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
| Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Champagne | 9 | 92 (VN) | HK$4,495.00 | |||||
Vinous (92)(full malo; 9 g/l dosage; LAH9T): Light yellow-gold. Smoky citrus and orchard fruits on the deeply perfumed, mineral-tinged nose. Offers broad, toasty orange and pear skin flavors with an undercurrent of dusty minerals. Picks up floral and ginger nuances with air, along with hints of iodine and tarragon. Rich yet lively blanc de blancs with powerful back-end lift and finishing grip. |
|||||||||
|
|
Champagne | 1 | 92 (VN) | HK$4,445.00 | |||||
Vinous (92)(full malo; 9 g/l dosage; LAH9T): Light yellow-gold. Smoky citrus and orchard fruits on the deeply perfumed, mineral-tinged nose. Offers broad, toasty orange and pear skin flavors with an undercurrent of dusty minerals. Picks up floral and ginger nuances with air, along with hints of iodine and tarragon. Rich yet lively blanc de blancs with powerful back-end lift and finishing grip. |
|||||||||
|
|
Champagne | 1 | 93 (RP) | HK$16,840.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate - Robert Parker (93)No tasting note. |
|||||||||
|
|
Champagne | 1 | 97+ (VN) | HK$8,020.00 | |||||
Vinous (97+)The 2006 Dom Ruinart Blanc de Blancs Brut is simply fabulous. In most vintages, Dom Ruinart is a big, ample Champagne that shows the structure of the Montagne de Reims Chardonnay in the blend. The 2006 has plenty of textural resonance and richness, and yet I am also struck by its tension. Both bottles I tasted point to a Dom Ruinart that is quite a bit more polished and sophisticated than it often is at this stage. |
|||||||||
|
|
Champagne | 1 | 97+ (VN) | HK$8,560.00 | |||||
Vinous (97+)The 2007 Dom Ruinart is the first vintage made entirely by Chef de Caves Frédéric Panaïotis, which shows just how long the production cycle is in Champagne. A striking, tightly-coiled wine, the 2007 Dom Ruinart will leave readers week at the knees. In this vintage, Panaïotis took Dom Ruinart, which has traditionally relied on a relatively high percentage of Chardonnay from the Montagne de Reims and tilted the balance to 75% Côtes des Blancs and 25% Montagne de Reims fruit. As a result, the 2007 is much more chiseled and steely than is the norm. The citrus, slate, crushed rock, white pepper, mint and floral notes really sizzle in this powerful, dramatically rich Champagne, with bright saline notes that add freshness and vivacity to the striking finish. The 2007 is a stunning Champagne by any measure. Although it is very early, the 2007 has the potential to go down as one of the great Dom Ruinarts. It is every bit that special. Dosage is under 5 grams per liter, a pretty striking change from the 2006, which was closer to 10. Readers who can grab the 2007 won’t want to miss it. |
|||||||||
|
|
Champagne | 1 | 100 (VN (AG)) | HK$11,025.00 | |||||
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (100)The 2010 Dom Ruinart (magnum) is a modern-day legend, one of the greatest wines ever made in Champagne. Ample and explosive, with stunning richness, the 2010 has it all, starting with captivating aromatics, beautifully delineated fruit, striking saline intensity and magnificent balance. In magnum, the 2010 offers that extra kick of palate presence that fills out the layers just a touch more than the standard 750ml bottle. Readers who can find it should not hesitate. In a very short time, this will be regarded as one of late Chef de Caves Frédéric Panaïotis' masterpieces. Dosage is 5 grams per liter. Disgorged in late 2024. |
|||||||||
|
|
Champagne | 1 | 96 (WA) | HK$11,305.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (96)Tasted from magnum and disgorged in December 2021 with a dosage of five grams per liter, the 2007 Dom Ruinart Rosé—the first vintage under Frédéric Panaïotis's guidance—is showing brilliantly. It offers a complex bouquet of mandarin, blood orange, red plum and wild raspberry, enriched by notes of roasted cocoa and a subtle smoky reduction. On the palate, it is full-bodied, vinous and elegantly muscular, with a flamboyant and layered core of fruit, bright acidity and a long, delicately perfumed finish. Slightly more tightly wound than the 2009 Dom Ruinart Rosé, the magnum format only enhances its energy and texture. The blend is 80% Chardonnay—predominantly from the Côte des Blancs—complemented by 20% Pinot Noir vinified as red wine from the house’s vineyard in Aÿ. |
|||||||||
|
|
Champagne | 5 | 97 (WA) | HK$2,155.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (97)Disgorged in August 2018 with a dosage of four grams per liter, the 2009 Dom Ruinart Rosé is another standout in this cuvée’s lineage. It soars from the glass with a deep bouquet of blood orange, blackberry, Sichuan pepper and red blossoms, mingling with accents of cacao nibs and pastry. On the palate, it is full-bodied, vinous and muscular, with superb concentration and a luscious fruit core enlivened by a pillowy mousse and lively acidity that carries it to a long, perfumed finish where Pinot Noir phenolics assert themselves gracefully. At once harmonious and seductive, the blend is composed of 15% Pinot Noir from Aÿ vinified as red wine, with the remainder Chardonnay sourced from Cramant, Avize, Chouilly, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger and Sillery. Harvested in the latter part of September, this marks the final vintage matured under crown cap before the house’s transition to cork. |
|||||||||
|
|
Champagne | 1 | 97 (WA) | HK$5,395.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (97)Disgorged in August 2018 with a dosage of four grams per liter, the 2009 Dom Ruinart Rosé is another standout in this cuvée’s lineage. It soars from the glass with a deep bouquet of blood orange, blackberry, Sichuan pepper and red blossoms, mingling with accents of cacao nibs and pastry. On the palate, it is full-bodied, vinous and muscular, with superb concentration and a luscious fruit core enlivened by a pillowy mousse and lively acidity that carries it to a long, perfumed finish where Pinot Noir phenolics assert themselves gracefully. At once harmonious and seductive, the blend is composed of 15% Pinot Noir from Aÿ vinified as red wine, with the remainder Chardonnay sourced from Cramant, Avize, Chouilly, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger and Sillery. Harvested in the latter part of September, this marks the final vintage matured under crown cap before the house’s transition to cork. |
|||||||||
|
|
Champagne | 6 | 97 (WA) | HK$8,845.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (97)Disgorged in August 2018 with a dosage of four grams per liter, the 2009 Dom Ruinart Rosé is another standout in this cuvée’s lineage. It soars from the glass with a deep bouquet of blood orange, blackberry, Sichuan pepper and red blossoms, mingling with accents of cacao nibs and pastry. On the palate, it is full-bodied, vinous and muscular, with superb concentration and a luscious fruit core enlivened by a pillowy mousse and lively acidity that carries it to a long, perfumed finish where Pinot Noir phenolics assert themselves gracefully. At once harmonious and seductive, the blend is composed of 15% Pinot Noir from Aÿ vinified as red wine, with the remainder Chardonnay sourced from Cramant, Avize, Chouilly, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger and Sillery. Harvested in the latter part of September, this marks the final vintage matured under crown cap before the house’s transition to cork. |
|||||||||
|
|
Champagne | 1 | - | HK$4,750.00 | |||||
|
|
Champagne | 99 | 17 (JR) | HK$2,300.00 | |||||
Jancis Robinson (17)Bready nose with some real interest. Solid stuff – something to get your teeth into, in a good way. Very clean and neat and tastes as though it had quite a bit of age on lees. |
|||||||||
|
|
Champagne | 9 | 93 (WS) | HK$4,255.00 | |||||
Wine Spectator (93)This deftly woven Champagne is all about finesse, offering a rich vein of smoky minerality and vivid acidity. The power is cloaked in a silky texture and notes of creamed pear, lemon confit, almond biscotti and fresh ginger. |
|||||||||
|
|
Champagne | 2 | - | HK$3,535.00 | |||||
|
|
Champagne | 1 | - | HK$3,535.00 | |||||
|
|
Bordeaux | 1 | 95 (JD) | HK$2,110.00 | |||||
Jeb Dunnuck (95)The 2019 S De Suduiraut is straight-up brilliant and unquestionably ranks with the top whites in the vintage. Bright pineapple, honeysuckle, toasted spice, and chalky mineral notes all define the bouquet, and it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, vibrant, integrated acidity, and a great finish. Clean, pure, flawlessly balanced, and just a classy effort, it can be enjoyed any time over the coming 10-12 years. |
|||||||||
