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
-
(12x75cl) 1999Vinous (88)
Medium bright red with an amber rim. Rather decadent, balsamic aromas of plum, truffle and coffee bean. Displays a silky texture and good energy but this is beyond its fruit stage today and does not seem to be going anywhere. Incidentally, 1999 was the first growing season in which Patrick Landanger took care of the vines following his purchase of this famous estate. He told me that he also raised the temperature of the wine at the end of the fermentation for a little more extraction.Inc. VAT£1,405.61 -
Inc. VAT£1,211.21 -
(12x75cl) 2020Inc. VAT£850.18 -
Inc. VAT£162.49 -
Wine Advocate (90-92)
The 2015 Volnay 1er Cru Les Caillerets, which is made from whole bunch fruit, has a clean and fresh, very pure bouquet that neatly disguises the stem addition. The palate is grippy, very tannic, masculine with a grainy texture, hints of bell pepper towards the huge finish that needs more flesh to balance those stems. Still, it is balanced and I am intrigued to see how this will age - this has complexity and a sense of intrigue.Inc. VAT£1,048.01 -
Vinous (91-93)
(vinified with 30% whole clusters and aged in 30% new oak; Landanger admitted to a little too much pigeage with this wine): Bright dark ruby, deeper in color than the amphora version. Totally different on the nose, where one is immediately aware of a bitter chocolate note from the oak. Then sweeter and more pliant in the mouth, with flavors of black cherry, violet and licorice. More complex and long on the aftertaste, offering an intriguing suggestion of wildness. The tannins here are serious, even a bit youthfully aggressive, and yet this sample makes the amphora version seem a bit frozen in its youth.Inc. VAT£111.59 -
(6x75cl) 2015Vinous (91-93)
(vinified with 30% whole clusters and aged in 30% new oak; Landanger admitted to a little too much pigeage with this wine): Bright dark ruby, deeper in color than the amphora version. Totally different on the nose, where one is immediately aware of a bitter chocolate note from the oak. Then sweeter and more pliant in the mouth, with flavors of black cherry, violet and licorice. More complex and long on the aftertaste, offering an intriguing suggestion of wildness. The tannins here are serious, even a bit youthfully aggressive, and yet this sample makes the amphora version seem a bit frozen in its youth.Inc. VAT£510.04 -
Inc. VAT£299.21 -
(6x75cl) 2018Inc. VAT£155.60 -
(6x75cl) 2020The Prieure Marzelle 2020 is a meticulously handcrafted gem of Saint-Émilion, Bordeaux, which stands as an exemplary reflection of the region's prodigious viticultural prowess. This elegant wine is the proud embodiment of delicate craftsmanship and rigorous vineyard management from the acclaimed Prieure Marzelle estate.
The Prieure Marzelle 2020 portrays a superior quality blend, primarily featuring Merlot with the subtle sophistication of Cabernet Franc. The generous 2020 summer bestowed full ripeness to the grapes, thus producing a wine with a perfect balance of intensifying fruit aromas and velvety tannins, harmonised by a rejuvenating acidity.
This extraordinary vin de garde offers a fascinating palate layered with dark fruits, subtle mineral nuances, and an endearing hint of French oak. Aged meticulously in new barrels, the Prieure Marzelle 2020 promises an intricate and lingering finish, a testament to its ageing potential. Doubtlessly, the purest expression of the terroir, this wine stands as a benchmark in the realm of fine wines.
Inc. VAT£192.80 -
(1x75cl) 2002Inc. VAT£2,717.11 -
(6x75cl) 2006Inc. VAT£13,608.04 -
(1x150cl) 2010Inc. VAT£9,735.29 -
(1x75cl) 2013Inc. VAT£1,939.73 -
(1x75cl) 2014Inc. VAT£2,003.60 -
(1x75cl) 2018Inc. VAT£1,889.60 -
(1x75cl) 2019Inc. VAT£1,802.00 -
(1x75cl) 2020Inc. VAT£1,767.32 -
(6x75cl) 2020Inc. VAT£12,729.49 -
(3x75cl) 2021Inc. VAT£3,980.23 -
(6x75cl) 2021Inc. VAT£10,395.10 -
Inc. VAT£1,884.25 -
(6x75cl) 2001Inc. VAT£8,663.09 -
Inc. VAT£1,763.33 -
(6x75cl) 2001Inc. VAT£8,438.00 -
(6x75cl) 2006Inc. VAT£6,866.00 -
(6x75cl) 2007Inc. VAT£6,864.29 -
Inc. VAT£3,094.75 -
(6x75cl) 2020Inc. VAT£4,167.89 -
(3x75cl) 2018Inc. VAT£959.72
-
(12x75cl) 1999
Vinous (88)
Medium bright red with an amber rim. Rather decadent, balsamic aromas of plum, truffle and coffee bean. Displays a silky texture and good energy but this is beyond its fruit stage today and does not seem to be going anywhere. Incidentally, 1999 was the first growing season in which Patrick Landanger took care of the vines following his purchase of this famous estate. He told me that he also raised the temperature of the wine at the end of the fermentation for a little more extraction.In Bond£1,130.00 -
In Bond£968.00
-
(12x75cl) 2020In Bond£670.00
-
In Bond£129.00
-
Wine Advocate (90-92)
The 2015 Volnay 1er Cru Les Caillerets, which is made from whole bunch fruit, has a clean and fresh, very pure bouquet that neatly disguises the stem addition. The palate is grippy, very tannic, masculine with a grainy texture, hints of bell pepper towards the huge finish that needs more flesh to balance those stems. Still, it is balanced and I am intrigued to see how this will age - this has complexity and a sense of intrigue.In Bond£832.00 -
Vinous (91-93)
(vinified with 30% whole clusters and aged in 30% new oak; Landanger admitted to a little too much pigeage with this wine): Bright dark ruby, deeper in color than the amphora version. Totally different on the nose, where one is immediately aware of a bitter chocolate note from the oak. Then sweeter and more pliant in the mouth, with flavors of black cherry, violet and licorice. More complex and long on the aftertaste, offering an intriguing suggestion of wildness. The tannins here are serious, even a bit youthfully aggressive, and yet this sample makes the amphora version seem a bit frozen in its youth.In Bond£90.00 -
(6x75cl) 2015
Vinous (91-93)
(vinified with 30% whole clusters and aged in 30% new oak; Landanger admitted to a little too much pigeage with this wine): Bright dark ruby, deeper in color than the amphora version. Totally different on the nose, where one is immediately aware of a bitter chocolate note from the oak. Then sweeter and more pliant in the mouth, with flavors of black cherry, violet and licorice. More complex and long on the aftertaste, offering an intriguing suggestion of wildness. The tannins here are serious, even a bit youthfully aggressive, and yet this sample makes the amphora version seem a bit frozen in its youth.In Bond£409.00 -
In Bond£208.00
-
(6x75cl) 2018In Bond£109.00
-
(6x75cl) 2020
The Prieure Marzelle 2020 is a meticulously handcrafted gem of Saint-Émilion, Bordeaux, which stands as an exemplary reflection of the region's prodigious viticultural prowess. This elegant wine is the proud embodiment of delicate craftsmanship and rigorous vineyard management from the acclaimed Prieure Marzelle estate.
The Prieure Marzelle 2020 portrays a superior quality blend, primarily featuring Merlot with the subtle sophistication of Cabernet Franc. The generous 2020 summer bestowed full ripeness to the grapes, thus producing a wine with a perfect balance of intensifying fruit aromas and velvety tannins, harmonised by a rejuvenating acidity.
This extraordinary vin de garde offers a fascinating palate layered with dark fruits, subtle mineral nuances, and an endearing hint of French oak. Aged meticulously in new barrels, the Prieure Marzelle 2020 promises an intricate and lingering finish, a testament to its ageing potential. Doubtlessly, the purest expression of the terroir, this wine stands as a benchmark in the realm of fine wines.
In Bond£140.00 -
(1x75cl) 2002In Bond£2,260.82
-
(6x75cl) 2006In Bond£11,324.00
-
(1x150cl) 2010In Bond£8,107.00
-
(1x75cl) 2013In Bond£1,613.00
-
(1x75cl) 2014In Bond£1,667.00
-
(1x75cl) 2018In Bond£1,572.00
-
(1x75cl) 2019In Bond£1,499.00
-
(1x75cl) 2020In Bond£1,470.10
-
(6x75cl) 2020In Bond£10,590.00
-
(3x75cl) 2021In Bond£3,308.25
-
(6x75cl) 2021In Bond£8,645.36
-
In Bond£1,567.00
-
(6x75cl) 2001In Bond£7,200.00
-
In Bond£1,466.00
-
(6x75cl) 2001In Bond£7,011.00
-
(6x75cl) 2006In Bond£5,701.00
-
(6x75cl) 2007In Bond£5,701.00
-
In Bond£2,570.00
-
(6x75cl) 2020In Bond£3,454.64
-
(3x75cl) 2018In Bond£791.75
