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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Bordeaux | 6 | 92-94 (TDB) | HK$2,565.00 | |||||
The Drinks Business (92-94)Talbot (St Julien; 71% Cabernet Sauvignon; 24% Merlot; 5% Petit Verdot; 12% alcohol; a final yield of 44 hl/ha; tasted at the UGCB press tasting and at Lagrange with very similar notes). This, too, is very impressive and continues a steep upward trajectory since around 2018. On the nose, one is struck first by the ripeness and the associated natural sweetness of the fruit; I find walnuts and a dark stone and berry fruit – mulberries and sloes and damsons – and then, with air, all the cedar that defines this as Talbot. On the palate, this cool summer edition of Talbot comes across as quite serious even slightly austere, with a lovely tight, compact, dense core that stays closely strapped to the notable spine. In the context of the vintage, this is a great wine and clearly the product of a very strict selection. It has a beautiful texture, structure and mouthfeel. I particularly like the sinuous and luminous mid-palate. Tasted blind, I might well have mistaken this for Gruaud Larose (something that would not have been possible even a few vintages ago). Tasted a second time, I find it closest in style to Gruaud Larose; both properties continue their parallel upward trajectories in this vintage |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 95 (DC) | HK$2,280.00 | |||||
Decanter (95)A great effort in 2022 with such excellent precision and detail to the tannins and fruit. Cool blueberries, blackcurrants, cola, vanilla, tobacco and liquorice all give nuance and interest with fleshy tannins and bright acidity. Great balance of intensity and finesse with such energy from start to finish. Really quite approachable and enjoyable with impressive crystalline aspects and a lovely sense of place. Tasted twice. A yield of 40hl/ha. Ageing 16 months in barrels, 60% new. Harvest 9-28 September. 3.75pH. |
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Bordeaux | 2 | 95 (DC) | HK$4,940.00 | |||||
Decanter (95)A great effort in 2022 with such excellent precision and detail to the tannins and fruit. Cool blueberries, blackcurrants, cola, vanilla, tobacco and liquorice all give nuance and interest with fleshy tannins and bright acidity. Great balance of intensity and finesse with such energy from start to finish. Really quite approachable and enjoyable with impressive crystalline aspects and a lovely sense of place. Tasted twice. A yield of 40hl/ha. Ageing 16 months in barrels, 60% new. Harvest 9-28 September. 3.75pH. |
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Bordeaux | 18 | 95 (DC) | HK$6,395.00 | |||||
Decanter (95)A great effort in 2022 with such excellent precision and detail to the tannins and fruit. Cool blueberries, blackcurrants, cola, vanilla, tobacco and liquorice all give nuance and interest with fleshy tannins and bright acidity. Great balance of intensity and finesse with such energy from start to finish. Really quite approachable and enjoyable with impressive crystalline aspects and a lovely sense of place. Tasted twice. A yield of 40hl/ha. Ageing 16 months in barrels, 60% new. Harvest 9-28 September. 3.75pH. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 94-95 (JS) | HK$2,145.00 | |||||
James Suckling (94-95)A medium- to full-bodied red with very fine tannins. It’s firm and structured, showing a bright, dark-fruited character. Focused, with a good center-palate and a lingering finish. Really polished. |
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Bordeaux | 2 | 89 (VN (NM)) | HK$1,890.00 | |||||
Vinous - Neal Martin (89)The 2021 Caillou Blanc Talbot was picked September 14–16 and matured in 30% new oak. It has an attractive nose of orange pith and light apricot scents. The palate is well balanced with a pleasing fatness, not amazingly complex, yet the 27% Sémillon lends a lovely honeyed texture on the finish. (13.5% alcohol) |
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Bordeaux | 2 | - | HK$4,220.00 | |||||
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Bordeaux | 2 | - | HK$1,835.00 | |||||
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Bordeaux | 30 | - | HK$1,670.00 | |||||
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Bordeaux | 4 | 89 (VN (NM)) | HK$3,176.00 | |||||
Vinous - Neal Martin (89)The 2019 Connetable de Talbot has a perfumed, well-defined bouquet with a skip in its step, featuring red berry fruit, cinnamon and touches of brown spice. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins. This is a well-balanced Connetable with a bit more body than previous vintages, slightly savory in style and maybe missing a little length. But as a Deuxième Vin, it works well. 13.8% alcohol |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 90 (VN (NM)) | HK$4,095.00 | |||||
Vinous - Neal Martin (90)The 2020 Connétable Talbot is matured in 15% new oak. It has a fresh blackberry and briary scented nose with tobacco scents emerging with time. The palate is fresh and energetic, quite chiseled tannins, a little chalky in texture with a graphite-tinged finish. This punches above my expectations and is well worth seeking out. |
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Bordeaux | 3 | 90 (VN (NM)) | HK$1,245.00 | |||||
Vinous - Neal Martin (90)The 2020 Connétable Talbot is matured in 15% new oak. It has a fresh blackberry and briary scented nose with tobacco scents emerging with time. The palate is fresh and energetic, quite chiseled tannins, a little chalky in texture with a graphite-tinged finish. This punches above my expectations and is well worth seeking out. |
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Bordeaux | 100 | 90 (VN (NM)) | HK$1,319.00 | |||||
Vinous - Neal Martin (90)The 2020 Connétable Talbot is matured in 15% new oak. It has a fresh blackberry and briary scented nose with tobacco scents emerging with time. The palate is fresh and energetic, quite chiseled tannins, a little chalky in texture with a graphite-tinged finish. This punches above my expectations and is well worth seeking out. |
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Bordeaux | 5 | 87-89 (VN (AG)) | HK$1,380.00 | |||||
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (87-89)The 2021 Connetable Talbot is a very pretty second wine. Dried herbs, tobacco, mint, spice and leather give the Connetable its strong, savory personality. There is a bit of reduction, but good depth as well as potential. |
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Bordeaux | 6 | 87-89 (VN (AG)) | HK$1,235.00 | |||||
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (87-89)The 2021 Connetable Talbot is a very pretty second wine. Dried herbs, tobacco, mint, spice and leather give the Connetable its strong, savory personality. There is a bit of reduction, but good depth as well as potential. |
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Bordeaux | 200 | - | HK$1,290.00 | |||||
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Rhone | 1 | 91-93 (VN) | HK$8,125.00 | |||||
Vinous - Josh Raynolds (91-93)Ruby-red. Explosively perfumed bouquet of spicy red berries and cherry, with suave minerality. Vibrant red fruit flavors are finely etched and gain sweetness with air, finishing with great sappy persistence. This boasts impressive balance. |
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Rhone | 1 | 93-94 (VN) | HK$4,655.00 | |||||
Vinous (93-94)Deep bright-rimmed violet. Deep-pitched red berry preserve, candied licorice and exotic spice aromas are lifted by a smoky mineral note that gains strength as the wine opens up. Broad and fleshy in the mouth, offering bitter cherry, black raspberry and fruitcake flavors and a touch of spicy white pepper. In a distinctly ample style but not at all lacking for energy. The impressively long, gently tannic finish shows no rough edges and leaves a sappy cherry liqueur note behind. |
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Rhone | 1 | 92-94 (VN) | HK$5,425.00 | |||||
Vinous (92-94)(all serine, from Chavaroche, La Landonne, Cote Rozier and Les Rochains; 100% new oak): Deep ruby. Potent scents of musky cherry pit, blueberry, licorice and bitter chocolate. Densely packed and appealingly sweet, offering smoky black and blue fruit, mineral and floral pastille flavors complicated by olive and cracked pepper. Finishes very long and spicy, with dusty tannins coming on late. The vines that provided fruit for this wine are all over 60 year old. |
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