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 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Burgundy | 1 | 95 (VN) | HK$3,760.00 | |||||
Vinous (95)(25 hectoliters per hectare): Full, dark red. Tight, primary, slightly reduced aromas of blackberry, blueberry, licorice and minerals. Densely packed, rich and broad; a distinctly horizontal, pliant style of Clos Vougeot, no doubt a function of the very warm, sunny vintage. Today this is sweeter and more open-knit than the Grands-Echézeaux but both of these wines should easily age for two decades or more. (Mallard noted that on some days this wine comes across as stricter, more Cistercian.) Finishes with spicy, ripe tannins and terrific energy and length. |
|||||||||
|
|
Burgundy | 1 | 95 (VN) | HK$18,375.00 | |||||
Vinous (95)(25 hectoliters per hectare): Full, dark red. Tight, primary, slightly reduced aromas of blackberry, blueberry, licorice and minerals. Densely packed, rich and broad; a distinctly horizontal, pliant style of Clos Vougeot, no doubt a function of the very warm, sunny vintage. Today this is sweeter and more open-knit than the Grands-Echézeaux but both of these wines should easily age for two decades or more. (Mallard noted that on some days this wine comes across as stricter, more Cistercian.) Finishes with spicy, ripe tannins and terrific energy and length. |
|||||||||
|
|
Burgundy | 3 | 94 (VN) | HK$15,925.00 | |||||
Vinous (94)The 2017 Clos Vougeot Grand Cru is well defined and precise, with cranberry, raspberry and vibrant red cherry scents that soar from the glass. The oak here is very well assimilated. The well-balanced palate offers fine but firm tannins that frame the black cherry and raspberry fruit. Lovely tension and mineralité on the finish, which delivers just the right amount of spice and length. Excellent. Tasted blind at the Burgfest 2017 tasting. |
|||||||||
|
|
Burgundy | 1 | 94-96 (VN) | HK$14,490.00 | |||||
Vinous (94-96)The 2018 Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru has a gorgeous bouquet of dark cherry fruit, black currant, crushed stone and light iodine aromas, very pure and seductive. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins and good acidity, the whole cluster (70%) lending a touch of pepperiness toward a finish that is precise and persistent. Superb. |
|||||||||
|
|
Burgundy | 1 | 93-95 (VN) | HK$16,800.00 | |||||
Vinous (93-95)The 2019 Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru is limpid in appearance. The bouquet is very refined and offers the most fruit intensity of all d’Eugénie’s cuvées, a mixture of red and black fruit plus light touches of oyster shell and fish scales. The palate is medium-bodied with good grip on the entry. Quite a masculine and sturdy Clos de Vougeot, it will need 4–6 years to smooth its edges. But I appreciate the persistence on the aftertaste, residues of white pepper and clove lingering on the tongue. Excellent. |
|||||||||
|
|
Burgundy | 1 | 97 (DC) | HK$10,175.00 | |||||
Decanter (97)Powerful dark plum and cassis fruit, with impressive structure and power. Despite the stuffing, this wine never loses sight of its elegance. Bravo! Domaine d’Eugénie is the current proprietor of this parcel which was once owned by Domaine René Engel. It is a 1.34ha plot that averages 60-70 years of age even with some interplanting; the youngest vines are all declassified. The parcel is not far from the Mugneret-Gibourg vines, but the style is very different. 70% whole-cluster. |
|||||||||
|
|
Burgundy | 1 | 97 (DC) | HK$18,000.00 | |||||
Decanter (97)Powerful dark plum and cassis fruit, with impressive structure and power. Despite the stuffing, this wine never loses sight of its elegance. Bravo! Domaine d’Eugénie is the current proprietor of this parcel which was once owned by Domaine René Engel. It is a 1.34ha plot that averages 60-70 years of age even with some interplanting; the youngest vines are all declassified. The parcel is not far from the Mugneret-Gibourg vines, but the style is very different. 70% whole-cluster. |
|||||||||
|
|
Burgundy | 4 | - | HK$8,135.00 | |||||
|
Eugenie Clos-Vougeot Grand Cru 2022 is a sublime embodiment of Burgundy's esteemed terroir, expertly crafted by the venerable Clos-Vougeot estate. Nestled in the heart of the Côte de Beaune, the vineyards benefit from the optimal limestone-rich soils that impart distinctive minerality to the wine. The 2022 harvest witnessed ideal growing conditions, allowing the Pinot Noir grapes to achieve perfect ripeness and depth of flavour. Hand-harvested with meticulous attention, the fermentation occurs in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks to preserve the fruit’s vibrant character. Following fermentation, the wine is aged for 18 months in a selection of French oak barrels, enhancing its complexity with nuanced layers of spice and vanilla without overpowering its innate elegance. On the palate, Eugenie Clos-Vougeot Grand Cru 2022 reveals an intricate tapestry of red cherries, floral notes, and subtle earthiness, supported by finely woven tannins and a lingering finish. This exemplary vintage showcases the producer’s commitment to sustainable viticulture and traditional winemaking techniques, ensuring a harmonious and memorable expression of Grand Cru distinction. |
|||||||||
|
|
Burgundy | 1 | 91-93 (VN (ST)) | HK$17,465.00 | |||||
Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (91-93)Ruby-red. Perfumed, inviting aromas of bitter chocolate, blood orange and Moroccan spices. Round, concentrated and ripe, with sappy density to the flavors of dark fruits and spices. This is much easier to taste today than the Brulees. Finishes with sweet, ripe, even tannins and excellent length. Should be superb. |
|||||||||
|
|
Burgundy | 1 | 92+ (VN) | HK$18,655.00 | |||||
Vinous (92+)(from the lieu-dit En Orveaux; just 28 hectoliters per hectare produced): Dark, bright red. Captivating aromas of cherry, red berries and dried flowers are accented by topnotes of white pepper and high-pitched spices. Juicy, spicy, penetrating and dry, with a floral light touch and terrific energy giving its tactile fruit a distinctly sappy character. Finishes with suave, fine-grained tannins and excellent glistening, rising length. Incidentally, these vines were 80% frosted in 2016, according to Mallard. |
|||||||||
|
|
Burgundy | 1 | 92-94 (VN) | HK$11,585.00 | |||||
Vinous (92-94)The 2021 Echézeaux Grand Cru, which was protected by the frost with candles, hence there are seven barrels this year compared to the five barrels of the previous year. Red and black fruit on the nose, graphite coming through with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannins. The partial whole clusters lend a discrete pepperiness, very nicely focused with sour cherry and clove towards quite a structured finish that will require time to absorb the new oak. Quite serious. Patience required. |
|||||||||
|
|
Burgundy | 1 | 92-94 (VN) | HK$10,605.00 | |||||
Vinous (92-94)The 2021 Echézeaux Grand Cru, which was protected by the frost with candles, hence there are seven barrels this year compared to the five barrels of the previous year. Red and black fruit on the nose, graphite coming through with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannins. The partial whole clusters lend a discrete pepperiness, very nicely focused with sour cherry and clove towards quite a structured finish that will require time to absorb the new oak. Quite serious. Patience required. |
|||||||||
|
|
Burgundy | 1 | 93+ (VN) | HK$24,720.00 | |||||
Vinous (93+)Good full, deep red. Complex aromas of black raspberry, cherry, coffee and game. Silky, spicy and fresh, with lovely lift and definition to the rather lush fruit. A lightly peppery quality perks up the wine without introducing greenness. Best on the very long, building finish, which features suave tannins and lingering sweetness. Seems every bit as long as the 2009 version. This was vinified with one-third whole clusters, and that percentage seems struck me as just right. |
|||||||||
|
|
Burgundy | 2 | 92-94+ (WA) | HK$17,765.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (92-94+)The 2017 Grands Echézeaux Grand Cru is a great success, unfurling in the glass with aromas of blackberries, wild berries, rich soil tones and espresso roast, framed by a lavish but nicely integrated touch of toasty new oak. On the palate, it's full-bodied, ample and layered, with a generous core of ripe but juicy fruit, concluding with an expansive, saline finish. While this is quite giving and charming by the standards of the appellation, it's the most concentrated wine in the Eugénie portfolio this year, and will likely prove the longest lived. |
|||||||||
|
|
Burgundy | 1 | 96-98 (VN) | HK$14,615.00 | |||||
Vinous (96-98)The 2020 Grands Echézeaux Grand Cru includes three-quarters whole cluster fruit. It has a beautifully-defined bouquet with a mixture of red and black fruit, wilted rose petals, incredibly precise and focused. The palate has an unerring symmetry, a fine bead of acidity, precise and crisp, the whole bunch seamlessly integrated with an assiduous sprinkling of white pepper on the finish. This magnificent Grands Echézeaux is very persistent in the mouth and it should be afforded around a decade in bottle to witness it at full flight. Magnificent. |
|||||||||
|
|
Burgundy | 1 | 94 (WA) | HK$2,355.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (94)Tasted blind, the 2015 Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Aux Brûlées also put in a superb performance, unfurling in the glass with an attractive bouquet of ripe red berries, incense and candied peel, framed by a touch of light reduction that segues into sapid bass notes of smoked duck. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, lavish and multidimensional, with supple tannins, a dramatic core of fruit and succulent underlying acids. This is a very promising Brûlées from Domaine d'Eugénie. |
|||||||||
|
|
Burgundy | 1 | - | HK$3,180.00 | |||||
|
Introducing the exceptional Fabien Coche Auxey-Duresses Rouge 2022, a sublime French red wine of impeccable pedigree. Crafted in Burgundy, this luxurious wine is produced by renowned vintner Fabien Coche, whose family has been making world-class wines since 1973. The Auxey-Duresses Rouge 2022 is expertly created using traditional viticulture methods, with hand-selected Pinot Noir grapes grown on limestone and clay soils. This labour-intensive process ensures each grape imparts maximum flavour and complexity. The wine's character is profoundly Burgundian, exhibiting rich notes of red fruits, a delightful acidity for balance, and a refined, lasting finish. The Fabien Coche Auxey-Duresses Rouge 2022 is meticulously aged in oak, which imbues it with hints of spice and vanilla, adding multi-layered sophistication to every sip. Epitomising the art of Burgundian winemaking, this exquisitely refined vintage is the perfect addition to any discerning wine lover's collection. |
|||||||||
|
|
Burgundy | 1 | - | HK$2,490.00 | |||||
|
Unveiling the prestigious 'Fabien Coche Bourgogne Cote d'Or 2022', an exquisite creation from the world-renowned Fabien Coche, a passionate artisan of the wine world hailing from the illustrious Coche family of Meursault. Savour the intense character imparted by the prime vineyards located on the slopes of the Cote d'Or, in Burgundy, recognised for their premium terroir globally. This wine mirrors the distinguished Coche winemaking practice, which converges modern technological insights with age-old manual winemaking traditions. The Fabien Coche Bourgogne Cote d'Or 2022 boasts a sophisticated palette of aromas and flavours, a testimony to the manual harvest, careful berry selection, and meticulous cold pre-fermentation maceration. Evoking a labyrinth of citrus, dried fruit, and white flower notes, the palate luxuriates in the wine's luscious texture and delicate balance. True to type, this Chardonnay-based elixir reveals quintessential mineral undertones, bestowing an undeniable charm upon every drop. |
|||||||||
