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 (91-93)
The 2017 Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Combettes (Domaine Louis Jadot) is a decided success, offering up notes of ripe citrus fruit, white flowers, honeycomb, blanched almonds and mint. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied, glossy and layered, with tangy acids, excellent depth at the core and a long, mouthwatering finish.HK$6,525.00 -
HK$14,285.00 -
The Louis Michel Chablis Grand Cru Vaudesir 2017 is a marvel of finesse, elegance, and vibrancy. Stemming from the illustrious Louis Michel estate in the heart of Burgundy, this wine proudly showcases the winery's centuries-old winemaking expertise. The wine is unfiltered and unfined, with the juice fermented and matured in stainless-steel tanks to preserve the purity of its fruit.
Harvested purely from the Vaudesir parcel, one of the seven grand cru vineyards, it offers a beautiful blend of ripened apple, subtle citrus, and wet stone on the nose with light floral notes. The palate is a symphony of tart green apple, ripe pear, and lemon zest framed by razor-sharp acidity. The finish is everlasting, with endless rounds of salinity and dry minerality.
This Louis Michel Chablis Grand Cru Vaudesir 2017 establishes a new standard of precision and character for Chardonnay from this world-renowned region.
HK$6,815.00 -
Immerse yourself in the sophisticated allure of Louis Moreau Chablis Grand Cru Blanchot 2017. This masterpiece comes from the distinguished and tradition-rich Blanchot vineyard in the Chablis region of Northern France. Expert winemaker Louis Moreau meticulously crafts this wine, expressing his profound understanding of the unique terroir. Produced from 100% Chardonnay grapes, the wine exhibits a harmonious blend of complexity and subtlety.
With an expressive bouquet of white fruits and flowers underlined by mineral notes, the Louis Moreau Chablis Grand Cru Blanchot 2017 instantly captivates the senses. Its silken palate delivers an impressive concentration of flavours, perfectly balanced by supportive acidity and an enduring finish. The wine's elegant intensity and profound depth demonstrate Moreau's commitment to upholding the prominence and prestige of the Grand Cru designation.
Indulge in the captivating allure of Louis Moreau Chablis Grand Cru Blanchot 2017, an unforgettable offering from an eminent producer.
HK$4,485.00 -
The Louis Moreau Chablis Grand Cru Le Clos Clos des Hospices 2017 is a magnificent testament to its well-regarded pedigree, a product of fine French viniculture. This exquisite wine is diligently crafted in the traditional Chablis manner from vines planted within Le Clos, a notable grand cru vineyard within Bourgogne. Louis Moreau, a five-generation winemaker family, meticulously oversees each stage of viticulture, producing Chablis wines expressive of their specific terroir. The 2017 vintage projects a refined complexity, marrying a delicate minerality with hues of citrus and white flowers. A prolonged finish cradles a balance of acidity that enhances the crisp, elegant structure. Aged in stainless steel tanks before bottling, its purity of fruit and notable terroir characteristics are optimally preserved. The Louis Moreau Chablis Grand Cru Le Clos Clos des Hospices 2017 captures the essence of world-class Chablis, a true testament to the expertise and dedication of producer, Louis Moreau.
HK$3,905.00 -
Exhibiting the epitome of elegance and finesse, the Louis Moreau Chablis Grand Cru Vaudesir 2017, hailing from the prestigious soils of Chablis, enchants connoisseurs with its impressive intensity and balance. Seductively golden in hue, this enticing Chablis treasure produced by fifth-generation winemaker, Louis Moreau, is a celebration of the region's distinct Kimmeridgian limestone terroir. Crafted through traditional fermenting methods in stainless steel vats, this Grand Cru gently uncovers exquisite notes of ripe orchard fruit, exotic spices, and mineral richness.
The Louis Moreau Chablis Grand Cru Vaudesir 2017, carefully aged for 20 months, embodies a seamless blend of supple texture and vivacious acidity blessed with an extraordinarily persistent finish. Perfectly matured, this compelling treasure from the esteemed Louis Moreau estate will continue to unfold its complexities over the next several years, intriguing discerning palates.
HK$4,485.00 -
HK$47,090.00 -
HK$99,125.00 -
HK$55,255.00 -
Vinous - Neal Martin (93)
The 2017 Malartic-Lagravière Blanc has a very impressive bouquet with flinty, citrus fruit that evolves more discrete tropical scents with aeration, hints of dried honey, lime and mango emerging with time. The palate is well balanced with a fine bead of acidity, quite saline in the mouth and fine weight. A precise and quite sustained finish. This has great potential and it may improve with continued bottle age. That said, it will be irresistible in its youth.HK$5,880.00 -
Vinous (93-96)
(just 34 hectoliters per hectare produced from vines dating back to 1937): Very reduced nose hints at celery seed. Hugely thick, ripe and deep; this conveys the fullness of a Montrachet. And yet this wine stands out more for its complexity and verve today, with its tactile mouthfeel accentuated by chewy minerality. The superb, slowly mounting finish stains the palate with beurre blanc and salted caramel. Has all the elements to make a monumental premier cru.HK$30,490.00 -
Vinous (94-96)
The 2017 Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru stays with Domaine Marc Colin as it as owned by Damien's godfather and he wished for it to remain with him, therefore a fermage agreement remains in place. It has a clean and precise bouquet, a little more expressive than some of its peers with crushed stone, sea spray and light citrus peel scents. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp acidity, the oak neatly integrated (one out of two barrels new) with a precise tangy orange rind finish. Sophisticated and compelling. (DIAM closure)HK$5,815.00 -
Decanter (95)
Set in an isolated position on the slope above the village, En Virondot is the highest Chassagne premier cru, at 350 metres. A Marc Morey exclusive, it's a remarkable site that comes into its own in hotter years. Pithy and taut, it's chiselled, sculpted, knife-edge stuff with stylish oak and impressive focus and persistence.HK$8,630.00 -
HK$7,045.00 -
Introducing the Michel Bouzereau Bourgogne Blanc 2017, a superlative expression of French viniculture hailing from the celebrated vineyards of Burgundy. Crafted by Michel Bouzereau, lauded winemaker with lineage deeply rooted in Meursault, this chardonnay exhibits a symphony of flavours, meticulously balanced for the discerning palate. Harvested from vines averaging 30 years of age, it is traditionally vinified in oak barrels for 18 months, producing an ensemble of buttery, floral notes harmonised with a minerally backbone, emblematic of its limestone terroir.
The Michel Bouzereau Bourgogne Blanc 2017 embodies the winemaker's devotion to the sole expression of terroir, with careful yield management and hand-harvesting practices contributing to its sublime quality. It stands as a testament to the single grape variety ethos, exuding a complex yet refined elegance. Savour the richness of this luminous white Burgundy wine, a true reflection of the prestige of its provenance.
HK$2,560.00 -
Vinous (95)
The 2017 Meursault Les Genevrières 1er Cru is a wine that I never tasted in barrel, though I wish I had! It has a well-defined, slightly creamy nose, hints of praline and salted caramel in the background, and mineralité in the driving seat. The terroir really comes through thanks to the supremely well judged acidity and beautifully managed new oak. A very harmonious and poised finish lingers temptingly in the mouth. Not a brash Meursault by any stretch, but self-aware of its class. Tasted blind at the annual Burgfest tasting in Savigny-lès-Beaune.HK$8,180.00 -
Vinous (88-90)
(as with the Bourgogne Blanc, half of this wine is aging in 500-liter barrels): Bright yellow. Classic Meursault nose combines peach, fresh apricot, spices and hazelnut. Yellow fruit flavors are complicated by saline soil tones and nicely framed by ripe acidity. A bit firmer on the finish than the Bourgogne Blanc but also has more punch. (Compared to this wine, the fruit was a bit too ripe in the '16, according to Jean-Baptiste Bouzereau.)HK$6,945.00 -
Meticulously crafted by the esteemed vintner Michel Bouzereau in the iconic Burgundy region of France, Michel Bouzereau Meursault Les Tessons 2017 never fails to mesmerise with its impeccable quality and nuanced flavour profile. Derived from marly-calcareous soils, the grapes undergo gentle pressing followed by meticulous barrel fermentation and maturation for 18 months. This labour of love yields a brilliantly clear, golden wine with an intoxicating bouquet that blends notes of acacia flowers with subtle nuances of honey and hazelnuts. Upon sipping, the palate delights in vibrant flavours of apple, lemon and caramel, carried upon a velvety texture, with the vibrancy of Chardonnay prominently showcased. A well-structured wine, it beautifully embodies the balance of freshness and complexity, the hallmark of the prestigious vineyards of Meursault. With decades of winemaking heritage, the Bouzereau family remains committed to maintaining the pioneering spirit, resulting in a wine that truly captures the terroir's expression. Indulge in the luxurious Michel Bouzereau Meursault Les Tessons 2017 - a triumph of French winemaking.
HK$6,360.00 -
Matthew Jukes (20)
I tasted this wine for the very first time on the 31st of January and it moved me so much that I wanted to write it up on the spot. It was clear to me that this bottle was a once in a lifetime Sauvignon Blanc experience. I was told I couldn’t review it because it was a preview sample and it was not due into the UK until later in the year. Since first tasting this wine I have been playing a game of trying to think of a finer wine made from this oft-derided and seemingly out-of-fashion-with-the-cognoscenti grape. From the hundreds of labels made by the acknowledged Sauvignon Blanc masters of the universe, I cannot think of a single wine which combines all of the epic SB attributes in one single wine. Pavillon Blanc du Château Margaux, Haut Brion Blanc (ok, this has Semillon on board), Gembrook Hill, early Cloudy Bays, countless Chavignols from Cotat, Redde’s own wines, Cantine Terlano, Colterenzio, Reverdy, Spottswoode, Casa Marín, Dagueneau, Dog Point, Jackson Estate, The Berrio, Iona, Viña Leyda, Dry Creek Vineyards, Larry Cherubino’s epic 2017, The Lane Vineyard’s Gathering (again with Semillon loitering with intent), Shaw Smith, Cape Point Vineyards, Duckhorn, Greywacke, Boulay, Pellé and on and on, are all fantastic Sauvignons, but they are not as complete nor as enchanting at 2017 Barre à Mine. We can all circumnavigate the globe and pick any one of a hundred talented Sauvignon Blanc wizards’ creations and while their wines are undoubtedly delicious, impactful and worthy of admiration, I cannot remember a bottle which has the cosmic balance or the inescapable magic that this one does. I tasted it again last night and came to the conclusion that this is a wine which cannot be improved so, while I never thought that this day would come, I am overjoyed to give a Sauvignon Blanc a perfect 20/20 in my tasting notes. Barre à Mine translates as ‘Crowbar’. Never has such a blunt instrument inspired such an exquisite flavour.HK$3,800.00 -
Vinous (88-90)
(the estate carried out three different élevages for this wine, one of them using Hungarian oak): Bright, light yellow. A note of noble reduction to the aromas of white peach, clove and musky minerals. Supple and juicy, conveying an impression of sucrosité to its dried fruit, almond paste and spice flavors. But this wine is fully dry. Finishes tactile and persistent, with a saline quality and a faint bitter edge.HK$7,105.00 -
Vinous (91-93)
(from vines picked near the beginning of the harvest; just about finished with its malolactic fermentation): Pale yellow color. Aromas of peach, white pepper and menthol. Nicely concentrated flavors of pineapple, stone fruits, clove and saline minerality juxtapose a subtle savory character with a sexy touch of sweetness. A step up in texture and length from Michelot's Meursault Charmes, which was quite silky, ripe and high-toned at the time of my visit but had barely started its malolactic fermentation. A tad phenolic on the back end.HK$9,675.00 -
The Nalys Chateauneuf Du Pape Blanc 2017, produced in the illustrious South Rhône wine region of France, showcases the classic charm of this world-renowned appellation. The esteemed Domaine de Nalys curates a symphony of white grapes: Roussanne, Clairette, Grenache Blanc, and Bourboulenc, which imbues elegance and complexity. Fermentation takes place in a blend of wooden vats and stainless steel tanks, followed by a 10-month maturation to create an inimitable balance of finesse. The wine unveils a rich aromatic profile, enriched with apricot, pear, and lavender trailed by a lasting minerality on the palate. Nalys Chateauneuf Du Pape Blanc 2017's organic methodology underscores its profound respect for nature, adhering to meticulous farming practices and hand harvesting techniques. Brace yourself for an illuminating experience, as every sip unveils an expressive kaleidoscope of sensations, a testament to the noble terroir of Chateauneuf-du-Pape.
HK$7,775.00 -
HK$12,530.00 -
HK$18,290.00 -
A true embodiment of superior craftsmanship, Olivier Merlin Macon Roche Vineuse Vv 2017, quite simply, sings in the glass. Produced in the heart of Burgundy, renowned for its tapestry of world-class vineyards, this delightful vintage is a testament to Olivier Merlin's master craft dating back to 1987. Sourced from 80-year-old, hand-picked vines, this white wine is aged in old wooden barrels over a twelve-month period. This maturation process unveils a refreshing balance of fresh fruits and minerality, resulting in an expressive bouquet that discerning connoisseurs will adore. The wine reveals a refined floral elegance with ripe apple undertones, a distinctive characteristic of old vine Chardonnay. Harmonious on the palate, its striking complexity and flawless structure undeniably echo Olivier Merlin's profound expertise. Olivier Merlin Macon Roche Vineuse Vv 2017, an unmissable journey into the rich heritage of Burgundy’s vineyards, the epitome of elegance in a bottle.
HK$4,415.00 -
James Suckling (97-98)
This is so serious with incredible density and a chewy texture. Focused and tight. Layered and fascinating. Lots of minerals and lemon rind. Great young white. Can’t wait to see it after its elevage.HK$7,075.00 -
Vinous (90-92)
Pale yellow-straw. Aromas of lemon, lime, nutmeg and clove. Rich but dry and tight, showing little easy sweetness to its slightly aggressive flavors of stone fruits, spices and crushed-stone minerality. Shows a penetrating quality but this baby is still youthfully disjointed, even a touch sour on the end. Very difficult to assess with confidence today but the tight finish displays very good length.HK$11,880.00 -
Vinous (91-93)
Bright straw-yellow. Ineffable high notes of brown spices and spearmint lift sexy stone fruit aromas. Wonderfully ripe and intense, conveying terrific inner-mouth perfume and tension to its citrus, stone fruit and spice flavors. Finishes saline and gripping, with terrific class and slow-building length. As tactile as this wine is, it stands out for its energy and light touch. This will be a village wine to seek out.HK$6,815.00 -
Vinous (93-95)
The 2017 Chablis Butteaux 1er Cru is bright and floral, with striking aromatic lift to play off the rich, dense fruit. Bright saline notes give the wine energy, tension and structure. Time in the glass brings out more tropical notes. This is a wine of extraordinary precision, lift and verve as well as tremendous aromatic presence.HK$2,650.00 -
Wine Advocate (92-94)
The 2017 Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Champs Gain displays a pretty bouquet of yellow apple, white flowers, pastry cream and beeswax. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, satiny but incisive, with chalky extract, tangy acids and a long, beautifully delineated finish. It's another wonderfully balanced premier cru from Thierry Pillot.HK$12,140.00
