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
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Vinous (97)
Bright, dark red. Spellbinding perfume combines red berries, cherry, Oriental spices, rose petal, licorice, pepper and minerals. Perfectly balanced from the outset, showing outstanding clarity and lift, not to mention superb sappy depth, to its multifaceted red fruit, mineral, spice and floral flavors. The combination of sweetness and grip is extraordinary, as is the wine's expanding, mounting aftertaste. Will this beauty ever go into a truly sullen stage? Probably.Inc. VAT£17,772.02 -
Vinous (98)
From a vintage with tiny yields that produced just about four barrels of wine, the 2012 Montrachet possesses explosive energy, density and pure power. Readers lucky enough to own the 2012 need to be exceedingly patient, as it is embryonic nowhere near ready to drink. Tasted at the DRC Montrachet charity event in New York.Inc. VAT£10,718.40 -
Wine Advocate (97)
The Richebourg 2012 was picked September 27-28 at just 19 hectoliters per hectare, one of the lowest yields in this vintage. This has a serious bouquet, reserved at first, more earth than air. Unusual for this cuvee, there is a sense of exoticism here, a Richebourg daring to show a bit of ankle. Blackberry pastille intermingle with wilted violets, and there is a touch of warmth that belies the precocity of the growing season. Leaving it aside for 10 minutes, there are hints of Provençal herbs, broom and even fennel. The palate is medium-bodied and the first thing that strikes you is its backbone. Well, this is Richebourg after all. But there is an arching structure to this wine that is disguised by the silkiness of its texture, plus an almost citrus freshness and brightness on the finish. This is a Richebourg that will make you giddy with pleasure. 634 cases produced.Inc. VAT£16,152.02 -
Wine Advocate (99)
Usually, choosing between La Tâche and Romanée-Conti is like choosing between your two favourite children. Not this year. The 2012 Romanée-Conti is one of the most spellbinding that I have tasted since I began 17 years ago. The bouquet is quite astonishing with brilliant delineation and focus, an almost disorientating sense of mineralité that soars from the glass and leaves you speechless. The palate is perfectly proportioned with a sensational line of acidity, brimming over with energy and frisson. This flirts with perfection and you know, one day it might actually achieve it. Just 350 cases produced.Inc. VAT£85,539.62 -
Vinous (97)
An intense, almost exotic wine, the 2012 Romanée St.-Vivant takes the elements that make RSV such a distinctive site and simply amplifies all of them. Dense and yet also seamless on the palate, the 2012 RSV will need considerable time to shed its baby fat, but it is impressive just the same.Inc. VAT£3,628.40 -
Vinous (97)
An intense, almost exotic wine, the 2012 Romanée St.-Vivant takes the elements that make RSV such a distinctive site and simply amplifies all of them. Dense and yet also seamless on the palate, the 2012 RSV will need considerable time to shed its baby fat, but it is impressive just the same.Inc. VAT£24,519.64 -
Inc. VAT£633.14 -
Wine Advocate (97)
Disgorged in May 2020 with two grams per liter dosage, the 2012 Extra-Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru is fabulous, bursting from the glass with notes of smoky pear, white flowers, walnuts and baking spices. Derived predominantly from holdings in Avize, it's full-bodied, layered and immensely concentrated, with a tightly wound, structured core and racy acid spine that mark it out as emphatically built for the long haul. Deep and vinous, I suspect that it will surpass the 2008 rendition at maturity.Inc. VAT£1,065.64 -
Wine Advocate (90-92)
From the domaine’s 1.5-hectares, the usual 20 barrels was reduced to half for the 2012 Bonnes-Mares Grand Cru. It has an opulent, vivacious bouquet with small dark cherries, blueberry and creme de cassis that is deliriously gorgeous. The palate is sweet on the entry with fleshy boysenberry and bilberry fruit. There is good presence and length here, although it needs just a touch more nuance on the finish. Always a solid performed, this comes recommended.Inc. VAT£1,117.24 -
Wine Advocate (90)
Tasted blind at the annual Burgfest tasting in Beaune. The 2012 Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru from Domaine Drouhin-Laroze has a composed bouquet of blackcurrant and raspberry fruit, a touch of cigar ash and woodland aromas developing close behind. The palate is medium-bodied with succulent ripe tannin, low acidity, rather extracted and perhaps, just a little monotone on the finish. Maybe it will develop more personality in bottle...it should do.Inc. VAT£904.84 -
Inc. VAT£8,476.44 -
Wine Enthusiast (94)
This marks an impressive step forward for this wine that's so often been in the shadows of other wines in the Lafite-Rothschild stable. It's dense and structured as well as deliciously fruity. The wine is straight down the line, starting with perfumed acidity and finishing with blackberry fruit. Intense and tannic, it's likely to age. Drink from 2020.Inc. VAT£582.04 -
Wine Advocate (99)
Broad and powerful, Egly's 2012 Brut Grand Cru Millésime is a serious, vinous Champagne somewhat reminiscent of his brilliant 2002. Delivering complex aromas of pear, honeycomb, orange oil, sweet stone fruits, praline and freshly baked bread, it's full-bodied, deep and muscular, with a multidimensional core of fruit, racy acids and a long, resonant finish. Complex and compelling, readers will have a hard time choosing between the power and texture of 2012 and the quintessentially elegant, seamless 2013. Both are benchmarks for what contemporary Champagne can achieve.Inc. VAT£554.00 -
Wine Advocate (99)
Broad and powerful, Egly's 2012 Brut Grand Cru Millésime is a serious, vinous Champagne somewhat reminiscent of his brilliant 2002. Delivering complex aromas of pear, honeycomb, orange oil, sweet stone fruits, praline and freshly baked bread, it's full-bodied, deep and muscular, with a multidimensional core of fruit, racy acids and a long, resonant finish. Complex and compelling, readers will have a hard time choosing between the power and texture of 2012 and the quintessentially elegant, seamless 2013. Both are benchmarks for what contemporary Champagne can achieve.Inc. VAT£3,199.24 -
Vinous (93+)
Bright, dark red. Distinctly blacker and wilder on the nose than the Echézeaux, with dark berry and floral aromas complicated by notes of sous-bois, coffee, mocha and menthol. Rather tight, even musclebound, today but boasts terrific energy to its blackberry, menthol and violet flavors. Finishes adamantly dry, broad and soil-inflected, with considerable power and outstanding length. Like the Echézeaux, this is painfully backward today. The fruit was picked at 11.8% and chaptalized to 13.2%.Inc. VAT£6,756.41 -
The Wine Cellar Insider (94-96)
The Merlot was picked from September 20 through October 9. The Cabernet Franc was harvested over 2 days, October 6 and October 8. From a blend of 93% Merlot with 7% Cabernet Franc, this is one of the highest percentages of Merlot in the estate’s history. However, this was not due to the lack of ripeness in the Cabernet Franc. Much of the Cabernet Franc was replanted starting in 2006. It is expected that the estate will be using closer to 20% Cabernet Franc in the blend starting in 2020. The wine reached 14.4% alcohol with a pH of 3.7. Yields were low at 31 hectoliters per hectare. Deep ruby in color, the wine exudes truffle, chocolate, plum liqueur, tobacco, smoke, roses and cherries. On the palate, the wine is pure silk and velvet in texture with volume, depth and length. Picture chocolate-covered cherries that you can eat, or drink, your choice. 94-96 PtsInc. VAT£985.24 -
Wine Advocate (85-87)
Notes of tobacco leaf, roasted herbs, red and black currants are found in this medium-bodied, straightforward 2012. Drink it over the next 5-6 years.Inc. VAT£380.47 -
Wine Advocate (87-89)
This straw-colored 2012 exhibits notes of figs, citrus oil, grapefruit and wet grass. Drink this intriguing, Sauvignon-dominated, dry white over the next 7-10 years.Inc. VAT£177.64 -
Vinous - Neal Martin (93)
The 2012 Figeac has a broody and backward bouquet with black fruit, autumn leaves, truffle and cedar. Not unlike Lafleur. The palate is fresh on the entry with pliant tannins, open and generous, layers of red fruit with a dash of white pepper and allspice. It fans out wonderfully towards the finish that just lacks a bit of persistence. The second bottle at Bordeaux Index's tasting shows a little more spiciness on the finish. Tasted blind at the Southwold Ten-Year On tasting.Inc. VAT£1,153.24 -
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (93)
The 2012 Fleur Cardinale is a beautiful example of modern Saint-Emilion. Silky tannins and soft contours wrap around a core of red cherry jam, wild flowers, mint, cinnamon and white pepper. Dramatic and expansive on the palate, the 2012 shows remarkable nuance for such an intense wine. All the elements fall into place effortlessly.Inc. VAT£398.47 -
Introducing Fombrauge Blanc 2012, an exquisite example of winemaking finesse. This remarkable wine hails from Bordeaux, France and is solely owned and operated by Bernard Magrez, a celebrated figure in the wine world. Produced under meticulous attention to detail, Fombrauge Blanc 2012 comes from a rich limestone and clay terroir that lends it unique character and complexity. Using a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, each grape is hand-picked and manually sorted before undergoing the meticulous vinification process. The end result is an unforgettably vibrant wine with a luminous golden hue and refreshing citrus aroma. A taste reveals well-balanced notes of honey, apricot, and vanilla, with a subtly spicy undertone. This fine blend has enjoyed ample ageing in 100% French oak barrels, enriching its flavours and adding a silky texture. Fombrauge Blanc 2012 is an exquisite choice for discerning wine drinkers. Savour its exalted complexity and depth, and relish the taste of fine Bordeaux winemaking.
Inc. VAT£291.89 -
Wine Advocate (91-93)
Moving to the reds, the 2012 Fonsalette Cotes du Rhone, which was tasted from multiple barrels, offers gorgeous Grenache character with white pepper, green herbs and pine-like notes that are grounded by a superb core of fruit. Medium to full-bodied, beautifully fresh and elegant, it should be an outstanding bottle of wine with 12-15 years of longevity.Inc. VAT£3,369.67 -
Wine Advocate (91-93)
Moving to the reds, the 2012 Fonsalette Cotes du Rhone, which was tasted from multiple barrels, offers gorgeous Grenache character with white pepper, green herbs and pine-like notes that are grounded by a superb core of fruit. Medium to full-bodied, beautifully fresh and elegant, it should be an outstanding bottle of wine with 12-15 years of longevity.Inc. VAT£440.00 -
Wine Advocate (91-93)
Moving to the reds, the 2012 Fonsalette Cotes du Rhone, which was tasted from multiple barrels, offers gorgeous Grenache character with white pepper, green herbs and pine-like notes that are grounded by a superb core of fruit. Medium to full-bodied, beautifully fresh and elegant, it should be an outstanding bottle of wine with 12-15 years of longevity.Inc. VAT£1,626.04 -
Wine Advocate (95)
The 2012 Criots-Batard-Montrachet Grand Cru comes from the family’s one-third hectare holding planted between the 1930s and 1990s. It was picked the same day as the premier crus and Celine told me that it always has a slightly higher degree of alcohol. It has an entrancing bouquet with perfumed apricot, peach and dried citrus peel notes infused with minerals – feminine and seductive. The palate is medium-bodied with a rounded, powerful, spicy opening. It is very well balanced, very concentrated on the finish. This is compelling like so many from this under-rated grand cru vineyard, though there are just four barrels instead of the usual eight in this year.Inc. VAT£3,075.64 -
Jancis Robinson (18)
Three casks from three different spots. Slightly cloudy cherry red. Really rich and solid. From a very good producer (a long-term proposition) and made in the domaine philosophy. Lots of tannin on the end. Very energetic. Very slightly bitter on the end.Inc. VAT£2,065.24 -
The Francis Boulard Rachais Brut Nature 2012 is a venerable display of an excellent, biodynamically produced Champagne. Crafted meticulously by Francis Boulard, a renowned winemaker whose family has been dedicated to viticulture for over two centuries, this offering encapsulates the essence of Champagne's Massif de Saint-Thierry terroir. This Extra Brut is primarily composed of Pinot Meunier, possessing a remarkably low dosage making it exceptionally crisp and unfiltered.
Certain vintage years, including 2012, are known for their exceptional quality, and Francis Boulard utilises traditional methods to exquisitely express this bounty. The Champagne is fermented in oak barrels and the bottles are manually disgorged. The result is a wine possessing complex aromatic character redolent with green apple, nougat and yuzu notes supported by a vibrant acidity that promises enduring cellaring potential.
A bottle of Francis Boulard Rachais Brut Nature 2012 is a testament to unwavering commitment to organic and biodynamic practices, radiating the brilliance of its maker and the vineyard's exceptional terrain.
Inc. VAT£346.01 -
Tim Atkin MW (97)
One of only five Grands Crus monopoles in Burgundy, this is sometimes regarded as being of lesser quality than the other four, but that’s unfair. The wine is improving with every vintage since it was elevated in 1992 and this is particularly fine. Delicate, sweet and stylish, it's a nunaced, fragrant Pinot with lacy tannins, effortlessly integrated oak and a bright, refreshing finish.Inc. VAT£3,510.04 -
Wine Advocate (92)
Tasted blind at the annual Burgfest tasting in Beaune. The 2012 Vosne Romanée 1er Cru Aux Malconsorts from Domaine François Lamarche has a refined and detailed bouquet: fresh strawberry, cranberry leaf and minerals, all very attractive. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, just a dab of oak to be fully subsumed, but with plenty of weight and volume on the pretty, quite spicy finish. It's just a delicious, well-crafted Vosne-Romanée and one of the best from the domaine in 2012.Inc. VAT£1,306.84 -
Immerse yourself in the sophisticated world of Burgundian whites with the Frantz Chagnoleau Saint Veran La Roche 2012. This gem from Maçon is meticulously handcrafted by viticulturist duo Frantz Chagnoleau and Caroline Gon, whose passionate devotion to the delicacy of the Chardonnay grape truly shines through. With an unwavering commitment to biodynamic principles, the duo meticulously cultivates vines averaging 50 years of age, producing an organic wine of unparalleled quality.
The Frantz Chagnoleau Saint Veran La Roche 2012 boasts vibrant, complex notes of citrus and pear, underpinned by a distinct minerality gleaned from the rocky vineyard soils. This expressive wine, with 12 months of lees aging, delivers a mouth-filling palate with impeccable balance and a lengthy finish, truly celebrating its Burgundy origin. The producer's gentle, non-interventionist winemaking techniques ensure the purest expression of terroir in every bottle. An extraordinary wine for discerning palates.
Inc. VAT£272.69
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Vinous (97)
Bright, dark red. Spellbinding perfume combines red berries, cherry, Oriental spices, rose petal, licorice, pepper and minerals. Perfectly balanced from the outset, showing outstanding clarity and lift, not to mention superb sappy depth, to its multifaceted red fruit, mineral, spice and floral flavors. The combination of sweetness and grip is extraordinary, as is the wine's expanding, mounting aftertaste. Will this beauty ever go into a truly sullen stage? Probably.In Bond£14,802.00 -
Vinous (98)
From a vintage with tiny yields that produced just about four barrels of wine, the 2012 Montrachet possesses explosive energy, density and pure power. Readers lucky enough to own the 2012 need to be exceedingly patient, as it is embryonic nowhere near ready to drink. Tasted at the DRC Montrachet charity event in New York.Inc. VAT£10,718.40 -
Wine Advocate (97)
The Richebourg 2012 was picked September 27-28 at just 19 hectoliters per hectare, one of the lowest yields in this vintage. This has a serious bouquet, reserved at first, more earth than air. Unusual for this cuvee, there is a sense of exoticism here, a Richebourg daring to show a bit of ankle. Blackberry pastille intermingle with wilted violets, and there is a touch of warmth that belies the precocity of the growing season. Leaving it aside for 10 minutes, there are hints of Provençal herbs, broom and even fennel. The palate is medium-bodied and the first thing that strikes you is its backbone. Well, this is Richebourg after all. But there is an arching structure to this wine that is disguised by the silkiness of its texture, plus an almost citrus freshness and brightness on the finish. This is a Richebourg that will make you giddy with pleasure. 634 cases produced.In Bond£13,452.00 -
Wine Advocate (99)
Usually, choosing between La Tâche and Romanée-Conti is like choosing between your two favourite children. Not this year. The 2012 Romanée-Conti is one of the most spellbinding that I have tasted since I began 17 years ago. The bouquet is quite astonishing with brilliant delineation and focus, an almost disorientating sense of mineralité that soars from the glass and leaves you speechless. The palate is perfectly proportioned with a sensational line of acidity, brimming over with energy and frisson. This flirts with perfection and you know, one day it might actually achieve it. Just 350 cases produced.In Bond£71,275.00 -
Vinous (97)
An intense, almost exotic wine, the 2012 Romanée St.-Vivant takes the elements that make RSV such a distinctive site and simply amplifies all of them. Dense and yet also seamless on the palate, the 2012 RSV will need considerable time to shed its baby fat, but it is impressive just the same.In Bond£3,021.00 -
Vinous (97)
An intense, almost exotic wine, the 2012 Romanée St.-Vivant takes the elements that make RSV such a distinctive site and simply amplifies all of them. Dense and yet also seamless on the palate, the 2012 RSV will need considerable time to shed its baby fat, but it is impressive just the same.In Bond£20,417.00 -
In Bond£518.00
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Wine Advocate (97)
Disgorged in May 2020 with two grams per liter dosage, the 2012 Extra-Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru is fabulous, bursting from the glass with notes of smoky pear, white flowers, walnuts and baking spices. Derived predominantly from holdings in Avize, it's full-bodied, layered and immensely concentrated, with a tightly wound, structured core and racy acid spine that mark it out as emphatically built for the long haul. Deep and vinous, I suspect that it will surpass the 2008 rendition at maturity.In Bond£872.00 -
Wine Advocate (90-92)
From the domaine’s 1.5-hectares, the usual 20 barrels was reduced to half for the 2012 Bonnes-Mares Grand Cru. It has an opulent, vivacious bouquet with small dark cherries, blueberry and creme de cassis that is deliriously gorgeous. The palate is sweet on the entry with fleshy boysenberry and bilberry fruit. There is good presence and length here, although it needs just a touch more nuance on the finish. Always a solid performed, this comes recommended.In Bond£915.00 -
Wine Advocate (90)
Tasted blind at the annual Burgfest tasting in Beaune. The 2012 Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru from Domaine Drouhin-Laroze has a composed bouquet of blackcurrant and raspberry fruit, a touch of cigar ash and woodland aromas developing close behind. The palate is medium-bodied with succulent ripe tannin, low acidity, rather extracted and perhaps, just a little monotone on the finish. Maybe it will develop more personality in bottle...it should do.In Bond£738.00 -
In Bond£7,045.00
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Wine Enthusiast (94)
This marks an impressive step forward for this wine that's so often been in the shadows of other wines in the Lafite-Rothschild stable. It's dense and structured as well as deliciously fruity. The wine is straight down the line, starting with perfumed acidity and finishing with blackberry fruit. Intense and tannic, it's likely to age. Drink from 2020.In Bond£469.00 -
Wine Advocate (99)
Broad and powerful, Egly's 2012 Brut Grand Cru Millésime is a serious, vinous Champagne somewhat reminiscent of his brilliant 2002. Delivering complex aromas of pear, honeycomb, orange oil, sweet stone fruits, praline and freshly baked bread, it's full-bodied, deep and muscular, with a multidimensional core of fruit, racy acids and a long, resonant finish. Complex and compelling, readers will have a hard time choosing between the power and texture of 2012 and the quintessentially elegant, seamless 2013. Both are benchmarks for what contemporary Champagne can achieve.In Bond£459.00 -
Wine Advocate (99)
Broad and powerful, Egly's 2012 Brut Grand Cru Millésime is a serious, vinous Champagne somewhat reminiscent of his brilliant 2002. Delivering complex aromas of pear, honeycomb, orange oil, sweet stone fruits, praline and freshly baked bread, it's full-bodied, deep and muscular, with a multidimensional core of fruit, racy acids and a long, resonant finish. Complex and compelling, readers will have a hard time choosing between the power and texture of 2012 and the quintessentially elegant, seamless 2013. Both are benchmarks for what contemporary Champagne can achieve.In Bond£2,650.00 -
Vinous (93+)
Bright, dark red. Distinctly blacker and wilder on the nose than the Echézeaux, with dark berry and floral aromas complicated by notes of sous-bois, coffee, mocha and menthol. Rather tight, even musclebound, today but boasts terrific energy to its blackberry, menthol and violet flavors. Finishes adamantly dry, broad and soil-inflected, with considerable power and outstanding length. Like the Echézeaux, this is painfully backward today. The fruit was picked at 11.8% and chaptalized to 13.2%.In Bond£5,625.00 -
The Wine Cellar Insider (94-96)
The Merlot was picked from September 20 through October 9. The Cabernet Franc was harvested over 2 days, October 6 and October 8. From a blend of 93% Merlot with 7% Cabernet Franc, this is one of the highest percentages of Merlot in the estate’s history. However, this was not due to the lack of ripeness in the Cabernet Franc. Much of the Cabernet Franc was replanted starting in 2006. It is expected that the estate will be using closer to 20% Cabernet Franc in the blend starting in 2020. The wine reached 14.4% alcohol with a pH of 3.7. Yields were low at 31 hectoliters per hectare. Deep ruby in color, the wine exudes truffle, chocolate, plum liqueur, tobacco, smoke, roses and cherries. On the palate, the wine is pure silk and velvet in texture with volume, depth and length. Picture chocolate-covered cherries that you can eat, or drink, your choice. 94-96 PtsIn Bond£805.00 -
Wine Advocate (85-87)
Notes of tobacco leaf, roasted herbs, red and black currants are found in this medium-bodied, straightforward 2012. Drink it over the next 5-6 years.In Bond£285.00 -
Wine Advocate (87-89)
This straw-colored 2012 exhibits notes of figs, citrus oil, grapefruit and wet grass. Drink this intriguing, Sauvignon-dominated, dry white over the next 7-10 years.In Bond£132.00 -
Vinous - Neal Martin (93)
The 2012 Figeac has a broody and backward bouquet with black fruit, autumn leaves, truffle and cedar. Not unlike Lafleur. The palate is fresh on the entry with pliant tannins, open and generous, layers of red fruit with a dash of white pepper and allspice. It fans out wonderfully towards the finish that just lacks a bit of persistence. The second bottle at Bordeaux Index's tasting shows a little more spiciness on the finish. Tasted blind at the Southwold Ten-Year On tasting.In Bond£945.00 -
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (93)
The 2012 Fleur Cardinale is a beautiful example of modern Saint-Emilion. Silky tannins and soft contours wrap around a core of red cherry jam, wild flowers, mint, cinnamon and white pepper. Dramatic and expansive on the palate, the 2012 shows remarkable nuance for such an intense wine. All the elements fall into place effortlessly.In Bond£300.00 -
Introducing Fombrauge Blanc 2012, an exquisite example of winemaking finesse. This remarkable wine hails from Bordeaux, France and is solely owned and operated by Bernard Magrez, a celebrated figure in the wine world. Produced under meticulous attention to detail, Fombrauge Blanc 2012 comes from a rich limestone and clay terroir that lends it unique character and complexity. Using a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, each grape is hand-picked and manually sorted before undergoing the meticulous vinification process. The end result is an unforgettably vibrant wine with a luminous golden hue and refreshing citrus aroma. A taste reveals well-balanced notes of honey, apricot, and vanilla, with a subtly spicy undertone. This fine blend has enjoyed ample ageing in 100% French oak barrels, enriching its flavours and adding a silky texture. Fombrauge Blanc 2012 is an exquisite choice for discerning wine drinkers. Savour its exalted complexity and depth, and relish the taste of fine Bordeaux winemaking.
In Bond£224.00 -
Wine Advocate (91-93)
Moving to the reds, the 2012 Fonsalette Cotes du Rhone, which was tasted from multiple barrels, offers gorgeous Grenache character with white pepper, green herbs and pine-like notes that are grounded by a superb core of fruit. Medium to full-bodied, beautifully fresh and elegant, it should be an outstanding bottle of wine with 12-15 years of longevity.In Bond£2,776.00 -
Wine Advocate (91-93)
Moving to the reds, the 2012 Fonsalette Cotes du Rhone, which was tasted from multiple barrels, offers gorgeous Grenache character with white pepper, green herbs and pine-like notes that are grounded by a superb core of fruit. Medium to full-bodied, beautifully fresh and elegant, it should be an outstanding bottle of wine with 12-15 years of longevity.In Bond£364.00 -
Wine Advocate (91-93)
Moving to the reds, the 2012 Fonsalette Cotes du Rhone, which was tasted from multiple barrels, offers gorgeous Grenache character with white pepper, green herbs and pine-like notes that are grounded by a superb core of fruit. Medium to full-bodied, beautifully fresh and elegant, it should be an outstanding bottle of wine with 12-15 years of longevity.In Bond£1,339.00 -
Wine Advocate (95)
The 2012 Criots-Batard-Montrachet Grand Cru comes from the family’s one-third hectare holding planted between the 1930s and 1990s. It was picked the same day as the premier crus and Celine told me that it always has a slightly higher degree of alcohol. It has an entrancing bouquet with perfumed apricot, peach and dried citrus peel notes infused with minerals – feminine and seductive. The palate is medium-bodied with a rounded, powerful, spicy opening. It is very well balanced, very concentrated on the finish. This is compelling like so many from this under-rated grand cru vineyard, though there are just four barrels instead of the usual eight in this year.In Bond£2,547.00 -
Jancis Robinson (18)
Three casks from three different spots. Slightly cloudy cherry red. Really rich and solid. From a very good producer (a long-term proposition) and made in the domaine philosophy. Lots of tannin on the end. Very energetic. Very slightly bitter on the end.In Bond£1,705.00 -
The Francis Boulard Rachais Brut Nature 2012 is a venerable display of an excellent, biodynamically produced Champagne. Crafted meticulously by Francis Boulard, a renowned winemaker whose family has been dedicated to viticulture for over two centuries, this offering encapsulates the essence of Champagne's Massif de Saint-Thierry terroir. This Extra Brut is primarily composed of Pinot Meunier, possessing a remarkably low dosage making it exceptionally crisp and unfiltered.
Certain vintage years, including 2012, are known for their exceptional quality, and Francis Boulard utilises traditional methods to exquisitely express this bounty. The Champagne is fermented in oak barrels and the bottles are manually disgorged. The result is a wine possessing complex aromatic character redolent with green apple, nougat and yuzu notes supported by a vibrant acidity that promises enduring cellaring potential.
A bottle of Francis Boulard Rachais Brut Nature 2012 is a testament to unwavering commitment to organic and biodynamic practices, radiating the brilliance of its maker and the vineyard's exceptional terrain.
In Bond£283.00 -
Tim Atkin MW (97)
One of only five Grands Crus monopoles in Burgundy, this is sometimes regarded as being of lesser quality than the other four, but that’s unfair. The wine is improving with every vintage since it was elevated in 1992 and this is particularly fine. Delicate, sweet and stylish, it's a nunaced, fragrant Pinot with lacy tannins, effortlessly integrated oak and a bright, refreshing finish.In Bond£2,909.00 -
Wine Advocate (92)
Tasted blind at the annual Burgfest tasting in Beaune. The 2012 Vosne Romanée 1er Cru Aux Malconsorts from Domaine François Lamarche has a refined and detailed bouquet: fresh strawberry, cranberry leaf and minerals, all very attractive. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, just a dab of oak to be fully subsumed, but with plenty of weight and volume on the pretty, quite spicy finish. It's just a delicious, well-crafted Vosne-Romanée and one of the best from the domaine in 2012.In Bond£1,073.00 -
Immerse yourself in the sophisticated world of Burgundian whites with the Frantz Chagnoleau Saint Veran La Roche 2012. This gem from Maçon is meticulously handcrafted by viticulturist duo Frantz Chagnoleau and Caroline Gon, whose passionate devotion to the delicacy of the Chardonnay grape truly shines through. With an unwavering commitment to biodynamic principles, the duo meticulously cultivates vines averaging 50 years of age, producing an organic wine of unparalleled quality.
The Frantz Chagnoleau Saint Veran La Roche 2012 boasts vibrant, complex notes of citrus and pear, underpinned by a distinct minerality gleaned from the rocky vineyard soils. This expressive wine, with 12 months of lees aging, delivers a mouth-filling palate with impeccable balance and a lengthy finish, truly celebrating its Burgundy origin. The producer's gentle, non-interventionist winemaking techniques ensure the purest expression of terroir in every bottle. An extraordinary wine for discerning palates.
In Bond£208.00
