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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Wine Advocate (95+)
The 2018 Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru is showing brilliantly, unwinding in the glass with aromas of crisp orchard fruit, honeycomb, white flowers, orange oil and wheat toast. On the palate, it's full-bodied, ample and muscular, with lively acids and an impressively structured, introverted profile for the vintage, concluding with a long, saline finish.HK$9,345.00 -
HK$17,480.00
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Wine Advocate (95)
The most youthfully reserved wine in the cellar was the 2018 Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru, a promising bottling that opens up to reveal scents of citrus zest, dried white flowers, green apple and pastry cream. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, layered and multidimensional, with racy acids and prodigious levels of searingly chalky dry extract that lend this wine incredible structure.HK$6,400.00 -
Wine Advocate (92)
Tasted blind at the annual “Burgfest” tasting in Bouilland. The 2013 Meursault 1er Cru Genevrières from Henri Boillot took time to unfold in the glass, but eventually reveals attractive lime flower, cold granite and yellow flower scents, later accompanied by acacia honey. The palate is well balanced with crisp acidity. There is just the right amount of bitter lemon here that imparts tension from start to finish, leading to a composed finish with a salinity that begs another sip. Quite simply, a delicious Meursault. Tasted May 2016.HK$3,900.00 -
Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (94-97)
Gorgeous full yellow with lots of green reflections. A tiny bit of toast on the nose, which is one of the more reserved bouquets on show today, but suggests potential. Fabulous in the mouth here, retaining discretion, clinging to its toast, really very good all the way through and exceptionally long with a growth of minerals through the flesh.HK$5,075.00 -
Burghound (96)
(Outstanding) This is perhaps the most floral-suffused nose in the range with its aromas of essence of pear and plenitude of spice and citrus elements. Once again, the mid-palate mouthfeel of the medium-bodied flavors is absolutely gorgeous, which contrasts noticeably with the cuts-like-a-knife finish that remains ultra-refined, balanced and persistent. This is most impressive, particularly for the remarkably fine volume and power that is delivered with grace and class.HK$5,535.00 -
HK$3,900.00
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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$5,075.00 -
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$4,030.00 -
Vinous (93)
The 2020 Saint-Aubin Derrière Chez Edouard 1er Cru has a straight down the line limestone-scented bouquet with a touch of shucked oyster shells. The palate is very harmonious, taut and fresh, with crisp acidity and impressive tension. A surfeit of energy on the finish, this is a seriously fine Saint-Aubin.HK$3,590.00 -
Wine Advocate (94-96)
Another tour de force from Lamy is the 2018 Saint-Aubin 1er Cru Derrière Chez Edouard Haut Densité, a magical wine that unwinds in the glass with notes of crisp Anjou pear, white flowers, citrus oil, warm bread and smoke. Medium to full-bodied, layered and complete, this searingly intense and assertively mineral Saint-Aubin brought tears to my eyes. Sadly, obtaining even a bottle will require considerable guile and a large disposable income, but what pleasures await the lucky few who will taste this profound white Burgundy.HK$17,880.00 -
Wine Advocate (96+)
The 2020 Saint-Aubin 1er Cru Derrière Chez Edouard Haute Densité is another brilliant rendition of one of contemporary Burgundy's most fascinating wines. Unwinding in the glass with aromas of lime zest, white flowers, wet stones, oyster shell and subtle reduction, it's full-bodied, deep and concentrated, with a multidimensional core of fruit that's framed by racy acids and huge reserves of chalky dry extract. Incisive, penetrating and tightly wound, anyone lucky enough to acquire a bottle or two should plan on a minimum of a decade's patience.HK$16,435.00 -
Vinous (91)
The 2020 Saint-Aubin En Remilly 1er Cru comes from two parcels. This is perhaps the one cuvée that betrays a bit of exoticism on the nose: apricot and passion fruit, perhaps just eroding a bit of the terroir expression. The palate is well balanced with plenty of body, but for me this doesn't quite deliver the tension and nervosité as Lamy's other cuvées.HK$4,400.00 -
Wine Advocate (93)
The 2020 Saint-Aubin 1er Cru Les Frionnes is one of the more reserved wines in the range, unwinding in the glass with aromas of orange zest, confit citrus, crisp yellow apple and white flowers. It's medium to full-bodied, satiny and incisive, with racy acids and a long, saline finish. Forget it for the better part of a decade in the cellar and reap the rewards, even if it will be approachable sooner.HK$3,005.00 -
Vinous (90-92)
(a very small crop from degenerating old vines): Pale yellow. Musky apple, smoke and a whiff of iodine on the nose. Very rich, broad and classically dry, with orchard fruit and spice flavors framed and energized by harmonious acidity. Has the dry extract to support its slightly tannic impression and really resounds on the back end. Plenty of dimension here, but this wine will need time to fill in.HK$3,950.00 -
Vinous (94-96)
The 2018 Montrachet Grand Cru is matured in 60% new oak. It has a finely tuned bouquet with scents of granite filtering through the green apple and pear aromas, and just a little linseed oil in the background. The well-balanced palate displays a fine bead of acidity, good tension from start to finish and a crescendo of concentration that leaves you feeling that you are in the presence of a famous (the most famous?) vineyard. This is a very worthy "Monty" with great potential.HK$14,405.00 -
Vinous (95-97)
The 2018 Chevalier-Montrachet Clos de Chevaliers Grand Cru has a wonderful, engaging bouquet with yellow flowers, jasmine and flinty aromas; subtle praline aromas surface with aeration. You could nose this all day! The well-balanced palate displays fine poise and focus, offering veins of white peach intermixed with white chocolate and almond before the citrus core takes hold of the steering wheel on the finish. This is a multifaceted Chevalier-Montrachet that should give many years of drinking pleasure. Six barrels produced.HK$7,625.00 -
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$20,845.00 -
Vinous - Neal Martin (91)
The 2012 Clarté de Haut-Brion is slightly more youthful than the Chapelle de la Mission with black brambly fruit, sandalwood and light rolled tobacco aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with a supple entry. There is fine weight for a Deuxième Vin and a satisfying freshness with a judicious pepperiness adorning the tensile finish. Excellent. Tasted at Bordeaux Index's 10-Year-On tasting.HK$2,715.00 -
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (95)
The 2014 La Mission Haut-Brion Blanc has really blossomed since I tasted it from barrel. A brilliant, mesmerizing wine, the 2014 exudes personality and class. Lemon confit, white flowers, slate and orchard fruit give the wine its chiseled, expressive personality. Above all else, though, the 2014 is a wine that speaks to balance. There is quite a bit of ripeness and texture, but also vibrant acidity to keep things in check. The blend is 72 % Sémillon and 28 % Sauvignon.HK$9,525.00 -
Burghound (96)
Here the nose is notably tighter and more reserved with aromas of citrus blossom and zest, spice, smoke, fennel and hints of acacia that introduce big, muscular and wonderfully complex broad-scaled flavors that culminate in a long, focused and explosive finish of breathtaking length and intensity. This should reward at least a decade in the cellar and drink well for a similar period thereafter. This too is terrific and very Bâtard and like the Combettes, the '08 version is one of the very best young examples from Leflaive that I have ever seen.HK$21,045.00 -
Decanter (98)
My (SB) wine of the vintage. It has a huge, intense nose of lime, pears and apricot with aromatic tension and complexity. A fine, assertive and extremely youthful attack: concentrated yet racy and very mineral from start to finish. A racehorse of a wine with amazing length and detail, and that classic, stony minerality.HK$31,010.00 -
Vinous (93)
The 2019 Puligny-Montrachet Clavoillon 1er Cru has an austere nose that demands coaxing from the glass; struck flint and sea spray scents, cool, calm and collected. The palate is taut on the entry, then fans out with glee, notes of dessicated orange peel, white peach and tangerine, a lovely bitterness that counterbalances the concentration on the finish. Exccellent. Closure: Diam 30HK$7,325.00 -
Burghound (94-96)
(Don't Miss! Outstanding) Firm reduction and a whiff of oak dominate the nose at present. Much more interesting are the beautifully textured, racy and detailed medium weight flavors that also possess a highly sophisticated mouthfeel while exhibiting stunningly good length on the bitter zest-inflected finish that goes on and on. This is terrific and easily delivers grand cru quality.HK$14,105.00 -
Vinous (94-96)
The 2011 Corton-Charlemagne is drop-dead gorgeous. Subtle, nuanced and very pretty, the 2011 is all about understatement and reserve. The aromas and flavors show off striking inner perfume and impeccable balance. This is a great showing from an utterly beautiful wine with a bright future, but it is also a wine that demand's the taster's full attention.HK$42,675.00 -
HK$4,350.00
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HK$7,255.00
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HK$9,355.00
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HK$12,470.00
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HK$10,550.00