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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An exquisite embodiment of Burgundy's esteemed white wines, Michel Niellon Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru 2019 is the pinnacle of skill and craftsmanship from the French vintner. Handpicked Chardonnay grapes from the 50-year-old Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru vineyard are patiently aged in French oak before undertaking a malolactic fermentation process, ensuring a perfectly balanced blend.
Born of the globally venerated Côte de Beaune region, the 2019 vintage captures the dynamism between soil and grape, crafting a wine that touts vibrant acidity harmonising with endearing richness. Its bouquet is an oscillation of toasted nuts, stone fruit and a dilatory hint of mandarin, succeeding on the palate with an enduring mineral finish.
The producer, Michel Niellon, who was once described in "The Wine Advocate" as a ‘master of Chassagne-Montrachet’, has orchestrated this exemplary bottle with his famed meticulous precision and unwavering commitment to quality. The Michel Niellon Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru 2019 is indeed an esteemed addition to any discerning collector's cellar.
HK$31,610.00 -
Burghound (97)
Don't miss! An overtly floral-suffused nose speaks of the ripe essence of white peach, passion fruit, anise, exotic Asian-style tea and in particularly jasmine, tangerine rind and a hint of wood influence. There is exceptionally good density to the palate staining big-bodied flavors that exhibit impressive power on the muscular and overtly mineral-driven finale which offers massive length on the ever-so-slightly warm finale. This very serious effort is a classic Chevalier of class and grace and it's also a wine that I could still taste 24 hours later. It will be hard to find but worth it as this is one of the wines of the vintage. In a word, brilliant. 2032+HK$34,815.00 -
(6x75cl) 2021
Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (95)
Pure and clear. The nose is very austere indeed, almost aggressively on the limestone. Yet there is a marvellous wealth of exciting fruit behind. Energy from the start, wait for the length because it is that, rather than the depth and breadth, which signifies well in 2021. This should be pretty fine later on.HK$24,680.00 -
Decanter (98)
A wine of intense concentration, tension and focus, even in the warm conditions of 2022. Aroma notes of ripe apple, peach and quince, then the volume and density you'd expect from 2022, but it's well balanced by the fresh acidity that draws it to a lingering finish. Grapes from Niellon’s plot of old vines are fermented on native yeasts in 40% new cask. This wine is among the best from this vintage and will make old bones if you are so inclined.HK$24,888.00 -
Decanter (96)
Chevalier-Montrachet 2023 from Domaine Michel Niellon is among the luminous successes of the vintage. The initial restraint on the nose gives way on the palate to aromas of ripe pear and quince with a hint of marzipan and fresh white flowers. The texture is generous, almost voluptuous, but there is a balance and elegance that hint at its noble origins. The grapes are from 0.22ha of 60-year-old vines at the base of the slope near the Leflaive parcel. Ideally, one would wait 10 years for this wine to show its full potential.HK$26,440.00 -
HK$1,195.00 -
(6x75cl) 2023HK$1,235 - HK$1,505
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(6x75cl) 2023HK$4,915 - HK$6,010
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Vinous (88)
The 2020 Chambolle-Musigny Village, matured in 30% new oak, is vibrant and fresh on the nose: black cherries, strawberry pastille and just a touch of violet petal. The palate is a little oaky on the entry. Good depth, quite dense for a Chambolle, touches of blood orange and pain d'épices towards the finish. Give it a couple of years in bottle.HK$3,770.00 -
Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (89-91)
A rich full purple with a plump and stylish fruit, some violets, a generous red fruit, light tannins in place, adequate acidity. Quite a different style of wine after tasting those of Domaine Robert Sirugue, and indeed Arnaud & Sophie. Drink from 2027-2033. Tasted: December 2023.HK$5,805.00 -
(6x75cl) 2023Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (89-91)
Mainly Fouchères plus Echanges, Combottes and Maladière, overall an old vine cuvée with 60-80 year old vines. An even fresh purple. A touch of oak and relatively ripe strawberry-raspberry fruit, very much red fruit on the palate, with just enough acidity. An attractive, accessible Chambolle. Drink from 2028-2032. Tasted Dec 2024.HK$3,610 - HK$4,415
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Really surprisingly red-fruit dominated and sweetly spicy. A beauty, much more feminine than the Echezeaux but still carrying itself with a lot of structure and style. From two plots within the Cru alongside the famous Chateau. Again this is even more impressive than the Grivot.HK$8,240.00 -
Vinous (89)
The 2018 Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru is quite deep in colour. It has a slightly reduced bouquet with ample blackberry and raspberry fruit, well integrated oak, though it is missing the Pinoté character I look for. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins and pleasant dark berry fruit laced with brown spices. It feels just a little short on the finish, overall a decent Clos de Vougeot that would show more finesse in a cooler growing season. - Neal MartinHK$9,800.00 -
HK$13,475.00 -
(6x75cl) 2023Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (93-96)
A fresh crimson purple. The bouquet is more precisely defined than the Echezeaux, dark fruit yet with some red berries also involved. The fruit fills the palate more generously, with excellent structure from well-defined tannins and a little point of acidity. This stands up very well and shows the character of the appellation. Drink from 2032-2038. Tasted Dec 2024.HK$10,960 - HK$13,395
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Vinous (91)
The 2020 Echézeaux Grand Cru has a rich and quite exotic bouquet that, for me, is just missing a bit of Pinoté. The palate is medium-bodied with lithe and fleshy tannins. Soft and caressing, nicely balanced, richer than the 2021 (no surprise there) with black pepper and a touch of spice on the finish.HK$13,475.00 -
Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (92-95)
A fine glowing mid purple. There is a good weight of fruit and some elegance, a little nuance in a pretty red berry fruit manner. A density of strawberry and raspberry, with again a little cover of oak vanillin, fair length. Drink from 2028-2035.HK$13,500.00 -
Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (94-96)
Another rich dark colour. Half new wood, but it seems to dominate much less here than it did in the Boudots. There is plenty of substance but the desirable Echezeaux nuances are there too. Give this time to refine and I think it will make an excellent Echezeaux. Drink from 2032-2039. Tasted: December 2023.HK$15,500.00 -
(6x75cl) 2023HK$10,945 - HK$13,380
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HK$1,975.00 -
Very bright, precise and open knit on the nose. The fruit is fresh, sweet and friendly for a Nuits Saint Georges. Round and finessed this is a definite buy for lovers of Vosne Romanee but with a touch more tannins andHK$5,205.00 -
Very bright, precise and open knit on the nose. The fruit is fresh, sweet and friendly for a Nuits-Saint-Georges. Round and finessed this is a definite buy for lovers of Vosne Romanee but with a touch more tannic firmness and earthiness.HK$4,800.00 -
(6x75cl) 2023Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (91-94)
Not one of the deeper colours, on the ruby crimson border. A fine, classy, elegant nose, subtle rather than blockbuster. The oak is quite nicely integrated, alongside the fruit which shows more its Vosne-Romanée attributes. A little orange zest, with fair persistence. Drink from 2030-2037. Tasted Dec 2024.HK$5,275 - HK$6,445
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HK$7,925.00 -
HK$1,375.00 -
(6x75cl) 2018Vinous (89)
The 2018 Vosne-Romanée Les Suchots 1er Cru has a pleasant nose with slightly smudged raspberry coulis, crushed strawberry and pressed iris aromas. It needs 20-30 minutes for the aromatics to really unwind. The palate is medium-bodied with a fleshy opening as you would expect from a Suchots. Plenty of candied strawberry here, a little peppery towards the finish, though I wish there was a little more tension and Pinoté towards the finish where the oak is not quite in sync with the fruit. - Neal MartinHK$5,695.00 -
HK$7,350.00 -
Vinous (90)
The 2020 Vosne-Romanée Les Suchots 1er Cru has an exotic bouquet with hints of prune filtering through the red cherry and cassis notes. Very opulent. The palate is rounded and caressing, plush and quite decadent. The 40-50% new oak is nicely integrated, though I would like to see more precision on the finish.HK$6,925.00 -
(6x75cl) 2021Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (91-94)
A sound mid crimson to purple colour. The bouquet indicates some depth and a savoury complexity. There is a good backbone to this, a little oak, then the fruit returns behind with a fine long finish in quite a graceful style. Drink from 2026-2033.HK$8,190.00 -
Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (92-94)
A full dark purple, again bolstered by the barrel. Dark fruit, which maintains an even presence across the palate. This one does not fade in the middle as some Suchots can do. A fine long balanced finish. Drink from 2030-2037. Tasted: December 2023.HK$7,355.00
