streak of minerality, yet this is elegant overall, with a finely detailed mousse and well-meshed flavors of ripe raspberry, nectarine, Earl Grey tea and biscuit. Offers a long, chalk-tinged finish. Disgorged August 2016. Drink now through 2030.In Bond£1,750.00 -
Decanter (96)
It is quite something to be invited to the launch of Champagne Veuve Clicquot 2008 at Clos des Lambrays, one of the finest grands crus of Burgundy's Côte de Nuits and acquired by LVMH in April 2014. It was rumoured to have paid close to €100m. The Veuve Clicquot 2008 is VC Chef de Caves Dominique Demarville’s first solo vintage. What fascinated him at Lambrays was winemaker Thierry Brouin’s consummate talent in capturing from the red iron-rich soil a wonderfully bright character in the wine- so fresh, rich yet elegant, density and delicacy in magical harmony. The same can be said for my two coups de coeur in Clicquot 2008. --- Veuve Clicquot 2008 (Magnum) --- Shimmering green-gold. Easily up several notches from the bottle. Perfect balance of freshness, ripe acidity and complex vinosity to come. Near perfect wine, patina of seasoned spice of subtle oak. --- Elegant and complex Champagne with plenty of fine mousse and flavours of toast, smoke and roasted fruit notes to balance the fresh acidity. A refined and refreshing fullbodied wine in a gastronomic style with the potential to drink well for many years.In Bond£504.00 -
Wine Spectator (92)
Tightly knit, focused by racy acidity and a streak of minerality, this offers subtle notes of white peach, anise, biscuit and kumquat. The refined finish echoes a smoky note.In Bond£318.00 -
Vinous (95)
The NV (2012) Extra Brut Fidele is another fabulous wine from Vouette & Sorbée. Here, the richness of Pinot Noir comes through loud and clear in the wine's depth and overall richness. Creamy and beautifully layered throughout, the 2012 hits all the right notes. Red berry, mint, flowers, sweet spices and candy fill out the wine's broad frame effortlessly. What a gorgeous wine this is. Simply put, the 2012 is a total knock-out. Disgorged: January 6, 2015.In Bond£499.00 -
James Suckling (97)
Breathtaking nose of tropical flowers and foliage after rain, with a whiff of smoke in the air. This has spectacular elegance and minerality for a wine of this stature (14.5% alcohol). I love the fresh-ginger note that already suggests the kind of dishes that would pair beautifully with this masterpiece of restrained extravagance. Only a hint of sweetness at the ravishing finish. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink or hold.In Bond£303.00 -
James Suckling (97)
If you’ve never tasted a great Alsace pinot gris, here is the place to start! All the richness and creaminess we expect from this category, but married to lively acidity and pristine clarity. We love the super ripe pear bouquet with hints of exotic fruit and flowers. No perceptible tannins and still dry enough at the delicately spicy and mineral finish to be food-flexible. Drink or hold.In Bond£273.00 -
Jeb Dunnuck (96)
The NV Vin de France Arcane Le Fou is another unique wine from this incredible winemaker. This cuvée focuses on different clones of Grenache as well as just about every permitted variety out there (although it’s 85% Grenache). It has a big, sweet nose of blueberries, black cherries, lavender, and peppery incense as well as a full-bodied, layered, powerful yet seamless style on the palate. With no hard edges, silky tannins, and a big finish, it’s a singular wine (it’s mostly from vines in Châteauneuf Du Pape) to enjoy over the coming 10-15 years.In Bond£119.00 -
In Bond£982.00
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In Bond£386.00
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In Bond£439.50
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In Bond£865.50
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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.In Bond£461.50 -
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.In Bond£757.50 -
In Bond£466.00
