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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Jeb Dunnuck (99)
The 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape Vieilles Vignes is based on 45% each of Grenache and Mourvèdre, with the balance Syrah, all destemmed and raised in 55% new French oak. Gorgeous cassis, violet, graphite, fruitcake, and peppery herbs define this brilliant effort, and it's full-bodied, with a pure, seamless texture, wonderful tannins, and one heck of a great finish. This magical 2019 is going to benefit from 4-5 years of bottle age (it's brilliant even today) yet keep for 20 years or more. Châteauneuf du Pape lovers need to have this in their cellar!HK$3,241.41 -
Vinous - Ian D'Agata (88-91)
(75% merlot and 25% cabernet franc) Bright red. Sexy, captivatingly pure aromas of sour red cherry, raspberry, white pepper and truffle. At once silky and juicy, with red cherry and raspberry flavors enlivened by a lightly minty quality. The finish is long, smooth and satisfying. Though this could use more complexity and depth, its seamless nature, pure fruit, and impeccable balance make it a winner. This may well turn out to be one of the best Bordeaux buys of all in 2010. This property belongs to the Guinaudeau family, owners of Ch a teau Lafleur.HK$2,355.00 -
Vinous - Neal Martin (88)
The 2012 Acte 4 has quite a strict bouquet at first that needs more encouragement than other vintages from the glass. It is well defined with blackberry, boysenberry, touches of graphite and pressed violet aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannin, well balanced and displaying well judged acidity. It just seems to run out of ideas two-thirds of the way through, lacking the energy displayed by the previous vintage. Tasted at the Acte vertical in London.HK$1,545.00 -
(1x600cl) 2014Vinous - Antonio Galloni (88)
The 2014 Grand Village is a delicious, fruity wine to drink now and over the next few years, while the flavors remain brisk and delineated. Freshly cut flowers, mint and sweet red cherries offer energy and persistence. This is a gorgeous entry-level wine from the Guinadeau family.HK$1,730.00 -
(6x75cl) 2014Vinous - Antonio Galloni (88)
The 2014 Grand Village is a delicious, fruity wine to drink now and over the next few years, while the flavors remain brisk and delineated. Freshly cut flowers, mint and sweet red cherries offer energy and persistence. This is a gorgeous entry-level wine from the Guinadeau family.HK$1,730.00 -
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (91)
The 2016 Grand Village is a big wine. The natural richness of the year is evident in the wine's exuberant fruit and plush, dense feel. Black cherry, plum, chocolate, sweet spice and lavender all race out of the glass. Today, the ripeness of the vintage is quite evident in the wine's intense profile and overall feel. The 2016 spent 14-15 months in oak, 30% new.HK$1,415.00 -
Vinous - Neal Martin (89)
The 2017 Grand Village comes mainly from the clay-limestone plateau that survived the frost that reduced production to only 9% of normal. "We were hit quite badly with frost in 2017 but we found by June that some vines were acting weird" Omri Ram told me when I visited Lafleur. "So we pruned back very early to help the vines get back into shape." It has a potent bouquet with mulberry, lavender and hoisin aromas. The floral aspect becomes stronger and stronger with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly hard tannins on the entry, quite spicy and a little chewier than recent vintages. Slightly bitter towards the finish with a strong black pepper note on the aftertaste. There is in fact, less Grand Village than Lafleur this year!HK$1,200.00 -
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (92)
Just as it was from barrel, the 2018 Grand Village is rich and enveloping in feel. Inky red berry fruit, spice, licorice, mocha and dried flowers all meld together in this effortless, juicy Bordeaux Supérieur from the Guinaudeau family. Cabernet Franc signatures are quite prominent in the wine's aromatic profile and structural feel. The 2018 is a jewel of a wine that could very well surprise somewhere down the line. I loved it.HK$1,320.00 -
Decanter (94)
A gorgeous dark nose with some perfumed black cherries, it smells faintly sweet and softly floral - so welcoming. A similar soft, sweetness follows on the palate straight away with such perfumed edges that are completely captivating. Succulent with clarity and soft chalky tannins plumping up the blackcurrant, Morello cherry and raspberry fruit. There's also a very specific iron filing, iodine salinity that lingers giving such texture and nuance to the overall frame. The finish is fresh and direct with a cooling sensation that lingers. Sophisticated and refined, but above all so joyous to drink. A top buy. From the same winemaking team and philosophy as Château Lafleur in Pomerol.HK$1,180.00 -
(3x150cl) 2020Jancis Robinson (16.5++)
79% Merlot, 21% Bouchet (Cabernet Franc). Part of the Lafleur (Pomerol) stable. Cask sample. Pretty floral-violet nose with plenty of juice on the palate. Rich but sappy with a mineral edge. Tannins long and extremely fine. Clearly GV. (JL) Drink 2025 – 2035HK$910.00 -
Jancis Robinson (16.5++)
79% Merlot, 21% Bouchet (Cabernet Franc). Part of the Lafleur (Pomerol) stable. Cask sample. Pretty floral-violet nose with plenty of juice on the palate. Rich but sappy with a mineral edge. Tannins long and extremely fine. Clearly GV. (JL) Drink 2025 – 2035HK$1,420.00 -
(3x150cl) 2021Decanter (94)
Softly floral-touched blackcurrants - violet and lilac, quite a subtle perfumed tone to them but giving such expressive aromas to the nose with touches of smoked earth and sweet milk chocolate. Juicy and succulent, a whoosh of bright fruit juice - red cherry and strawberry - really so lively then straightens and becomes more direct. Lots of minerality and salinity on show, lifted and aerial. The structure and frame comes more towards the end rather than on the mid-palate, growing in depth and density until a noticeable weight appears with a mineral, salty, iodine finish. Elegant from the start however, finessed with freshness and such supreme approachability. Utterly lovely.HK$1,050.00 -
Decanter (94)
Softly floral-touched blackcurrants - violet and lilac, quite a subtle perfumed tone to them but giving such expressive aromas to the nose with touches of smoked earth and sweet milk chocolate. Juicy and succulent, a whoosh of bright fruit juice - red cherry and strawberry - really so lively then straightens and becomes more direct. Lots of minerality and salinity on show, lifted and aerial. The structure and frame comes more towards the end rather than on the mid-palate, growing in depth and density until a noticeable weight appears with a mineral, salty, iodine finish. Elegant from the start however, finessed with freshness and such supreme approachability. Utterly lovely.HK$1,000.00 -
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Vinous - Neal Martin (91)
The 2019 Grand Village Blanc, 25% Sémillon and 75% Sauvignon Blanc (Bordeaux clones and massal selection) has a perfumed bouquet of yellow plum, nectarine and honeysuckle. The palate is well balanced with a waxy texture, dried apricot and pear, lovely weight and salinity surfacing on the finish. It is one of the finest Grand Village Blanc that I have tasted.HK$1,200.00 -
Vinous - Neal Martin (90)
The 2020 Grand Village Blanc has a fresh bouquet with lime, grapefruit and peach skin scents, quite pure, not complex, though seductive. The palate is well balanced with a nervy entry, lovely oily texture (which Baptiste Guinaudeau attributes to the more solar vintages) with a touch of bitter lemon, pear drop and stem ginger towards the finish. Delicious.HK$2,000.00 -
Wine Advocate (91)
Regularly one of the standout dry white wines from the Bordeaux appellation, the 2021 Blanc, a blend of 73% Sauvignon Blanc (picked on the 9th, 11th and 13th of September) and 27% Sémillon (picked on the 7th of September), offers up a fresh, delicate and elegant bouquet with aromas of lemon oil, lemon, spices, lime tree leaves, menthol and perfectly ripe orchard fruits. Medium to full-bodied, satiny and racy, it's layered and seamless, its concentrated core of fruit underpinned by racy acids, concluding with a calcareous, saline finish.HK$1,100.00 -
HK$1,755.00 -
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (90-93)
The 2018 Lafaurie-Peyraguey Blanc Sec is one of the most distinctive dry whites of the year. Creamy and ample, with terrific brightness, the 2018 has so much to offer. Lemon confit, chamomile and dried pear all open up with air. More than anything else, though, the 2018 offers a compelling interplay of textural richness and energy. The blend is 80% Sémillon and 20% Sauvignon Blanc.HK$1,785.00 -
(12x75cl) 2005Wine Spectator (92)
Intense aromas of crushed berry, toasty oak, coconut and milk chocolate lead to a full-bodied palate, with soft, velvety tannins and a long, flavorful finish. Stylish and voluptuous. Best after 2013. 4,500 cases made. -JSHK$4,405.00 -
(12x75cl) 2014Vinous - Antonio Galloni (90)
The 2014 Grand Pontet is a dark, juicy wine. Black cherry, plum, spice, tobacco and menthol convey a sensual personality, and soft contours add to the wine's up-front appeal and sexiness. Drink this open-knit Saint-Émilion over the next few years.HK$2,445.00 -
(12x75cl) 2018Vinous - Antonio Galloni (92)
The 2018 Grand-Pontet is gorgeous and extroverted, just as it was en primeur. A blast of dark fruit, chocolate, mocha, leather and licorice hits the palate. Rich and resonant on the palate, the 2018 exudes raciness from start to finish. Soft curves add to the wine's considerable appeal. The 2018 really blossoms with a bit of air.HK$2,750.00 -
(12x37.5cl) 2019Vinous - Antonio Galloni (91-93)
The 2019 Grand-Pontet is a very pretty Saint-Émilion. Floral notes, cedar, mint and sweet tobacco give the 2019 lovely aromatic complexity. Medium in body, with gorgeous red berry fruit, the 2019 has a lot to offer. All the elements meld together nicely in this mid-weight, juicy Saint-Émilion that speaks to balance above all else.HK$1,485.00 -
(6x75cl) 2019Vinous - Antonio Galloni (91-93)
The 2019 Grand-Pontet is a very pretty Saint-Émilion. Floral notes, cedar, mint and sweet tobacco give the 2019 lovely aromatic complexity. Medium in body, with gorgeous red berry fruit, the 2019 has a lot to offer. All the elements meld together nicely in this mid-weight, juicy Saint-Émilion that speaks to balance above all else.HK$1,385.00 -
(6x75cl) 2020Vinous - Antonio Galloni (92-94)
The 2020 Grand-Pontet is a rich, heady Saint-Émilion. Black cherry jam, chocolate, spice, licorice, menthol, dried herbs and espresso resonate in the glass. The 2020 is a big wine with huge fruit and equally imposing tannins that need time to soften. There is certainly quite a bit to look forward to.HK$1,385.00 -
(1x600cl) 1982Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (85)
Full red-ruby. Aromas of redcurrant, tobacco, spices and earth, with a slight roasted aspect. Sweet, fat and warm with alcohol; loaded with fruit but could use a bit more definition. Finishes with some free-floating acidity.HK$10,885.00 -
The Wine Cellar Insider (92)
A smoky mix of cedar, licorice and cassis start off the nose of this wine which is medium to full-bodied shows gentle, refined tannins and a freshness in the fruity, open finish. 91-92 PtsHK$1,470.00 -
(6x150cl) 2015Vinous - Neal Martin (92)
The 2015 Grand Puy Ducasse has a forward, rich bouquet that lacks the precision of the top wines from the appellation. This is quite earthy in style, hints of clove developing with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with grippy tannin, and overtly masculine and broody. The very structured, graphite-tinged finish is, frankly, no fun at the moment. Give it 10 years, though, and I think this could evolve into a classic Pauillac for those who love traditional claret. Tasted blind at the Southwold 2015 Bordeaux tasting.HK$4,140.00 -
Decanter (93)
A big vintage of Grand-Puy Ducasse, continuing the ambition shown over recent vintages. The coffee bean aromatics are perfectly judged to give an appealing hint of oak, alongside cedar notes and dark cassis fruits. There is an austerity to the opening beats of the wine, and the tannins make their presence felt right the way through. Overall this is excellent. It is unusual to have such good yields, close to 50hl/ha, with equally good quality. 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot.HK$1,670.00 -
(6x75cl) 2017Vinous - Antonio Galloni (91)
The 2017 Grand Puy Ducasse is a dark, powerful wine, with notes of dark red fruit, dried flowers, herbs, mint, sweet tobacco and cherry. Medium in body and persistent with, good balance, the 2017 has turned out nicely. In 2017, Grand Puy Ducasse is powerful but also well-balanced, in the mid-weight style of the year. It has really come together well since I last tasted it.HK$2,125.00

