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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Inc. VAT£139.32 -
(6x75cl) 2018Inc. VAT£547.92 -
(6x75cl) 2020Inc. VAT£527.89 -
(1x75cl) 2021Inc. VAT£89.33 -
Inc. VAT£100.13 -
(1x75cl) 2023Inc. VAT£124.13 -
(1x150cl) 1999Inc. VAT£1,538.81 -
(1x75cl) 2018Vinous (93)
The 2018 Montrachet Grand Cru has a heavy reduction on the nose that masks the terroir, but that will dissipate with time. The palate is (again) very reduced at the moment, good weight and concentration, quite muscular yet missing a bit of grace on the finish. Difficult to figure this out. Tasted blind at the Burgfest 2018 white tasting.Inc. VAT£1,639.60 -
(1x75cl) 2019Inc. VAT£1,373.48 -
Inc. VAT£283.55 -
(12x75cl) 2017Inc. VAT£1,285.49 -
Inc. VAT£164.93 -
Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (93-95)
A domaine wine. Pale lemon colour. The bouquet is not especially demonstrative but the palate certainly is. The fruit is ripe, with some of those bacon fat notes, but otherwise with a quintessential purity, the flesh we expect of Folatières and a strongly stony feel throughout. Long and expressive. Tasted: November 2021.Inc. VAT£193.26 -
Vinous - Neal Martin (95)
The 2021 Puligny-Montrachet Les Folatières 1er Cru has a very classy bouquet with beautifully integrated oak, real intensity and impressive delineation. The palate is fresh and concentrated. Wonderful depth and almost racy acidity with gorgeous yellow plum and spicy notes towards the persistent and harmonious finish. Superb. Sophisticated. Tasted blind at the Burgfest tasting.Inc. VAT£1,299.89 -
Vinous - Neal Martin (91)
The 2022 Puligny-Montrachet Les Folatières 1er Cru is showing a veneer of new oak on the nose that currently covers the terroir and fruit expression. The palate is effervescent on entry, very lemony with a keen line of acidity, though the new oak is imperious and oppresses the finish, rendering this rather generic in style and below the bottle tasted a couple of years back. Tasted blind at the annual Burgfest tasting.Inc. VAT£230.93 -
(6x75cl) 2020Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (94-97)
A domaine wine. Pale clear lemon. This again has one of the toastier noses, the effect of the second elevage on full lees. The fruit explodes on the palate, pure ripe white apples if one has to specify but both the class and the texture are impeccable. And perfect aftertaste. A strong 4 stars, a candidate for five. Tasted: November 2021.Inc. VAT£1,844.44 -
(6x75cl) 2021Vinous - Neal Martin (90)
The 2021 Puligny-Montrachet Les Pucelles 1er Cru has a crowd-pleasing lime-scented bouquet that does not overpower the mineralité. There is a very slight reduction that is attractive in a "smoky bacon" style. The palate is more reduced than the nose (something that is atypical in my experience) and here it feels excessive, suppressing the freshness and fruit, rendering it just a little generic on the finish. There is a good wine somewhere here but it is difficult to find in this bottle. Tasted blind at the Burgfest tasting.Inc. VAT£1,997.52 -
(6x75cl) 2022Inc. VAT£941.09 -
Inc. VAT£139.73 -
(6x75cl) 2016Inc. VAT£678.29 -
Inc. VAT£163.73 -
Inc. VAT£258.40 -
(1x75cl) 2020Inc. VAT£141.20 -
Inc. VAT£123.59 -
(6x75cl) 2022Inc. VAT£741.20 -
Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (88-91)
A blend from all the plots of Puligny except Charmes and Trézin. A pretty bouquet with some fresh citrus blossom on the nose, pure white fruit on the palate, which is on the broader side but with enough concentration to kick on nicely to a tasty finish. Very correct and quite accessible. Drink from 2027-2030. Tasted Oct 2024.Inc. VAT£108.25 -
(6x75cl) 2018Inc. VAT£800.87 -
(6x75cl) 2020Inc. VAT£592.32 -
Inc. VAT£154.13 -
(1x75cl) 2017Inc. VAT£146.65
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In Bond£113.00 -
(6x75cl) 2018In Bond£438.00 -
(6x75cl) 2020In Bond£422.00 -
(1x75cl) 2021In Bond£71.00 -
In Bond£80.00 -
(1x75cl) 2023In Bond£100.00 -
(1x150cl) 1999In Bond£1,277.00 -
(1x75cl) 2018Vinous (93)
The 2018 Montrachet Grand Cru has a heavy reduction on the nose that masks the terroir, but that will dissipate with time. The palate is (again) very reduced at the moment, good weight and concentration, quite muscular yet missing a bit of grace on the finish. Difficult to figure this out. Tasted blind at the Burgfest 2018 white tasting.In Bond£1,362.89 -
(1x75cl) 2019In Bond£1,141.24 -
In Bond£217.00 -
(12x75cl) 2017In Bond£1,029.90 -
In Bond£134.00 -
Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (93-95)
A domaine wine. Pale lemon colour. The bouquet is not especially demonstrative but the palate certainly is. The fruit is ripe, with some of those bacon fat notes, but otherwise with a quintessential purity, the flesh we expect of Folatières and a strongly stony feel throughout. Long and expressive. Tasted: November 2021.In Bond£158.00 -
Vinous - Neal Martin (95)
The 2021 Puligny-Montrachet Les Folatières 1er Cru has a very classy bouquet with beautifully integrated oak, real intensity and impressive delineation. The palate is fresh and concentrated. Wonderful depth and almost racy acidity with gorgeous yellow plum and spicy notes towards the persistent and harmonious finish. Superb. Sophisticated. Tasted blind at the Burgfest tasting.In Bond£1,064.00 -
Vinous - Neal Martin (91)
The 2022 Puligny-Montrachet Les Folatières 1er Cru is showing a veneer of new oak on the nose that currently covers the terroir and fruit expression. The palate is effervescent on entry, very lemony with a keen line of acidity, though the new oak is imperious and oppresses the finish, rendering this rather generic in style and below the bottle tasted a couple of years back. Tasted blind at the annual Burgfest tasting.In Bond£189.00 -
(6x75cl) 2020Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (94-97)
A domaine wine. Pale clear lemon. This again has one of the toastier noses, the effect of the second elevage on full lees. The fruit explodes on the palate, pure ripe white apples if one has to specify but both the class and the texture are impeccable. And perfect aftertaste. A strong 4 stars, a candidate for five. Tasted: November 2021.In Bond£1,521.00 -
(6x75cl) 2021Vinous - Neal Martin (90)
The 2021 Puligny-Montrachet Les Pucelles 1er Cru has a crowd-pleasing lime-scented bouquet that does not overpower the mineralité. There is a very slight reduction that is attractive in a "smoky bacon" style. The palate is more reduced than the nose (something that is atypical in my experience) and here it feels excessive, suppressing the freshness and fruit, rendering it just a little generic on the finish. There is a good wine somewhere here but it is difficult to find in this bottle. Tasted blind at the Burgfest tasting.In Bond£1,645.36 -
(6x75cl) 2022In Bond£765.00 -
In Bond£113.00 -
(6x75cl) 2016In Bond£546.00 -
In Bond£133.00 -
In Bond£212.00 -
(1x75cl) 2020In Bond£115.00 -
In Bond£100.00 -
(6x75cl) 2022In Bond£597.00 -
Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (88-91)
A blend from all the plots of Puligny except Charmes and Trézin. A pretty bouquet with some fresh citrus blossom on the nose, pure white fruit on the palate, which is on the broader side but with enough concentration to kick on nicely to a tasty finish. Very correct and quite accessible. Drink from 2027-2030. Tasted Oct 2024.In Bond£87.00 -
(6x75cl) 2018In Bond£649.48 -
(6x75cl) 2020In Bond£475.00 -
In Bond£125.00 -
(1x75cl) 2017In Bond£119.00

