France - All White Wines
France is revered for its exceptional white wines, which showcase the country's rich winemaking heritage, diverse terroirs, and unwavering commitment to quality. Today, let us embark on a journey through the best white wines that France has to offer, exploring renowned vineyards and the regions that give birth to these extraordinary expressions.
In Burgundy, the appellations of Chablis, Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet and Chassagne-Montrachet stand tall as the epitome of excellence in white wine production. Wineries such as Domaine Raveneau, Domaine Dauvissat, and Domaine Leflaive craft mesmerizing Chardonnays that capture the essence of the region's unique Kimmeridgian limestone soils. These wines exhibit precision, purity, and a remarkable balance of mineral notes, citrus flavors, and vibrant acidity.
Moving to the Loire Valley, the vineyards of Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé are celebrated for their exceptional Sauvignon Blancs. Domaine Vacheron, Domaine Didier Dagueneau, and Domaine Pascal Jolivet create expressive and terroir-driven wines that showcase the region's distinct flinty minerality, zesty citrus, and herbaceous undertones.
Further northeast in France, in the region of Alsace, vineyards such as Domaine Zind-Humbrecht, Domaine Trimbach, and Domaine Weinbach produce stunning white wines from varietals like Riesling, Gewürztraminer, and Pinot Gris. These wines display remarkable depth, aromatic complexity, and a balance between sweetness and acidity, reflecting the region's unique microclimates and granite-rich soils.
In Bordeaux, the region of Graves is renowned for its white wines, particularly those crafted from the classic grape varieties of Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon. Château Haut-Brion, Château Pape Clément, and Domaine de Chevalier are esteemed vineyards that produce rich and age-worthy white Bordeaux wines. These wines exhibit a beautiful interplay of tropical fruit flavors, vibrant acidity, and a touch of toasty oak.
Finally, in the Rhône Valley, the appellation of Condrieu shines as a beacon of excellence in Viognier production. Renowned vineyards such as Domaine Georges Vernay and Domaine Yves Cuilleron create remarkable Viognier wines that seduce the senses with their exotic aromas of apricot, peach, and delicate floral notes. These wines showcase richness, elegance, and a silky texture that lingers on the palate.
France - All White Wines
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Vinous (93)
The 2018 Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru has a reductive nose but there is some fine fruit here, touches of orange pith, honeysuckle and melted candle wax. The palate is well balanced with a fine bead of acidity, a hint of wood to be subsumed on the entry, impressive depth with a slightly toasty finish. Tasted blind at the Burgfest 2018 white tasting.HK$12,265.00 -
Vinous (94-96)
The 2018 Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru has an impressive bouquet of mineral-rich citrus fruit, smoke, honeysuckle and jasmine aromas, complex and alluring. The palate is fresh and vibrant with crisp acidity, with plenty of tangerine and grapefruit notes, but it is the mineralité and tension that really elevate this Grand Cru. For once, this might outperform the La Cabotte.HK$14,285.00 -
Vinous (95+)
Very pale yellow. Aromas of mirabelle, apple, spices, menthol and white truffle, lifted by a whiff of lime blossom. Juicy and rich but extremely discreet today, with ripe apple and spice flavors coming across as fully ripe but classically dry. There's an almost exotic marzipan note on the back end but strong acidity is keeping the wine under wraps. This will need at least seven or eight years of cellaring to begin to deliver on its considerable potential.HK$24,730.00 -
Wine Advocate - Robert Parker (100)
The 2011 Ermitage Cuvee de l’Oree comes from a lieu-dit known as Les Murets planted with 80- to 90-year-old Marsanne vines. The bouquet offers up scents of Asian spices, lychee nuts, white currant liqueur and peach and apricot marmalade. This stunning, honeyed, flamboyant white is perfection in a glass. Drink it over the next half century.HK$12,140.00 -
Wine Advocate (99)
The 2012 Ermitage Cuvee de l'Oree is still firing on all cylinders, sporting heavenly notes of powdered rock, white flowers, honeyed orange blossom, white currants and a saltiness that keeps you coming back to the glass. Full-bodied, voluptuous and decadent, drink it anytime over the coming 2-3 decades.HK$7,620.00 -
Decanter (100)
This immediately exhibits the spellbinding, rich complexity that characterises this Hermitage cuvée. A really special, luxurious aromatic display that includes mango and raw cream. It’s full-bodied, with all the puppy fat that you might expect from de l'Orée. The oak is well integrated, contributing silk and spice notes, adding to the complexity. This is sublime. So long and fresh, just a perfect expression of white Hermitage. It’s rich, but somehow without heaviness. Just absolutely gorgeous.HK$7,220.00 -
Wine Advocate (96)
With a production of 432 cases, the 2010 St.-Joseph Les Granits Blanc may be the finest white wine made in the appellation. Aromas of tangerine oil, orange marmalade, powdered stones and subtle gun flint as well as smoke jump from the glass of this full-bodied effort. This elegant, rich, full, stunning wine is a tour de force as well as a big-time reference point for what can be achieved from the granite hillsides of St.-Joseph.HK$3,545.00 -
Revel in the exquisite profile of the Chavy Chouet Bourgogne Femelottes 2021, a masterpiece of winemaking. This single-vineyard Chardonnay is handcrafted in the esteemed French region of Burgundy by Chavy Chouet, a family-run estate, well-regarded for their dedication to biodynamic practices. Their meticulous attention to detail and minimal intervention philosophy release the purest expression of the terroir.
This 2021 vintage, characterised by a harmonious marriage of rich fruit and elegant acidity, was aged in oak barrels of which 20% were new. The temperature-controlled vinification ensures the nuanced preservation of the grape's vibrant personality. Notes of yellow fruit and almonds on the nose gracefully transition into a palate layered with hints of honey, delivering a refreshing, long-lasting finish.
The Chavy Chouet Bourgogne Femelottes 2021 serves as an emblem of exceptional French viticulture. It embodies a unique blend of tradition and innovation, promising an unforgettable sensory journey for any discerning wine enthusiast.
HK$2,140.00 -
Renowned for its exquisite craftsmanship, the Chavy-Chouet Meursault Les Vireuils 2021 is a testament to the mastery of Franck Chavy, the third generation winemaker from Borgogne. Lying in the hallowed grounds of Meursault, the gravelly, limestone soil of ‘Les Vireuils’ vineyard gives this wine its unique, mineral character. Chavy-Chouet prides itself in organic viticulture, expressing the purity of each distinct terroir.
Expect captivating notes of ripe citrus fruits, subtly embedded in a nuanced whiff of vanilla from 15 months of French oak ageing. The palate reveals a balanced structure, highlighting the producer's adept winemaking skills with sustained acidity playing against a creamy texture. Although remarkable for immediate enjoyment, the Chavy-Chouet Meursault Les Vireuils 2021 promises exquisite finesse and complexity with a few more years of cellaring.
This white wine encapsulates the essence of Chavy-Chouet's commitment to quality, authentic to its Borgogne roots and a must-have for true Burgundy enthusiasts.
HK$5,095.00 -
Treat yourself to the esteemed 'de Montille Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru 2017', a transcendent Chardonnay hailing from Burgundy’s noblest soils. Produced by Domaine de Montille, a respected winegrower lauded for commitment to traditional vinification practices, this Grand Cru's exquisite composition is undeniably the testament to skilled winemaking. Tirelessly tended vines, coupled with meticulous hand harvesting of optimally ripened grapes, contribute to the rich, distinctive character of the Grand Cru. This fine wine matures gracefully in French oak barriques, acquiring a refined complexity over time.
The 2017 offering is appealingly voluptuous, punctuated with citric acidity and delivering lingering impressions of minerality. Its aromatic palette encompasses ripe lemon, crisp apple, and a whisper of toasted oak, underlined by a subtle creaminess. The 'de Montille Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru 2017' is truly a monumental expression of the domaine's savoir-faire and the perfect accompaniment to fine dining. A testament to the de Montille legacy, its elegance and depth are incomparable.
HK$17,025.00 -
Revel in the exquisiteness of the de Montille Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru 2018, an exquisite vintage produced in the celebrated vineyard parcels of Côte de Beaune, France. This intoxicating Chardonnay from Domaine de Montille, a highly revered and traditional family house, renowned for its meticulous viticulture practices and minimal interventionist winemaking philosophy, is indeed a tribute to the best of Burgundy.
The splendid Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru 2018 resonates with complexity and precision, with robust notes of citrus, pear, apple, brioche, and pronounced mineral undertones. The wine's stylistic ingenuity is further evident in its careful vinification in French oak barrels complemented with an extended ageing period that bolsters its storied richness and depth. A vintage that truly reflects de Montille's commitment to sustainable farming and unwavering dedication to reflecting true terroir expression. Connoisseurs of fine wines, the de Montille Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru 2018 should not be missed.
HK$16,440.00 -
Thoroughly complex and rich, the de Montille Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru 2019 is an award-winning embodiment of elegant, refined Burgundian winemaking. Cultivated in the prestigious vineyards of Chevalier-Montrachet, the grapes boast a distinctive minerality imbued by the limestone soil. Under the expert guidance of the de Montille family, a legacy spanning two centuries, these grapes are transformed into a truly sophisticated Chardonnay. Their biodynamic approach ensures preservation of the unique terroir character, pleasing even the most discerning palates. On tasting, prepare to savour an opulent array of citrus, white flowers, crushed stones accompanied by a captivating tension. The 2019 vintage particularly shines, noted for its vibrant freshness juxtaposed with an impressive depth. Lending itself to long cellar ageing, de Montille Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru 2019 promises to evolve wonderfully over time, enhancing the intricate layers of its profile.
HK$17,605.00 -
Wine Advocate (93-94+)
From an enclave just outside the cuverie in Saint Andelain, the Dagueneau 2009 Blanc Fume de Pouilly Silex delivers an almost inordinate diversity of floral, herbal, citrus (predominately grapefruit), and pit-fruit (predominately nectarine) elements, with the bitterness of fruit pits, smoky pungency of red currant and crushed stone, as well as notes of shrimp shell reduction and iodine inflecting a long, bittersweet, yet at the same time vibrant, buoyant finish. This silken textured seducer should gain with time in bottle and be worth following for ten or a dozen years.HK$17,745.00 -
Decanter (97)
A hard-to-beat Corton-Charlemagne in 2017, this comes from cool, east-facing vineyards that ripen very slowly, even in a warm year. Focussed, pithy and fizzing with energy, it's a rich, dense wine with 40% new oak, creamy lees and a tangy, mouthwatering finish.HK$13,265.00 -
HK$2,505.00 -
Vinous (92)
The 2017 Puligny-Montrachet Les Folatières 1er Cru is well defined on the nose, taut and quite austere and stony, initially delivering moderate intensity but gaining in the glass. The palate is well balanced with a fine bead of acidity and slithers of white peach mixed with nectarine. Quite a seductive and pretty La Folatières that embraces the warmth of the summer but maintains tension and mineralité. This is enticing and promising. Tasted blind at the annual Burgfest tasting in Savigny-lès-Beaune.HK$6,640.00 -
HK$44,145.00 -
Jancis Robinson (18+)
Subtle nose, impeccably fresh but lacking the nutty complexity normally associated with the appellation. Having said that, there is an incredibly dense palate and long, concentrated fruit which should age for a long time. Judging from their other 2015s, this will be magnificent - but it needs time to get there.HK$11,445.00 -
Wine Advocate (94)
Boillot's 2018 Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Pucelles reveals aromas of orange oil, white flowers and peaches, complemented by classy top notes of nutmeg and warm bread. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, satiny and vibrant, with quite a tensile, tight-knit core for this typically enveloping premier cru. But looking back through my notes, that often seems to be the case chez Boillot.HK$7,460.00 -
Vinous (93)
The 2019 Saint-Aubin Derrière Chez Edouard 1er Cru conveys a sense of airiness and "space" on the beautifully defined nose of Granny Smith apples and freshly sliced pear mixed with wet rock. The palate is very well balanced with superb tension. A live-wire Chez Edouard that displays immense precision on the finish. Bon vin. Closure: DiamHK$6,620.00 -
Vinous (94)
The 2019 Saint-Aubin Clos de la Chatenière 1er Cru expresses its terroir exquisitely on the nose, displaying wonderful mineralité and precision. The palate is well balanced, with a silver bead of acidity, and tensile from start to finish, yet expanding right at the end with mouthwatering sappiness. I remember this being impressive out of barrel last year, and now in bottle, Lamy has successful translated all that potential. Closure: DiamHK$7,205.00 -
Vinous (93)
The 2019 Saint-Aubin Les Frionnes 1er Cru embraces subtle tropical notes on the nose, where hints of nectarine and apricot intertwine with fine mineralité . The palate is well balanced with sour lemon and lime on the entry, spicy and quite persistent, and very harmonious on the finish. There is a lot going on here, and it is perhaps Lamy's wine that will have the widest appeal. Closure: DiamHK$7,260.00 -
HK$51,325.00 -
Vinous (98)
The 2017 Montrachet Grand Cru is slightly deeper in color. This has a gorgeous bouquet of lemon thyme, orange blossom and crushed stone, all very focused, followed by an emerging touch of mintiness. The harmonious palate is powerful, ripe and slightly vanilla-y; it just lacks a little breeding and panache. A bold and brassy yet cerebral Montrachet that will need a lot of time. This surpasses all my expectations from barrel. Tasted blind at the annual Burgfest tasting in Savigny-lès-Beaune.HK$44,220.00 -
Vinous (95-97)
The 2019 Montrachet Grand Cru (Marquis de Laguiche) is very intense on the nose, featuring subtle licorice scents tucked behind the citrus fruit; this seems to expand with aeration. The palate is beautifully balanced with a playful entry of apricot and quince. It builds beautifully in the mouth, revealing hints of crème brûlée and almond shavings toward the well-defined finish. Hints of chai tea and grilled hazelnut swirl around on the aftertaste. This is a long-term Montrachet.HK$31,700.00 -
Vinous (97)
The 2020 Montrachet Marquis de Laguiche Grand Cru is consistent with my previous tasting in January. Exquisite definition on the nose, real mineralité here. The palate is intense and penetrating, touches of orange zest and spice building wonderfully towards the finish. Excellent.HK$36,960.00 -
Wine Advocate (95)
Leflaive's 1995 Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru is showing well, unfurling in the glass with a complex and rich bouquet of peach, mandarin, confit lemon, honeycomb, saffron and freshly baked bread. On the palate, it's full-bodied, satiny and layered, with a deep and concentrated core, its chewy chassis of dry extract enveloped in fleshy fruit, and it's still lively and vibrant as it approaches its 24th birthday. This was a year of low yields—a cold spell disrupted flowering—and a warm summer, and that's reflected by this muscular, powerful Chevalier.HK$81,015.00 -
HK$13,520.00 -
HK$2,850.00 -
The Pierre Girardin Meursault Les Narvaux 2021 is an exquisite, premium white wine from the renowned winemaking region of the Côte de Beaune in Burgundy, France. This exceptional cuvée is produced by Pierre Girardin, a highly respected, next-generation vintner inextricably linked to Burgundy's centuries-old traditions, yet committed to innovative viticultural practices.
Perfectly embodying the prestigious vineyards of Meursault, the Pierre Girardin Meursault Les Narvaux 2021 possesses a remarkable minerality, married harmoniously with vibrant fruitiness. Grown in calcareous clay soils and vinified with Pierre's meticulous approach, this wine reveals profound layers rich with nuanced citrus, stone fruit and subtle nutty undertones gracefully underlined by elegantly balanced acidity and length.
Whether you are a discerning collector or wish to enjoy boundless eloquence in a bottle, the lavish Pierre Girardin Meursault Les Narvaux 2021 stakes a genuine claim as a prime offering of Burgundian viticulture.
HK$5,955.00
