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
![Bottle of Cristal, Lafite, DRC, Rayas and Chave](https://media.cruworldwine.com/media/resized/500_300/catalog/category/France.png)
-
Inc. VAT£1,498.84
-
Wine Advocate (98)
Having retreated into its shell, the deep garnet colored 2009 Léoville Poyferré gives up slowly revealing notions of cigar boxes, pencil lead, charcoal, rose hip tea and fragrant earth with a core of preserved plums, crème de cassis, espresso and Indian spices. Full, rich, seductive and voluptuously fruited in the mouth, the palate features firm yet beautifully velvety tannins and seamless freshness, finishing very long and spicy.Inc. VAT£2,316.07 -
Wine Advocate (97)
The 2009 Chambertin is one of the wines of the vintage. It is also the least obvious of the 2009 grand crus. This isn’t an immediate wine, rather it is a Burgundy that challenges all of the senses with sublime understated personality. Time spent with the wine is immensely rewarding, as the Chambertin is constantly changing in the glass, challenging the taster to keep up with its sheer pedigree. This is all nuance and class. I also tasted the 2010 from barrel, and it was beyond profound. Anticipated maturity: 2019-2039.Inc. VAT£19,320.80 -
Wine Advocate (97)
The 2009 Clos Vougeout, on the other hand, impresses with its dazzling purity and elegance. This is possibly the most refined Clos Vougeot I have ever tasted. Sweet red berries, flowers and mint are some of the nuances that radiant from this exceptional wine. The tannins are firm yet beautifully integrated. Focus and length define the impeccable finish. Anticipated maturity: 2019-2039.Inc. VAT£8,714.00 -
Wine Advocate (94)
The 2009 Corton-Charlemagne is a huge wine, but like all of Lalou Bize’s 2009s, the whites are taking longer to recover from their bottling than the reds. There is plenty of depth and richness in the glass, but this still needs a few years in bottle to come together. Smoke, spices and wet stones frame the intense finish. Anticipated maturity: 2019+.Inc. VAT£11,474.00 -
Wine Advocate (94+)
The 2009 Nuits St. Georges Aux Boudots is a big, explosive wine endowed with considerable textural depth and power. Endless waves of flavor wrap around the palate in this extroverted Burgundy. Despite the wine’s size, it also has more than enough polish and class to balance some of its more overt tendencies. Black cherries, smoke, spices and asphalt are some of the nuances that add complexity to the long finish. Anticipated maturity: 2019-2039.Inc. VAT£9,644.89 -
Wine Advocate (94+)
The 2009 Nuits St. Georges Aux Boudots is a big, explosive wine endowed with considerable textural depth and power. Endless waves of flavor wrap around the palate in this extroverted Burgundy. Despite the wine’s size, it also has more than enough polish and class to balance some of its more overt tendencies. Black cherries, smoke, spices and asphalt are some of the nuances that add complexity to the long finish. Anticipated maturity: 2019-2039.Inc. VAT£15,564.74 -
Vinous (92)
The 2009 Nuits St. Georges Aux Allots presents a softer, rounder style of Nuits. Crushed flowers, spices and sweet red berries sit on a core of silky tannins. This is an especially refined, textured Burgundy of immensely early appeal, even if it lacks the sheer excitement of the finest 2009s here. Still, readers looking for a good introduction to the vintage at Leroy might want to start here.Inc. VAT£6,367.69 -
Wine Advocate (96)
The 2009 Vosne-Romanee Les Beaux Monts bursts from the glass with dazzling fruit that covers every inch of the palate. Sweet dark fruit, spices, tar and leather are some of the notes that flesh out on the stunning, multi-dimensional finish. This is a dazzling wine endowed with tons of class and sheer pedigree. It is not to be missed. Anticipated maturity: 2019-2029.Inc. VAT£3,784.40 -
Wine Spectator (96)
This is gorgeous, with blackberry and licorice and spice. Full and silky-textured tannins turn chewy, but finishes with class. Best ever? So impressive. Score range: 93-96 -JSInc. VAT£1,370.47 -
Inc. VAT£616.87
-
Vinous - Neal Martin (96)
The 2009 Les Forts de Latour is engaging and quite complex on the nose with blackberry, bilberry, hints of brine and freshly rolled tobacco, all very well delineated and gaining vigor with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with fine but firm tannin that frame layers of black fruit laced with pencil lead and tobacco, very convincing on the finish that has one of the longest lengths of any Pauillac in this flight. Excellent. Tasted blind at Farr Vintners’ 2009 Bordeaux tasting.Inc. VAT£2,762.47 -
Vinous - Neal Martin (96)
The 2009 Les Forts de Latour is engaging and quite complex on the nose with blackberry, bilberry, hints of brine and freshly rolled tobacco, all very well delineated and gaining vigor with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with fine but firm tannin that frame layers of black fruit laced with pencil lead and tobacco, very convincing on the finish that has one of the longest lengths of any Pauillac in this flight. Excellent. Tasted blind at Farr Vintners’ 2009 Bordeaux tasting.Inc. VAT£1,432.84 -
Vinous - Neal Martin (96)
The 2009 Les Forts de Latour is engaging and quite complex on the nose with blackberry, bilberry, hints of brine and freshly rolled tobacco, all very well delineated and gaining vigor with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with fine but firm tannin that frame layers of black fruit laced with pencil lead and tobacco, very convincing on the finish that has one of the longest lengths of any Pauillac in this flight. Excellent. Tasted blind at Farr Vintners’ 2009 Bordeaux tasting.Inc. VAT£1,638.04 -
Indulge in the luxury of Lionnet Cornas Terre Brulee 2009, a masterstroke of winemaking from the Northern Rhône region of France. Crafted by the esteemed Domaine Lionnet, renowned for their commitment to traditional winemaking methodologies, this fine Syrah is a quintessential demonstration of their pedigree. This wine respects the ancient 'goblet' vine training practice and amphora fermentation.
Sourced from a single vineyard with 50-years-old vines over granite subsoils, the Lionnet Cornas Terre Brulee 2009 beautifully translates the terroir into an exquisite taste experience. It captivates the palate with robust flavours of dark fruit, earth, and spice, complemented by well-integrated tannins and a lengthy finish.
This organic wine, made with naturally occurring yeasts, embodies the classic Cornas essence and is a celebration of Syrah’s complexity, allowing a profound wine to be experienced. Enjoy the Lionnet Cornas Terre Brulee 2009 and embrace the depth of traditionally crafted wines.
Inc. VAT£1,349.38 -
Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (96+)
Bright medium red. Knockout soil-driven nose combines red cherry, cocoa powder, brown spices, dried flowers, lavender and minerals. The palate offers compelling high-pitched flavors of red fruits and flowers complemented by strong saline soil tones. Conveys a powerful impression of extract without any fat. This youthfully imploded wine magically combines power and finesse, finishing with outstanding sappiness and thrust. It was hard to scrape this off my palate--not that I tried.Inc. VAT£2,856.04 -
Vinous (91)
The 2009 Meursault Charmes is a rather large-scaled, bombastic white bursting with fruit. Here the oak is a bit more pronounced, but not necessarily out of character given the wine's big, boisterous personality. All of the elements come together beautifully on the expansive finish. The Charmes saw 33% new barrels.Inc. VAT£722.69 -
Jeb Dunnuck (97)
The 2009 Cristal is a beauty, with incredible richness as well as elegance, which are the hallmarks of this cuvée. Always a rough blend of 60/40 Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from estate vineyards, it has a toasty, yet pure bouquet of stone fruits, rising bread, white flowers, and toasted bread, as well as a terrific sense of chalky minerality. While it’s not built around sheer richness and power (à la Krug), it’s perfectly balanced, has a fine, fine mousse, and shines for its class and purity. Bravo! It’s going to keep for another two decades.Inc. VAT£697.61 -
Jeb Dunnuck (97)
The 2009 Cristal is a beauty, with incredible richness as well as elegance, which are the hallmarks of this cuvée. Always a rough blend of 60/40 Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from estate vineyards, it has a toasty, yet pure bouquet of stone fruits, rising bread, white flowers, and toasted bread, as well as a terrific sense of chalky minerality. While it’s not built around sheer richness and power (à la Krug), it’s perfectly balanced, has a fine, fine mousse, and shines for its class and purity. Bravo! It’s going to keep for another two decades.Inc. VAT£1,498.80 -
Vinous (97)
A wine of sublime delicacy and finesse, the 2009 Cristal Rosé is simply magnificent. The 2009 is surprisingly refined, silky and nuanced for a wine from a warm vintage. The red and floral-infused overtones are quite attractive, but it is the wine's exceptional balance that places it among the best new releases of the year. Over the years, I have had the chance to taste many vintages of Cristal Rosé, a Champagne that needs bottle age to be at its very best. I suspect that will be the case here as well. Don't miss it.Inc. VAT£1,408.01 -
Vinous (97)
A wine of sublime delicacy and finesse, the 2009 Cristal Rosé is simply magnificent. The 2009 is surprisingly refined, silky and nuanced for a wine from a warm vintage. The red and floral-infused overtones are quite attractive, but it is the wine's exceptional balance that places it among the best new releases of the year. Over the years, I have had the chance to taste many vintages of Cristal Rosé, a Champagne that needs bottle age to be at its very best. I suspect that will be the case here as well. Don't miss it.Inc. VAT£671.60 -
Vinous (97)
A wine of sublime delicacy and finesse, the 2009 Cristal Rosé is simply magnificent. The 2009 is surprisingly refined, silky and nuanced for a wine from a warm vintage. The red and floral-infused overtones are quite attractive, but it is the wine's exceptional balance that places it among the best new releases of the year. Over the years, I have had the chance to taste many vintages of Cristal Rosé, a Champagne that needs bottle age to be at its very best. I suspect that will be the case here as well. Don't miss it.Inc. VAT£1,791.62 -
Inc. VAT£2,103.67
-
Inc. VAT£2,798.86
-
Inc. VAT£1,041.64
-
Wine Enthusiast (95)
94-96 Barrel sample. Firm and solid, but also full of charm and elegance, the fruit ripe and sweet, delicious. That gives already a wine with balance, tremendous juiciness as well as structure.Inc. VAT£726.07 -
Wine Advocate (94)
A property that has largely been replanted over the last 25 years, the 2009 is one of the best the firm of Jean-Pierre Moueix has yet released from this estate. Eighty percent of this vineyard sits on the limestone plateau and 20% on the hillsides, and the 2009 displays a classic confiture of black cherries, some crushed rocks and spring flowers in a full-bodied, yet at the same time, ethereal and rather elegant style. The wine has gorgeous fruit purity, a broad, luscious texture, and more density and richness than one normally finds in this somewhat finesse-styled wine, which seems to have achieved more depth and potential in 2009. This should be drinkable in 5-6 years and keep for 25 or more.Inc. VAT£1,820.47 -
Vinous - Neal Martin (92)
The 2009 Magrez-Fombrauge has a deep garnet core with little ageing on the rim. The bouquet is attractive with melted red berry fruit, black olive compote and light desiccated orange peel aromas, nicely defined and elegant in style. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannin, gentle grip, quite savory with Chinese 5-spice and white pepper sprinkled over the finish. It feels like some ripe Cabernet Franc here (even though it is 100% Merlot) and the aftertaste is commendably long. Very fine. Tasted blind at Farr Vintners’ 2009 Bordeaux tasting.Inc. VAT£1,515.18 -
Inc. VAT£3,288.58
-
Inc. VAT£11,836.18
-
In Bond£1,233.00
-
Wine Advocate (98)
Having retreated into its shell, the deep garnet colored 2009 Léoville Poyferré gives up slowly revealing notions of cigar boxes, pencil lead, charcoal, rose hip tea and fragrant earth with a core of preserved plums, crème de cassis, espresso and Indian spices. Full, rich, seductive and voluptuously fruited in the mouth, the palate features firm yet beautifully velvety tannins and seamless freshness, finishing very long and spicy.In Bond£1,898.00 -
Wine Advocate (97)
The 2009 Chambertin is one of the wines of the vintage. It is also the least obvious of the 2009 grand crus. This isn’t an immediate wine, rather it is a Burgundy that challenges all of the senses with sublime understated personality. Time spent with the wine is immensely rewarding, as the Chambertin is constantly changing in the glass, challenging the taster to keep up with its sheer pedigree. This is all nuance and class. I also tasted the 2010 from barrel, and it was beyond profound. Anticipated maturity: 2019-2039.In Bond£16,098.00 -
Wine Advocate (97)
The 2009 Clos Vougeout, on the other hand, impresses with its dazzling purity and elegance. This is possibly the most refined Clos Vougeot I have ever tasted. Sweet red berries, flowers and mint are some of the nuances that radiant from this exceptional wine. The tannins are firm yet beautifully integrated. Focus and length define the impeccable finish. Anticipated maturity: 2019-2039.In Bond£7,259.00 -
Wine Advocate (94)
The 2009 Corton-Charlemagne is a huge wine, but like all of Lalou Bize’s 2009s, the whites are taking longer to recover from their bottling than the reds. There is plenty of depth and richness in the glass, but this still needs a few years in bottle to come together. Smoke, spices and wet stones frame the intense finish. Anticipated maturity: 2019+.In Bond£9,559.00 -
Wine Advocate (94+)
The 2009 Nuits St. Georges Aux Boudots is a big, explosive wine endowed with considerable textural depth and power. Endless waves of flavor wrap around the palate in this extroverted Burgundy. Despite the wine’s size, it also has more than enough polish and class to balance some of its more overt tendencies. Black cherries, smoke, spices and asphalt are some of the nuances that add complexity to the long finish. Anticipated maturity: 2019-2039.In Bond£8,031.00 -
Wine Advocate (94+)
The 2009 Nuits St. Georges Aux Boudots is a big, explosive wine endowed with considerable textural depth and power. Endless waves of flavor wrap around the palate in this extroverted Burgundy. Despite the wine’s size, it also has more than enough polish and class to balance some of its more overt tendencies. Black cherries, smoke, spices and asphalt are some of the nuances that add complexity to the long finish. Anticipated maturity: 2019-2039.In Bond£12,961.00 -
Vinous (92)
The 2009 Nuits St. Georges Aux Allots presents a softer, rounder style of Nuits. Crushed flowers, spices and sweet red berries sit on a core of silky tannins. This is an especially refined, textured Burgundy of immensely early appeal, even if it lacks the sheer excitement of the finest 2009s here. Still, readers looking for a good introduction to the vintage at Leroy might want to start here.In Bond£5,300.00 -
Wine Advocate (96)
The 2009 Vosne-Romanee Les Beaux Monts bursts from the glass with dazzling fruit that covers every inch of the palate. Sweet dark fruit, spices, tar and leather are some of the notes that flesh out on the stunning, multi-dimensional finish. This is a dazzling wine endowed with tons of class and sheer pedigree. It is not to be missed. Anticipated maturity: 2019-2029.In Bond£3,151.00 -
Wine Spectator (96)
This is gorgeous, with blackberry and licorice and spice. Full and silky-textured tannins turn chewy, but finishes with class. Best ever? So impressive. Score range: 93-96 -JSIn Bond£1,110.00 -
In Bond£482.00
-
Vinous - Neal Martin (96)
The 2009 Les Forts de Latour is engaging and quite complex on the nose with blackberry, bilberry, hints of brine and freshly rolled tobacco, all very well delineated and gaining vigor with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with fine but firm tannin that frame layers of black fruit laced with pencil lead and tobacco, very convincing on the finish that has one of the longest lengths of any Pauillac in this flight. Excellent. Tasted blind at Farr Vintners’ 2009 Bordeaux tasting.In Bond£2,270.00 -
Vinous - Neal Martin (96)
The 2009 Les Forts de Latour is engaging and quite complex on the nose with blackberry, bilberry, hints of brine and freshly rolled tobacco, all very well delineated and gaining vigor with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with fine but firm tannin that frame layers of black fruit laced with pencil lead and tobacco, very convincing on the finish that has one of the longest lengths of any Pauillac in this flight. Excellent. Tasted blind at Farr Vintners’ 2009 Bordeaux tasting.In Bond£1,178.00 -
Vinous - Neal Martin (96)
The 2009 Les Forts de Latour is engaging and quite complex on the nose with blackberry, bilberry, hints of brine and freshly rolled tobacco, all very well delineated and gaining vigor with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with fine but firm tannin that frame layers of black fruit laced with pencil lead and tobacco, very convincing on the finish that has one of the longest lengths of any Pauillac in this flight. Excellent. Tasted blind at Farr Vintners’ 2009 Bordeaux tasting.In Bond£1,349.00 -
Indulge in the luxury of Lionnet Cornas Terre Brulee 2009, a masterstroke of winemaking from the Northern Rhône region of France. Crafted by the esteemed Domaine Lionnet, renowned for their commitment to traditional winemaking methodologies, this fine Syrah is a quintessential demonstration of their pedigree. This wine respects the ancient 'goblet' vine training practice and amphora fermentation.
Sourced from a single vineyard with 50-years-old vines over granite subsoils, the Lionnet Cornas Terre Brulee 2009 beautifully translates the terroir into an exquisite taste experience. It captivates the palate with robust flavours of dark fruit, earth, and spice, complemented by well-integrated tannins and a lengthy finish.
This organic wine, made with naturally occurring yeasts, embodies the classic Cornas essence and is a celebration of Syrah’s complexity, allowing a profound wine to be experienced. Enjoy the Lionnet Cornas Terre Brulee 2009 and embrace the depth of traditionally crafted wines.
In Bond£1,086.00 -
Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (96+)
Bright medium red. Knockout soil-driven nose combines red cherry, cocoa powder, brown spices, dried flowers, lavender and minerals. The palate offers compelling high-pitched flavors of red fruits and flowers complemented by strong saline soil tones. Conveys a powerful impression of extract without any fat. This youthfully imploded wine magically combines power and finesse, finishing with outstanding sappiness and thrust. It was hard to scrape this off my palate--not that I tried.In Bond£2,364.00 -
Vinous (91)
The 2009 Meursault Charmes is a rather large-scaled, bombastic white bursting with fruit. Here the oak is a bit more pronounced, but not necessarily out of character given the wine's big, boisterous personality. All of the elements come together beautifully on the expansive finish. The Charmes saw 33% new barrels.In Bond£583.00 -
Jeb Dunnuck (97)
The 2009 Cristal is a beauty, with incredible richness as well as elegance, which are the hallmarks of this cuvée. Always a rough blend of 60/40 Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from estate vineyards, it has a toasty, yet pure bouquet of stone fruits, rising bread, white flowers, and toasted bread, as well as a terrific sense of chalky minerality. While it’s not built around sheer richness and power (à la Krug), it’s perfectly balanced, has a fine, fine mousse, and shines for its class and purity. Bravo! It’s going to keep for another two decades.In Bond£576.00 -
Jeb Dunnuck (97)
The 2009 Cristal is a beauty, with incredible richness as well as elegance, which are the hallmarks of this cuvée. Always a rough blend of 60/40 Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from estate vineyards, it has a toasty, yet pure bouquet of stone fruits, rising bread, white flowers, and toasted bread, as well as a terrific sense of chalky minerality. While it’s not built around sheer richness and power (à la Krug), it’s perfectly balanced, has a fine, fine mousse, and shines for its class and purity. Bravo! It’s going to keep for another two decades.Inc. VAT£1,498.80 -
Vinous (97)
A wine of sublime delicacy and finesse, the 2009 Cristal Rosé is simply magnificent. The 2009 is surprisingly refined, silky and nuanced for a wine from a warm vintage. The red and floral-infused overtones are quite attractive, but it is the wine's exceptional balance that places it among the best new releases of the year. Over the years, I have had the chance to taste many vintages of Cristal Rosé, a Champagne that needs bottle age to be at its very best. I suspect that will be the case here as well. Don't miss it.In Bond£1,168.00 -
Vinous (97)
A wine of sublime delicacy and finesse, the 2009 Cristal Rosé is simply magnificent. The 2009 is surprisingly refined, silky and nuanced for a wine from a warm vintage. The red and floral-infused overtones are quite attractive, but it is the wine's exceptional balance that places it among the best new releases of the year. Over the years, I have had the chance to taste many vintages of Cristal Rosé, a Champagne that needs bottle age to be at its very best. I suspect that will be the case here as well. Don't miss it.In Bond£557.00 -
Vinous (97)
A wine of sublime delicacy and finesse, the 2009 Cristal Rosé is simply magnificent. The 2009 is surprisingly refined, silky and nuanced for a wine from a warm vintage. The red and floral-infused overtones are quite attractive, but it is the wine's exceptional balance that places it among the best new releases of the year. Over the years, I have had the chance to taste many vintages of Cristal Rosé, a Champagne that needs bottle age to be at its very best. I suspect that will be the case here as well. Don't miss it.In Bond£1,485.00 -
In Bond£1,721.00
-
In Bond£2,311.00
-
In Bond£852.00
-
Wine Enthusiast (95)
94-96 Barrel sample. Firm and solid, but also full of charm and elegance, the fruit ripe and sweet, delicious. That gives already a wine with balance, tremendous juiciness as well as structure.In Bond£573.00 -
Wine Advocate (94)
A property that has largely been replanted over the last 25 years, the 2009 is one of the best the firm of Jean-Pierre Moueix has yet released from this estate. Eighty percent of this vineyard sits on the limestone plateau and 20% on the hillsides, and the 2009 displays a classic confiture of black cherries, some crushed rocks and spring flowers in a full-bodied, yet at the same time, ethereal and rather elegant style. The wine has gorgeous fruit purity, a broad, luscious texture, and more density and richness than one normally finds in this somewhat finesse-styled wine, which seems to have achieved more depth and potential in 2009. This should be drinkable in 5-6 years and keep for 25 or more.In Bond£1,485.00 -
Vinous - Neal Martin (92)
The 2009 Magrez-Fombrauge has a deep garnet core with little ageing on the rim. The bouquet is attractive with melted red berry fruit, black olive compote and light desiccated orange peel aromas, nicely defined and elegant in style. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannin, gentle grip, quite savory with Chinese 5-spice and white pepper sprinkled over the finish. It feels like some ripe Cabernet Franc here (even though it is 100% Merlot) and the aftertaste is commendably long. Very fine. Tasted blind at Farr Vintners’ 2009 Bordeaux tasting.In Bond£1,237.00 -
In Bond£2,702.00
-
In Bond£9,825.00