France - All Sparkling Wines
Several regions in France are renowned for producing sparkling wine, but the most famous and prestigious are Champagne, Alsace, and the Loire Valley.
Champagne is the most well-known region for producing sparkling wine, and the name "Champagne" is protected by law to designate only the sparkling wines made in that region. The climate and soil of the Champagne region, located in northeastern France, are ideal for growing the grapes used to make sparkling wine, including Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier. Some notable Champagne houses include Moët & Chandon, Veuve Clicquot, and Dom Pérignon.
Alsace, located in northeastern France, is also known for producing high-quality sparkling wine, primarily made from Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, and Riesling grapes. The wines from Alsace are typically drier and crisper than Champagne, with a more pronounced fruitiness. Notable producers include Domaine Bruno Sorg, Domaine Mittnacht Frères, and Domaine Weinbach.
The Loire Valley, located in central France, is another region known for producing excellent sparkling wine, made primarily from Chenin Blanc grapes. The wines from the Loire Valley tend to be lighter and fresher than those from Champagne, with a more pronounced acidity and minerality. Notable producers include Bouvet Ladubay, Langlois-Château, and Domaine des Baumard.
Other regions in France that produce sparkling wine include Burgundy, which produces Crémant de Bourgogne; Limoux in Languedoc-Roussillon, which is known for its Blanquette de Limoux; and the Jura region, which produces sparkling wine made from the Savagnin grape. However, Champagne, Alsace, and the Loire Valley remain the most well-known and respected regions for producing sparkling wine in France.
France - All Sparkling Wines
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Champagne | 6 | 95+ (WA) | HK$5,195.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (95+)With crystalline purity and more tension than any other wine in this year’s lineup, Vilmart’s 2016 Coeur de Cuvée has put up a stellar performance. Disgorged in September 2022 with a dosage of seven grams per liter, it hails from 60-year-old vines in the lieu-dit Les Blanches Voies—the same five-hectare vineyard that provides their Blanc de Blancs. Matured in 228-liter barrels, mostly from Damy, it wafts from the glass with a deep bouquet of lemon zest, white flowers and green apple. Taut and incisive, with impressive mid-palate amplitude, racy acidity and ample chalky structuring extract, it culminates with a long, saline finish. This is an elegant Champagne that will captivate purists, offering greater precision and nuance than the 2017 vintage of this cuvée. As ever, it’s crafted from the least fruit-forward, most acid-driven press fraction—just 68%—representing the heart of the cuvée. |
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Champagne | 1 | 93 (VN) | HK$1,195.00 | |||||
Vinous (93)A classy, understated wine, the 2010 Grand Cellier Rubis offers striking depth and nuance. Now, nearly two and half years after its disgorgement, the 2010 is just starting to open up aromatically. The Rubis is deceptively medium in body, yet it possesses notable drive. There is plenty of depth in the glass, but it is more implied than overtly stated. The Rubis is 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay. Dosage is 8 grams per liter. Disgorged November, 2014. |
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Champagne | 2 | 90 (VN) | HK$7,240.00 | |||||
Vinous (90)The 2013 Brut Rosé Emotion is more interesting than the 2014 tasted alongside it, as it has more depth and overall textural presence. Here, too, I find the fruit a bit faded, while the oak imprint is unusually strong. The blend is 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay. Disgorged: April, 2020. |
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Champagne | 1 | 94 (VN) | HK$4,595.00 | |||||
Vinous (94)The 2015 Brut Rosé Emotion is gorgeous. The Emotion is done in an airy, understated style that is more finesse than power. Crushed red berry fruit, cranberry, white flowers and mint all grace this sculpted, wonderfully energetic Rosé from Vilmart. Dosage is 9 grams per liter. |
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Champagne | 4 | 92 (VN (AG)) | HK$2,145.00 | |||||
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (92)The NV (2022) Brut Grand Cellier is another wine that benefits from a very strong base year. A burst of candied citrus peel, white pepper, mint, slate and chalk makes a strong first impression. Clean mineral notes extend the finish before wrapping it all together in waves of salinity. There's a feeling of exuberance in the Grand Cellier that is impossible to miss. This release is based on 2022, with 50% reserve wines from 2021 and 2020. Dosage is 7 grams per liter. Disgorged: July 2024. |
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Champagne | 1 | - | HK$4,180.00 | |||||
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Champagne | 6 | 96 (VN) | HK$2,385.00 | |||||
Vinous (96)The 2009 Blanc de Blancs Les Blanches Voies is every bit as stunning as it was last year. The combination of the warm year and the natural richness conferred by these 70+- year-old vines yields a powerful, vinous Champagne with tremendous character, depth and the pedigree to drink well for many years. Laurent Champs gave the Blanc de Blancs 7 years on the cork, as opposed to the 6 that are customary for the Coeur de Cuvée. Dosage is 4 grams per liter. Disgorged: March, 2017. |
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Champagne | 1 | 95 (VN) | HK$1,700.00 | |||||
Vinous (95)The 2012 Extra-Brut Les Blanc de Blancs Blanches Voies is stellar. It offers tons of brilliance and energy, especially for a year in which most wines are quite a bit more radiant. It's a style that works quite well here, though. Crushed rocks, white pepper, mint and lemon peel all build as the 2012 shows off its alluring, saline-infused personality. This is an especially chiseled, finely cut 2012. I loved it. Disgorged: June, 2020. |
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Champagne | 1 | - | HK$9,115.00 | |||||
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Champagne | 1 | - | HK$6,035.00 | |||||
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Champagne | 7 | - | HK$2,280.00 | |||||
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Experience the exquisite Vollereaux Brut Reserve NV, crafted with meticulous care by the Vollereaux family in the renowned Champagne region of France. This prestigious house, operating for six generations, embodies. French wine-making heritage at its finest. The Vollereaux Brut Reserve NV is a sublime encapsulation of their commitment to excellence. A blend of Pinot Meunier, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir, this sparkling wine undergoes a traditional, second fermentation in the bottle, creating its signature effervescence. Laden with bright, orchard fruit flavours, it captivates with its complex, layered taste and a lengthy finish, testament to a 3-year maturation process in their historic cellars. Remarkably well-balanced, the Vollereaux Brut Reserve NV is a standout choice for those seeking elegance and finesse in their Champagne. Whether for celebrations or casual indulgence, add a touch of class with this fine Champagne. |
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Champagne | 1 | 95 (VN) | HK$4,170.00 | |||||
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. |
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Champagne | 2 | 94 (VN) | HK$5,075.00 | |||||
Vinous (94)(100% chardonnay, from 2007; disgorged 09-11-10/R07): Light, bright gold. An intensely perfumed nose displays dried pear, orange pith, vanilla bean and candied ginger, with suave leesy and iodine notes gaining strength with aeration. Deeply pitched and emphatically dry, with strikingly powerful orchard fruit and candied citrus flavors deepened by notes of anise, vanilla and chamomile. Finishes firm and gripping, leaving spice and bitter almond notes behind. An extremely young, intense and uncompromising Champagne that should be left to rest for at least a few more years. |
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Champagne | 10 | - | HK$2,385.00 | |||||
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Renowned for its remarkable taste and exquisite bouquet, the William Saintot Blanc de Noirs Premier Cru NV is an embodiment of excellence in the Champagne region. Produced by the skilled hands of vintner William Saintot, this Blanc de Noirs Premier Cru NV hails from the hallowed Premier Cru vineyards, where strict quality control results in an unmatched quality of grape. This vintage is made purely from Pinot Noir grapes, ensuring a robust flavour that expertly combines the fruit’s depth with the natural effervescence of fine champagne. The Champagne undergoes manual harvesting, traditional press, and lees aging, displaying an undeniable dedication to meticulous winemaking. Its taste profile is generous with a fine balance of dark fruits and delicate minerality. Soft on the palate, it boasts of an elegant mousse and a long, harmonious finish. The William Saintot Blanc de Noirs Premier Cru NV embodies the superior craftsmanship of the maison, offering a truly exquisite champagne experience. |
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