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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Loire | 3 | - | HK$5,835.00 | |||||
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The Alphonse Mellot Sancerre Generation XIX Blanc 2010 is a sophisticated, generously complex Sauvignon Blanc hand-picked from 30-year-old vines in the revered limestone-rich vineyards of Sancerre. Adhering to strict biodynamic principles, the illustrious Alphonse Mellot family, respected vintners since 1513, ensures a sumptuous, organic symphony with every bottle. Fermentation unfurls in fine oak barrels, which imparts lavish, full-bodied nuances that deliciously mingle with the natural, vibrant acidity of the grape. Connoisseurs will delight in the wine's persistent mineral-inflected core, harmoniously interlacing with tendrils of white pear, grapefruit, and anise. Its opulent texture and impressive depth underscore its pedigree, as well as the Mellot family's unwavering commitment to mastery. A quintessential embodiment of Sancerre's terroir, the Alphonse Mellot Sancerre Generation XIX Blanc 2010 truly lived up to expectations for a wine of its calibre. |
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Loire | 3 | - | HK$3,810.00 | |||||
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Embark on an elegant journey with the Alphonse Mellot Sancerre Satellite 2010, a distinguished white wine from the esteemed vineyards of the Loire Valley in France. Crafted by the Mellot family, who boast 19 generations of winemaking expertise, this Sauvignon Blanc reveals a delightful harmony of depth and complexity. Cherished for its purity of flavour, Alphonse Mellot Sancerre Satellite 2010 is organically farmed, and hand-harvested from limestone-clay soils, inducing a unique minerality. Maturation is carried out in French oak barrels, enhancing the wine's aromatic structure. A brilliant straw yellow hue ignites intrigue, paving the way for a rich nose of lemon, green apple, and a hint of gooseberry. The palate presents an unforgettable balance of crisp acidity and nuanced stone fruit flavours. With impressive persistence, this wine makes an exemplary pairing with seafood and goat cheese. Experience the pinnacle of French Sauvignon Blanc with Alphonse Mellot Sancerre Satellite 2010 – an embodiment of superior old world viticulture. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 91 (VN) | HK$29,435.00 | |||||
Vinous (91)Pale yellow. Bracing aromas of lemon, lime peel, tangerine and crushed stone. At once pliant and juicy, with a fine-grained, round texture to its fresh stone fruit and citrus flavors. Not about power but tasty and stylish. A lovely, persistent village wine. (Snap up Ente's Aligote or Bourgogne Blanc if you can find them. The former wine is remarkably rich for the variety, showing a sexy toasty quality, while the latter boasts terriific citrus cut and a lot of personality for its appellation. Both fully capitalize on what Ente describes as a classic vintage for him in terms of ripeness, acidity and pH.) |
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Burgundy | 1 | 93 (WA) | HK$17,630.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (93)Ente’s 2010 Meursault Le Clos des Ambres is impeccable. It is also quite closed in on itself. Today, it is the minerality that dominates, but there is no denying the wine’s pedigree and sheer class. With air, the aromas and flavors become vivid, nuanced and breathtakingly beautiful. The airy, ethereal finish is the stuff dreams are made of. This is simply drop-dead gorgeous. Anticipated maturity: 2012+. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 93 (WA) | HK$61,860.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (93)Ente’s 2010 Meursault Le Clos des Ambres is impeccable. It is also quite closed in on itself. Today, it is the minerality that dominates, but there is no denying the wine’s pedigree and sheer class. With air, the aromas and flavors become vivid, nuanced and breathtakingly beautiful. The airy, ethereal finish is the stuff dreams are made of. This is simply drop-dead gorgeous. Anticipated maturity: 2012+. |
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Burgundy | 2 | 93 (VN) | HK$23,025.00 | |||||
Vinous (93)Bright pale yellow. Pure, lively lemon and pineapple aromas. At once silky and citrussy, offering lovely finesse and inner-mouth perfume to its flavors of lemon and white flowers. Harmonious acidity gives shape and sappiness to this opulent wine. Very long on the aftertaste. The Petits Charrons and Puligny Referts never give much crop due to millerandage, notes Ente. An uncommonly refined village wine. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 96 (WA) | HK$24,530.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (96)The 2010 Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru offers an enticing array of marine scents on the nose: cockle shells and estuarine aromas. Give it a couple more minutes and watch those lovely grilled walnut scents flourish and multiply so that is ends up almost Meursault Perrieres in character. The palate makes an immediate impression on the entry with that subtle nutty theme continuing, partnered with racy acidity, superb concentration and a long, tense finish that is energetic and surfeit with mineralite, flint popping up on the finish. So delicious you could broach a bottle now - but that would be depriving you of what will be in a decade-s time! Drink 2016-2035. |
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Rhone | 2 | 96 (WA) | HK$3,560.00 | |||||
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. |
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Burgundy | 1 | - | HK$40,215.00 | |||||
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Burgundy | 1 | 96+ (VN) | HK$10,015.00 | |||||
Vinous (96+)Usually we feature older wines in Cellar Favorites, but given the understandable trepidation consumers have around cellaring white Burgundy, I thought it would be interesting to see how a handful of highly touted white Burgundies are faring. To be honest, I had a selfish reason for wanting to taste these wines. I bought many of the Lafon 2010s (it is my daughter’s birth year), but I did so not really knowing when the wines would be ready to drink or how long they will last. I think I can at least offer a view on the first part of that question, but the second, happily, remains a question mark, in the best sense of the term.Vinous readers will recall that 2010 is unusual in the Côte de Beaune for its combination of both elevated ripeness and high acidity, two attributes one rarely finds in the same vintage. At Lafon, the 2010s were positively electric when I tasted them from barrel and then from bottle. Today, a few years later, the 2010 whites are every bit as impressive. Although projecting drinking windows for white Burgundy these days is fraught with peril, based on this showing all of the 2010s need at least a few more years in bottle with the possible exception of the Goutte d’Or.While the preceding Meursaults all offer a measure of exuberance – albeit in a classically austere style – the 2010 Meursault Genevrières is a much more introverted wine that draws the taster in with its myriad shades of dimension. Deceptively medium in body, the 2010 is all about intensity, cut and inward energy, with the classic reductive flavor profile that is typical of this great site, and breathtaking harmony. The 2010 refreshes the palate with every taste as it continues to grow in the glass. Over the last few years, the 2010 has blossomed into a spectacular Meursault. This is the best showing yet from the Genevrières. |
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Burgundy | 3 | 97 (VN) | HK$10,125.00 | |||||
Vinous (97)The 2010 Meursault Les Perrières 1er Cru is one of Dominique Lafon's finest offerings from this noble vineyard in recent years, echoing Stephen Tanzer's finding from his vertical in 2019. It has an electrifying bouquet with such intense mineralité that it threatens to overwhelm the senses. The palate is beautifully balanced with a killer line of acidity, just a twist of bitter lemon lending tension, and a judicious touch of creaminess on the detailed finish. Ludicrously brilliant. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 98 (VN) | HK$33,285.00 | |||||
Vinous (98)The 2010 Montrachet Grand Cru is a spectacular wine that fulfills all its potential. The bouquet rivets you to the spot with yellow flowers, hints of honeysuckle and petrichor, with aeration becoming a little petrol-like. The palate is brimming over with nervous energy. There is incredible depth, real thrust to this Montrachet that just lacquers the senses, yet it is only just beginning to demonstrate what it can do. Wow. Bravo Mon. Lafon. Tasted at Noble Rot's Xmas dinner. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 95 (VN (NM)) | HK$5,975.00 | |||||
Vinous - Neal Martin (95)The 2010 Coutet has quite an intense bouquet with linseed oil and wax resin infusing the dried honey aromas, then orange pith and a touch of saffron. The palate is very well balanced with a fine bead of acidity. Harmonious and extremely well focused, this conveys a sense of energy on the finish that makes you want to return for another sip. Excellent. Tasted blind at Farr Vintners 10-Year On Bordeaux horizontal. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 98 (WI) | HK$15,515.00 | |||||
The Wine Independent (98)A blend of 70% Semillon and 30% Sauvignon Blanc, with 138 grams per liter of residual sugar, the 2010 Yquem has a pale to medium straw-gold color. After considerable aeration, it erupts from the glass with a powerhouse of flamboyant notes of crystalized ginger, honeydew melon, mango pudding, and lime leaves, followed by nuances of honeysuckle, white pepper, fennel seed, and crushed rocks. The palate is fantastically fruity, youthful and oh-so-rich, delivering citrus and tropical fruit layers with compelling tension, finishing very long and with wonderful purity. |
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Bordeaux | 4 | 98 (WI) | HK$50,575.00 | |||||
The Wine Independent (98)A blend of 70% Semillon and 30% Sauvignon Blanc, with 138 grams per liter of residual sugar, the 2010 Yquem has a pale to medium straw-gold color. After considerable aeration, it erupts from the glass with a powerhouse of flamboyant notes of crystalized ginger, honeydew melon, mango pudding, and lime leaves, followed by nuances of honeysuckle, white pepper, fennel seed, and crushed rocks. The palate is fantastically fruity, youthful and oh-so-rich, delivering citrus and tropical fruit layers with compelling tension, finishing very long and with wonderful purity. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 98 (WI) | HK$4,920.00 | |||||
The Wine Independent (98)A blend of 70% Semillon and 30% Sauvignon Blanc, with 138 grams per liter of residual sugar, the 2010 Yquem has a pale to medium straw-gold color. After considerable aeration, it erupts from the glass with a powerhouse of flamboyant notes of crystalized ginger, honeydew melon, mango pudding, and lime leaves, followed by nuances of honeysuckle, white pepper, fennel seed, and crushed rocks. The palate is fantastically fruity, youthful and oh-so-rich, delivering citrus and tropical fruit layers with compelling tension, finishing very long and with wonderful purity. |
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Burgundy | 8 | - | HK$6,635.00 | |||||
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Introducing the extraordinary Daniel Etienne Defaix Chablis 1er Cru Lys 2010, a masterpiece from the celebrated Burgundy region of France. Skillfully crafted by illustrious winemaker Daniel Etienne Defaix, this wine showcases his prestigious lineage and expertise spanning over 400 years. The Defaix domaine, recognised for meticulous, traditional winemaking, nurtures this Chablis to perfection, infusing each bottle with crisp minerality and profound depth. This vintage marries the ideal 2010 harvest conditions with a complex, slow fermentation process. Using indigenous yeasts, it is fermented in stainless steel, then aged on lees for a minimum of 36 months, ensuring structure and balance. Its intense bouquet of fresh honeysuckle paired with citrus undertones transforms on the palate into an explosion of stone-fruits, honey and a striking mineral backbone. Descended from vines planted in the unique Kimmeridgian soil, the Daniel Etienne Defaix Chablis 1er Cru Lys 2010 encapsulates the authentic expression of its historic terroir. |
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Burgundy | 1 | - | HK$6,195.00 | |||||
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The Daniel Etienne Defaix Chablis 1er Cru Vaillons 2010 is a sublime example of French white at its pinnacle, representing a legacy steeped in more than four centuries of artisanal winemaking. Crafted in the illustrious Chablis region of Burgundy, its pedigree is linked to the hallowed limestone and Kimmeridgian clay soils that lend distinguished minerality and richness. This exceptional single-vineyard Chablis, made by Daniel Etienne, the most recent heir of the Defaix line, manifests a fascinating interplay between intensity and elegance. The wine undergoes a meticulous vinification process, involving extended fermentation and long, slow maturation in vat to achieve an optimal meld of flavours. The result is an intricately layered wine exuding lively citrus and orchard fruit characteristics, delicately layered with floral and flinty notes. The Daniel Etienne Defaix Chablis 1er Cru Vaillons 2010 marks a compelling testament to the deftness of Defaix, amalgamating tradition, terroir, and artistry in each bottle. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 93-96 (VN (ID)) | HK$4,030.00 | |||||
Vinous - Ian D'Agata (93-96)Bright yellow-gold. Enticing aromas of mango, guava, yellow peach, saffron, minerals and honey, complicated by high-toned botrytis. Rich, dense and almost oily, with intense ripe yellow fruit and honey flavors lifted by firm acidity. The finish boasts outstanding length and a bright lemony touch. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 99 (VN) | HK$84,945.00 | |||||
Vinous (99)I can’t think of a better or more appropriate wine to bring the evening to a close than the 2010 Montrachet, a vintage that marries power and elegance like few before it. Dense and powerful in the glass, with tremendous textural richness, the 2010 shows remarkable transparency, with layers of citrus peel, crushed rock, slate, mint and dried flowers that build into the huge, explosive finish. Simply put, the 2010 is stratospheric. Tasted at the DRC Montrachet charity event in New York. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 99 (VN) | HK$344,610.00 | |||||
Vinous (99)I can’t think of a better or more appropriate wine to bring the evening to a close than the 2010 Montrachet, a vintage that marries power and elegance like few before it. Dense and powerful in the glass, with tremendous textural richness, the 2010 shows remarkable transparency, with layers of citrus peel, crushed rock, slate, mint and dried flowers that build into the huge, explosive finish. Simply put, the 2010 is stratospheric. Tasted at the DRC Montrachet charity event in New York. |
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Loire | 1 | 95 (WA) | HK$6,385.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (95)The Vatan 2010 Sancerre Clos la Neore is fascinatingly – indeed, almost mind-bendingly – complex, already in the nose. Musk, white truffle, citrus oils, bittersweet floral perfume, lime and tangerine, as well as fusil, chalky and maritime mineral notes associated with Kimmeridgian origins waft in a kaleidoscopically interactive array. Fresh citrus and a stony-chalky undertone take the lead on a silken-textured palate but with almost electrically charged vivacity of interaction emerging in the long, saliva-liberating finish, mirroring the wine’s remarkable aromatic show. This will be at least a twenty year keeper worthy of comparison with such memorable past vintages as 1988, 1990, or 1996, each of which has shown gloriously when tasted within the past couple of years. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 93+ (VN) | HK$13,840.00 | |||||
Vinous (93+)Full yellow color. Musky aromas of ripe peach, lime and brown spices. Densely packed and lively; distinctly powerful for Bienvenue. Highly concentrated citrus and crushed stone flavors give the wine a vibrant, piercing back end. A very backward, long grand cru with terrific energy for aging. |
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Rhone | 1 | 92 (VN) | HK$3,830.00 | |||||
Vinous (92)Bright yellow. Aromas and flavors of fresh pit fruits, honey and orange peel. Taut and stony, offering terrific clarity and lift. Closes zesty and long, with resonating minerality and a sneaky floral quality. As usual, this is an intriguing, highly complex southern Rhone white wine that significantly over-delivers for its category. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 91+ (VN) | HK$9,160.00 | |||||
Vinous (91+)Very ripe, lightly resiny aromas of apple, hay, nuts, ginger, minerals and exotic flowers. Youthfully disjointed on the palate, combining penetrating liquid minerality and strong, almost citrussy acidity; I wanted a bit more balancing fruit. Very chewy, salty, concentrated wine with a finishing suggestion of crab apple that suggests late harvesting. With its pronounced acid element, this is tough going today. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 93 (VN) | HK$21,870.00 | |||||
Vinous (93)The 2010 St. Aubin En Remilly is another gorgeous, complete wine. It shows the brighter, more focused style of village. Citrus, white flowers and crushed rocks all take shape in the glass as this vibrant, chiseled Burgundy opens up in the glass. The finish is long, textured and absolutely impeccable. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 94-96 (VN) | HK$13,800.00 | |||||
Vinous (94-96)(these were the last chardonnay vines harvested in 2010): Very pale yellow with a green tinge. Brilliantly pure, high-pitched aromas of chalk, lime blossom, peppermint, spearmint, white pepper, anise and wild herbs. Delicate on entry, then saline, dry and rich in the middle, with outstanding cut and precision to its flavors of crushed rock, spices and truffle lifted by mint oils. Classic east-facing Corton-Charlemagne from marne blanche soil in Ladoix. For all its energy, this wine already boasts a remarkably silky texture. The palate-staining finish leaves the salivary glands humming. |
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Bordeaux | 4 | 92 (WA) | HK$12,125.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (92)A beautiful 1,000-case blend of 83% Semillon and the rest Sauvignon Blanc from the owners of La Mission Haut-Brion and Haut-Brion, this beauty exhibits oodles of marmalade, honeysuckle, caramelized melons and candle wax in a medium-bodied, authoritative style. Drink it over the next decade or more. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 93 (VN (NM)) | HK$4,390.00 | |||||
Vinous - Neal Martin (93)The 2010 La Tour Blanche is well endowed on the nose with scents of acacia honey, yellow plum and orange rind, just a touch of saffron emerging with time (a leitmotif of this vintage.) The palate is well balanced with a fine bead of acidity. This feels spicier than its peers, finely tuned towards the finish with a touch of ginger on the aftertaste. Excellent. Tasted blind at Farr Vintners 10-Year On Bordeaux horizontal. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 95 (VN) | HK$7,060.00 | |||||
Vinous (95)The 2010 Chablis Les Clos is stunningly beautiful in this vintage. It represents everything Clos is supposed to be; silky, subtle, intense and weightless. Nothing in particular stands out, instead the Clos impresses for its fabulous balance and sheer pedigree. |
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