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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Burgundy | 1 | 89-91 (VN) | HK$15,165.00 | |||||
Vinous (89-91)The 2019 Meursault Village was tasted without the Clos de la Baron cuvée. The bouquet is very well defined and full of vigor, quite tensile and steely given the warmth of the growing season. The palate is pure and honeyed on the entry, and quite spicy, leading to a rounded, tropical-tinged finish with plenty of freshness that Dominique Lafon ascribed to intentionally picking greener berries. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 89-91 (VN) | HK$12,240.00 | |||||
Vinous (89-91)The 2021 Meursault Village includes a little more Clos de la Baronne this year. This has a slightly minty bouquet and background scents of pine that complement the citrus fruit. The palate is well defined with a pleasant "bite" on the entry, with hints of walnut and orange peel, fanning out gently towards the finish that lingers in the mouth. Enjoy this Meursault over the next 12-15 years. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 90 (VN) | HK$3,240.00 | |||||
Vinous (90)(bottled just two weeks prior to my visit) Peach, orange and nuts on the nose. Round, fat, sweet and rich in the mouth, with very ripe citrus flavors. Wonderfully broad and full for the vintage but not at all heavy. Finishes ripe, fruity and long. This is about 13% natural alcohol. Lafon, who is a great fan of the 2004 vintage, believes that these wines will at some point go through an ugly stage, but they are certainly delicious today. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 89-92 (VN (ST)) | HK$32,940.00 | |||||
Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (89-92)Musky aromas of lemon, lime and hazelnut. At once sweet and powerful, with strong peachy fruit given cut by brisk acidity. Finishes with an impression of almost metallic minerality. This should be a very penetrating wine. Perhaps a bit phenolic today: this wine got a lot of batonnage until Christmas, noted Lafon. (My sample did not include the oldest vines in this parcel, which had just started their malolactic fermentation.) |
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Burgundy | 1 | 91-93 (VN) | HK$30,715.00 | |||||
Vinous (91-93)From a tank sample taken just prior to the fining: Bright, pale yellow-green. Grapefruit and lemon ice on the nose, plus a whiff of white truffle. Edgy lemony acidity gives shape to the palate and carries the finish. A second sample, taken after the fining: Bright pale yellow. Subtly perfumed nose hints at lemon ice. Juicy and pure but a bit sharper than the first sample, showing excellent precision to the lemon zest flavors. A very site-driven sample that finishes with a salty nuance and noteworthy cut and length. I like what the fining has accomplished. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 91-93 (VN) | HK$2,775.00 | |||||
Vinous (91-93)From a tank sample taken just prior to the fining: Bright, pale yellow-green. Grapefruit and lemon ice on the nose, plus a whiff of white truffle. Edgy lemony acidity gives shape to the palate and carries the finish. A second sample, taken after the fining: Bright pale yellow. Subtly perfumed nose hints at lemon ice. Juicy and pure but a bit sharper than the first sample, showing excellent precision to the lemon zest flavors. A very site-driven sample that finishes with a salty nuance and noteworthy cut and length. I like what the fining has accomplished. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 92-94 (VN) | HK$28,710.00 | |||||
Vinous (92-94)The 2018 Meursault Clos-de-la-Barre has a reserved and quite austere bouquet at the moment, which surprising considering the growing season. This is a stubborn Meursault. The palate is well balanced with fine acidity and quite saline in the mouth, with a touch of orange peel on the sharp, racy finish. Excellent. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 90-92 (VN) | HK$26,600.00 | |||||
Vinous (90-92)The 2019 Meursault Clos-de-la-Barre has a taut nose like the Désirée. Perfumed white flower scents intermingle with yellow plum and citrus peel – very pretty. The palate is well balanced with a fine bead of acidity and there is plenty of energy here. A twist of sour lemon lends tension toward the finish, and a touch of ginger pops up on the aftertaste. Excellent. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 90-92 (VN) | HK$5,995.00 | |||||
Vinous (90-92)The 2019 Meursault Clos-de-la-Barre has a taut nose like the Désirée. Perfumed white flower scents intermingle with yellow plum and citrus peel – very pretty. The palate is well balanced with a fine bead of acidity and there is plenty of energy here. A twist of sour lemon lends tension toward the finish, and a touch of ginger pops up on the aftertaste. Excellent. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 91-93 (VN) | HK$2,460.00 | |||||
Vinous (91-93)The 2020 Meursault Clos-de-la-Barre has a clean, quite precise bouquet that is a step up from the Village, traces of grilled almond and hazelnut. The palate is underpinned by a fine line of acidity, more mineralité and tension with a saline, slightly Puligny-like finish. One of those less-is-more Meursaults. Bottled under Diam 30. Closure: Diam 30 |
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Burgundy | 1 | 90-92 (VN) | HK$2,240.00 | |||||
Vinous (90-92)The 2021 Meursault Clos-de-la-Barre sports a clever reduction on the nose, with orange blossom, pithy pear and a subtle crushed stone note in the background. The palate is well balanced with candied orange peel and light quince notes; a little spice and touches of barley sugar and lime cordial appear towards the satisfying finish. This will surely be difficult to resist! |
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Burgundy | 1 | 88 (VN) | HK$6,670.00 | |||||
Vinous (88)The 2017 Monthélie Les Duresses was in barrel until October and then racked into tank as Lafon felt it was ready. It has a delightful bouquet of red cherries and crushed strawberry fruit, plus a little sous-bois. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly rustic tannins, but delivers pretty, earthy fruit and a light-hearted finish full of joie-de-vivre. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 86-88 (VN) | HK$785.00 | |||||
Vinous (86-88)The 2021 Monthélie Les Duresses, the only cuvée with a normal yield, sports a touch of reduction on the nose, red cherries and cranberry fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannins; this is quite a "stocky" Monthélie with dark berry fruit on the finish. Fine. |
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Burgundy | 1 | - | HK$1,055.00 | |||||

