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
-
Vinous (89-91)
The 2019 Santenay Clos des Gravières Blanc 1er Cru has a crisp saline nose, plenty of sea spray and light tangy seaweed elements here. The palate is quite closed with grapefruit and melon notes on the entry. I felt this cuvée needed some racking, which Olivier Lamy was planning soon and then it will gain a little more weight and length. But all the elements are here. It opens with aeration.HK$845.00 -
Vinous (90)
The 2020 Santenay Les Gravières 1er Cru has quite an intense bouquet with liquorice-tinged citrus fruit, one of Lamy's "feisty" 2020s. The palate is pithy with plenty of extract, a texturally satisfyingly Santenay rather than one with overt fruit, something almost Rhône-like towards the finish. An intriguing prospect.HK$1,015.00 -
Vinous (90)
The 2020 Santenay Les Gravières 1er Cru has quite an intense bouquet with liquorice-tinged citrus fruit, one of Lamy's "feisty" 2020s. The palate is pithy with plenty of extract, a texturally satisfyingly Santenay rather than one with overt fruit, something almost Rhône-like towards the finish. An intriguing prospect.HK$5,775.00 -
(3x75cl) 2021HK$2,650.00 -
Wine Advocate (93)
The 2022 Santenay 1er Cru Clos des Gravières is especially appealing this year, bursting with aromas of pear, sweet citrus rind and stone fruit mingled with hints of freshly baked bread and wet stones. Medium to full-bodied, satiny and seamless, combining attractive mid-palate amplitude with excellent cut, it's one of the sleepers of the range.HK$3,725.00 -
HK$3,800.00 -
HK$3,800.00 -
HK$4,115.00 -
Vinous (90-92)
The 2018 Santenay Clos des Gravières 1er Cru Rouge is actually working toward one of Lamy’s high-density vineyards at 20,000 per hectare, although the interpolated young vines are too young to go into the blend at the moment. This has lovely red cherry and crushed strawberry fruit aromas, very pure and harmonious. The palate is lively and effervescent on the entry, with chalky tannins and bright red currant and cranberry fruit toward the finish. Excellent.HK$4,425.00 -
Vinous (85-87)
The 2018 Santenay Clos des Hâtes, which had just been racked, has a lovely raspberry and wild strawberry bouquet. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins and slightly confit in style, leading to a solid, quite firm finish.HK$740.00 -
(1x75cl) 2019HK$920.00 -
HK$950.00 -
(6x75cl) 2021HK$3,105.00 -
Wine Advocate (90)
Aromas of plums, strawberries and spices introduce the 2022 Santenay Clos des Hâtes, a medium-bodied, supple and lively wine with a sweet core of fruit framed by powdery tannins.HK$950.00 -
HK$1,365.00 -
HK$1,490.00 -
(6x75cl) 2020HK$2,085.00 -
HK$1,870.00 -
HK$1,985.00 -
Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (87)
Bottled three weeks ago. 13.25% alcohol. Bright mid-purple. Good energy on the nose, more discretion than some, though with a plump sucrosity on the palate. Sending different signals between the discretion and the eventual sucrosity, but these should harmonise.! Excellent length. Tasted: November 2021HK$1,565.00 -
HK$1,415.00 -
HK$1,565.00 -
(6x75cl) 2023Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (88)
Situated below Chambolle. Mid crimson. Slightly fresher cherry style pinot, good clean energy. More structure to this wine, with some fine tannins, and a little more persistence. Drink from 2027-2029. Tasted Dec 2024.HK$1,445.00 -
HK$2,240.00 -
Vinous (90-93)
(the estate only lost 20% of its normal production here): Bright ruby-red. Deeper, riper yet somehow airy aromas of black raspberry, crushed rock and flowers. Suave, concentrated, fine-grained wine with sharply delineated flavors of raspberry, licorice and wild herbs. A very elegant, sappy, youthfully reticent Chambolle with fine-grained tannins and terrific persistence. And a step up in class from the preceding village wines.HK$1,520.00 -
(3x75cl) 2018Wine Advocate (91-93+)
Aromas of cherries, sweet wild berries, peonies, blood orange and sweet soil tones introduce the 2018 Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Baudes, a medium to full-bodied, deep and concentrated wine with a textural attack that segues into a layered, vibrant mid-palate and finish. From a small parcel near Bonnes-Mares, this is routinely one of Lignier's finest premier cru bottlings, and the 2018 is no exception.HK$4,030.00 -
(2x150cl) 2019Vinous (92-94)
The 2019 Chambolle-Musigny Les Baudes 1er Cru has a lovely menthol-tinged bouquet, redcurrant and cranberry, light tertiary notes developing with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy red berry fruit, white pepper and cumin. Lovely balance here, the new oak is well integrated. Just a pity, only two barrels were produced.HK$5,895.00 -
Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (92-95)
The holding is in the angle at the northern end of the vineyard, where Laurent has had a nice little wall in dry stone built. Dark black colour with light purple rim. As ever, this is much more Morey than Chambolle. Rich deep dark fruit with its typical savoury edge, dark raspberry notes, a little plum, flavours which reach far to the back of the palate. Succulent and savoury together and very persistent. 13.25% alcohol. Tasted: November 2021HK$4,170.00 -
(6x75cl) 2020Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (92-95)
The holding is in the angle at the northern end of the vineyard, where Laurent has had a nice little wall in dry stone built. Dark black colour with light purple rim. As ever, this is much more Morey than Chambolle. Rich deep dark fruit with its typical savoury edge, dark raspberry notes, a little plum, flavours which reach far to the back of the palate. Succulent and savoury together and very persistent. 13.25% alcohol. Tasted: November 2021HK$9,325.00 -
Wine Advocate (89-91)
The 2015 Chambolle-Musigny Les Bussières includes a small proportion of whole bunch fruit. It has a harmonious bouquet with red cherries and pomegranate aromas. I appreciate the definition and precision here. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp and crunchy red berry fruit, very natural in style, pure and tensile with a dash of spice on the finish. This should give ten years of pleasure, possibly more.HK$12,230.00
