France
The vast and diverse wine regions of France, each with its own unique terroirs, grape varieties, and winemaking techniques, are a treasure trove.
In Bordeaux, the birthplace of some of the world's most iconic wines, esteemed vineyards such as Château Lafite Rothschild, Château Margaux, Château Latour, and Château Haut-Brion produce exceptional red wines, showcasing the art of blending Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Malbec. The region is also renowned for its exquisite white wines, with vineyards like Château d'Yquem and Domaine de Chevalier producing legendary sweet wines.
Moving to Burgundy, the vineyards of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Domaine Leroy, and Domaine Armand Rousseau capture the essence of the region's revered terroir, crafting exquisite red wines from the Pinot Noir grape. Meanwhile, Domaine Leflaive and Domaine Coche-Dury are celebrated for their world-class white wines, predominantly made from Chardonnay.
The Champagne region, known for its sparkling wines, boasts illustrious houses such as Krug, Dom Pérignon, and Moët & Chandon, as well as grower-producers like Pierre Péters and Jacques Selosse. These vineyards create exceptional sparkling wines using the traditional method, offering a symphony of delicate bubbles, elegant flavors, and vibrant acidity.
In the Rhône Valley, iconic vineyards like Chapoutier, E. Guigal, and Château de Beaucastel produce remarkable red wines in the northern appellations of Hermitage, Côte-Rôtie, and Cornas, showcasing the elegance and power of Syrah. Further south, Châteauneuf-du-Pape is celebrated for its rich and full-bodied red blends, with Château Rayas and Clos des Papes leading the way.
In Alsace, vineyards such as Domaine Zind-Humbrecht and omaine Trimbach craft exquisite white wines, including Riesling, Gewürztraminer, and Pinot Gris, expressing the region's unique terroir and varietal character.
These are just a few highlights among the diverse array of wines that France offers. From the Loire Valley's crisp whites and elegant reds to the Languedoc-Roussillon's bold and robust wines, each region presents its own vinous treasures.
France
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Vinous - Neal Martin (94)
I have always loved the 1990 Climens. A little deeper in colour than I remember, it has a gorgeous bouquet of marmalade, Manuka honey, quince and a touch of sugar barley, all finely detailed. The palate is unctuous on the entry with lower acidity than its peers, sumptuous in style with a thickly-textured, ravishing finish that manages to maintain harmony and freshness. This is a Climens that you can lose yourself in. Courtesy of a bottle proffered by Bill Blatch at Trinity restaurant in London.HK$1,375.00 -
Vinous - Neal Martin (94)
I have always loved the 1990 Climens. A little deeper in colour than I remember, it has a gorgeous bouquet of marmalade, Manuka honey, quince and a touch of sugar barley, all finely detailed. The palate is unctuous on the entry with lower acidity than its peers, sumptuous in style with a thickly-textured, ravishing finish that manages to maintain harmony and freshness. This is a Climens that you can lose yourself in. Courtesy of a bottle proffered by Bill Blatch at Trinity restaurant in London.HK$7,440.00 -
(12x75cl) 1995Vinous - Neal Martin (95)
The 1995 Climens has a lilting bouquet with lovely scents of wild honey, orange pith and white peach, a hint of saffron emerging with time. The palate is medium-bodied with good vigour, peach and apricot with a superb spine of acidity, building in weight towards quite a spicy, tangerine-tinged finish that lingers in the mouth. At its peak.HK$7,405.00 -
(1x37.5cl) 2001LaRVF (100)
Très grand vin associant une ampleur hors norme à la finesse et à l'équilibre typiques du cru. Très gras et liquoreux, le vin offre un splendide potentiel avec des notes de mandarine confite et une ample longueur, encore sur la réserve. Grande finale sur la nougatine.HK$745.00 -
(1x75cl) 2001LaRVF (100)
Très grand vin associant une ampleur hors norme à la finesse et à l'équilibre typiques du cru. Très gras et liquoreux, le vin offre un splendide potentiel avec des notes de mandarine confite et une ample longueur, encore sur la réserve. Grande finale sur la nougatine.HK$1,465.00 -
LaRVF (100)
Très grand vin associant une ampleur hors norme à la finesse et à l'équilibre typiques du cru. Très gras et liquoreux, le vin offre un splendide potentiel avec des notes de mandarine confite et une ample longueur, encore sur la réserve. Grande finale sur la nougatine.HK$7,145.00 -
(12x75cl) 2005HK$7,880.00 -
HK$3,105.00 -
(12x75cl) 2006Wine Enthusiast (96)
Beautiful aromas of orange zest are followed by gingerbread, caramel and crème brûlée flavors. This is a beautiful, rich, smoothly dense wine with a core of botrytis, spice and vivid fresh citrus acidity.HK$5,905.00 -
Wine Advocate (98)
Tasted single blind against its peers. Chateau Climens always tends to go into its shell after bottling, which is probably why I was not dishing out an even higher score to this still, spellbinding Barsac. The 2007 is endowed with a lovely bouquet: very pure with honey, a touch of orange-blossom and a touch of quince. The palate is very well-balanced with great purity and a dash of spice as well as a lovely viscous, botrytis-laden finish that possesses awesome weight and persistency. This is a slice of heaven in a glass, but it definitely needs time to reveal its true potential. Tasted January 2011.HK$6,650.00 -
(12x75cl) 2008Vinous - Neal Martin (93)
The 2008 Climens delivers 132g/L residual sugar. It has a much less expressive nose than the 2009: honey, wet wool, slightly petrolly in style. The palate is very well balanced with a fine bead of acidity, great depth and intensity, showing more clarity than the nose suggests. I would afford this another two or three years in bottle. Excellent. Tasted at the Climens vertical at the château in April 2022.HK$5,550.00 -
(6x75cl) 2008Vinous - Neal Martin (93)
The 2008 Climens delivers 132g/L residual sugar. It has a much less expressive nose than the 2009: honey, wet wool, slightly petrolly in style. The palate is very well balanced with a fine bead of acidity, great depth and intensity, showing more clarity than the nose suggests. I would afford this another two or three years in bottle. Excellent. Tasted at the Climens vertical at the château in April 2022.HK$3,485.00 -
(12x37.5cl) 2009Wine Enthusiast (98)
97-99 Barrel sample. A tasting from several barrels, because the chateau has not made the final blend, so the rating is provisional. But the wine is so rich, with an almost perfect balance of acidity and ripeness, allied to a complete purity of honeyed botrytis. However the final wine turns out, it will be magnificent.HK$5,805.00 -
Wine Enthusiast (98)
97-99 Barrel sample. A tasting from several barrels, because the chateau has not made the final blend, so the rating is provisional. But the wine is so rich, with an almost perfect balance of acidity and ripeness, allied to a complete purity of honeyed botrytis. However the final wine turns out, it will be magnificent.HK$7,200.00 -
Wine Enthusiast (98)
97-99 Barrel sample. A tasting from several barrels, because the chateau has not made the final blend, so the rating is provisional. But the wine is so rich, with an almost perfect balance of acidity and ripeness, allied to a complete purity of honeyed botrytis. However the final wine turns out, it will be magnificent.HK$1,171.00 -
Wine Enthusiast (98)
97-99 Barrel sample. A tasting from several barrels, because the chateau has not made the final blend, so the rating is provisional. But the wine is so rich, with an almost perfect balance of acidity and ripeness, allied to a complete purity of honeyed botrytis. However the final wine turns out, it will be magnificent.HK$3,060.00 -
Wine Advocate (96)
Pale lemon-gold colored, the 2010 Climens reveals a seriously intense nose of mango pudding, warm pineapples and pink grapefruit with hints of exotic spices, toasted almonds and brioche plus a waft of honeycomb. Powerfully flavored and packed with layers of tropical fruits, spices and earthy notes, it finishes epically long and honeyed.HK$12,111.00 -
Wine Advocate (96)
Pale lemon-gold colored, the 2010 Climens reveals a seriously intense nose of mango pudding, warm pineapples and pink grapefruit with hints of exotic spices, toasted almonds and brioche plus a waft of honeycomb. Powerfully flavored and packed with layers of tropical fruits, spices and earthy notes, it finishes epically long and honeyed.HK$1,055.00 -
(24x37.5cl) 2010Wine Advocate (96)
Pale lemon-gold colored, the 2010 Climens reveals a seriously intense nose of mango pudding, warm pineapples and pink grapefruit with hints of exotic spices, toasted almonds and brioche plus a waft of honeycomb. Powerfully flavored and packed with layers of tropical fruits, spices and earthy notes, it finishes epically long and honeyed.HK$6,530.00 -
Wine Advocate (96)
Pale lemon-gold colored, the 2010 Climens reveals a seriously intense nose of mango pudding, warm pineapples and pink grapefruit with hints of exotic spices, toasted almonds and brioche plus a waft of honeycomb. Powerfully flavored and packed with layers of tropical fruits, spices and earthy notes, it finishes epically long and honeyed.HK$4,325.00 -
(12x75cl) 2011Wine Spectator (97)
Still tight, with an energetic core of white peach, creamed pineapple, persimmon and white ginger flavors. The backdrop of orange blossom and singed almond notes adds extra dimension on the finish. This will go a long way in the cellar. Best from 2016 through 2035. 4,025 cases made. -JMHK$7,640.00 -
(6x150cl) 2011Wine Spectator (97)
Still tight, with an energetic core of white peach, creamed pineapple, persimmon and white ginger flavors. The backdrop of orange blossom and singed almond notes adds extra dimension on the finish. This will go a long way in the cellar. Best from 2016 through 2035. 4,025 cases made. -JMHK$7,160.00 -
(12x75cl) 2013Wine Spectator (97)
There's loads here, with apricot, nectarine and clementine flavors stitched with a racy orange zest note to give energy, while tropical papaya and mango flavors add a sublimely creamy edge. The finish sails on and on, coating the palate with a porcelain feel, while an echo of bitter almond lingers effortlessly, like a lace curtain hanging on an endless breeze. Stunning. Best from 2018 through 2043.HK$6,225.00 -
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (97)
Gracious, light on its feet and positively sublime, the 2015 Climens is one of the wines of the vintage. Its airiness and grace are hard to capture with words. Lightly honeyed notes, chamomile and exotic flowers lead into orchard fruit and candied citrus in this impeccably polished, nuanced Barsac. I would prefer to cellar the 2015 for at least a few years to get the benefit of even more complexity, but readers will have a very hard time keeping their hands off this gem from Climens and proprietor Bérénice Lurton.HK$2,905.00 -
(6x75cl) 2015Vinous - Antonio Galloni (97)
Gracious, light on its feet and positively sublime, the 2015 Climens is one of the wines of the vintage. Its airiness and grace are hard to capture with words. Lightly honeyed notes, chamomile and exotic flowers lead into orchard fruit and candied citrus in this impeccably polished, nuanced Barsac. I would prefer to cellar the 2015 for at least a few years to get the benefit of even more complexity, but readers will have a very hard time keeping their hands off this gem from Climens and proprietor Bérénice Lurton.HK$2,365.00 -
Wine Advocate (96+)
Pale lemon-gold colored, the 2016 Climens is a little youthfully mute, revealing notions of ripe peaches, mango and musk melon with touches of cedar chest, orange blossoms, candied ginger and baking bread. Bursting in the mouth with vibrant, energetic stone fruit and tropical layers, it is framed by fantastic freshness, finishing long and creamy.HK$2,740.00 -
(6x75cl) 2023Wine Advocate (97)
The 2023 Château Climens is superb, notwithstanding its tiny yield of just 2.7 hectoliters per hectare and a mere 4,000 bottles produced of the grand vin. It reveals a complex, delicate and perfumed bouquet of beeswax, exotic fruits, ripe orchard fruits and spices. Medium- to full-bodied, fresh and crystalline, it is seamless in texture, animated by lively acidity and concludes with a long, precise and ethereal finish. This is not the most powerful rendition of Climens but rather one defined by precision and meticulous attention to detail. Entirely crafted from Sémillon, it contains 130 grams per liter of residual sugar.HK$6,311.00 -
James Suckling (100)
This wine has such balance and harmony. I remember when it was young and how the new wood and intense fruit came out, but they have finally come together in such a beautiful way. It shows subtle and complex character of plums, cedar, dried flowers, and earth. The texture or mouthfeel is beautiful as you taste it.HK$5,775.00 -
Wine Advocate (97)
A sensational effort, and one of the two finest Clinets made before the 2008, this prodigious wine made by the late Jean-Michel Arcaute has always been a sprinter out of the gate. Even at age 19, it continues to strut its stuff. A dense blue/garnet/purple hue exhibits slight lightening at the edge, and the gorgeous nose offers up aromas of sweet blueberries, licorice, smoke, acacia flowers, and camphor. Full-bodied with silky tannins, low acidity, and terrific purity, this 1990 has hit its plateau of full maturity where it should remain for another decade.Release price: ($425.00/case)HK$22,180.00 -
HK$11,565.00

