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 | 2 | 89-92 (VN (AG)) | HK$2,860.00 | |||||
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (89-92)The 2018 La Sirène de Giscours is a lovely second wine laced with radiant red berry fruit, cedar, smoke, licorice and dried flowers. Medium in body and nicely textured, the 2018 has so much to offer. It is an especially racy, inviting second wine from Giscours. The high percentage of Cabernet Franc (21%) adds striking perfume and aromatic depth. The blend is 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Cabernet Franc and 13% Merlot. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 92 (VN (AG)) | HK$2,235.00 | |||||
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (92)The 2019 La Sirène de Giscours has turned out beautifully. Soft, succulent and inviting, the 2019 is charming right out of the gate. Sweet red cherry, lavender, rose petal, spice and blood orange flesh out in a racy, sumptuous second wine that is incredibly alluring. In 2019 La Sirène is an absolute delight. |
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Bordeaux | 6 | 92 (VN (AG)) | HK$1,345.00 | |||||
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (92)The 2019 La Sirène de Giscours has turned out beautifully. Soft, succulent and inviting, the 2019 is charming right out of the gate. Sweet red cherry, lavender, rose petal, spice and blood orange flesh out in a racy, sumptuous second wine that is incredibly alluring. In 2019 La Sirène is an absolute delight. |
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Bordeaux | 6 | 93 (VN (AG)) | HK$1,345.00 | |||||
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (93)The 2020 La Sirene de Giscours is a gorgeous second wine. Bright and deep, with tons of drive the 2020 is seriously impressive. Dark cherry, dried herbs, menthol, licorice and dark spice build effortlessly, driven by bright acids and tons of nervous energy. The balance here is simply impeccable. |
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Bordeaux | 5 | 90-92 (VN (AG)) | HK$2,670.00 | |||||
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (90-92)The 2021 La Sirène de Giscours is a pretty rich, dense second wine. Black cherry, leather, tobacco and deeply pitched spice notes lend notable presence. Rich, profound, layered and nuanced. The 2021 stands out for its strong aromatic presence, but it's also quite deep and elegant at the same time. The Cabernets are quite expressive in this tasting. The Sirène is a fabulous second wine. Tasted two times. |
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Bordeaux | 6 | 90-92 (VN (AG)) | HK$1,360.00 | |||||
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (90-92)The 2021 La Sirène de Giscours is a pretty rich, dense second wine. Black cherry, leather, tobacco and deeply pitched spice notes lend notable presence. Rich, profound, layered and nuanced. The 2021 stands out for its strong aromatic presence, but it's also quite deep and elegant at the same time. The Cabernets are quite expressive in this tasting. The Sirène is a fabulous second wine. Tasted two times. |
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Rhone | 1 | 94 (WA) | HK$1,325.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (94)Made from 50- to 100-year-old vines, the 2017 Rasteau Cuvee Confiance is a foudre-aged blend of 65% Grenache, 25% Syrah and 10% Mourvèdre. It shows more freshness than the younger-vine cuvées, featuring raspberry and garrigue notes on the nose. Still full-bodied and rich on the palate, it adds hints of chocolate on the long, velvety finish. Tasted twice (once blind), with generally consistent notes, although one bottle was a bit more chewy-tannic than the other. |
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Rhone | 2 | 97 (WA) | HK$2,085.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (97)The most impressive Rasteau to have ever passed these lips, the 2016 Rasteau Cuvee Fleur de Confiance is a full-bodied, richly muscular wine that takes all the warmth and power of the appellation and somehow turns it elegant. Black cherries, licorice and cocoa all come together seamlessly into a cascade of spice, cola and fruit, then ends with great length, soft tannins and finely ground stone. The secret to this 4,000-bottle cuvée is old-vine Grenache grown on blue clay. At the time of my visit, it was unclear if there will be a Fleur de Confiance bottled in 2017. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | - | HK$4,275.00 | |||||
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Experience the essence of Sauternes with 'La Tour Blanche 1994', a wine known for its sublime elegance. Produced with an expert blend of Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle grapes from the famed vineyards of Bordeaux, this rich yet balanced sweet wine reveals an impressive concentration of fruit and a velvety texture. Hand-harvested and subjected to a traditional vinification process, every bottle encapsulates the spirit of the renowned Château La Tour Blanche. The expressive 'La Tour Blanche 1994' imparts notes of tropical fruit, honey, and spice on the nose, underpinned by an alluring mineral character. On the palate, it offers the perfect balance of acidity and sweetness. The producer, since 1855 a 1st Classified Growth of Sauternes in Bordeaux, continues their dedication to crafting exceptional wines. Indulge in 'La Tour Blanche 1994', a Sauternes wine embodying the rich tradition of Bordeaux winemaking. An exceptional choice for the discerning fine wine collector or aficionado. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 93 (WA) | HK$5,000.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (93)The 1998 la Tour Blanche is medium gold in color with quite an earthy, savory nose giving up perfumed notions of orange blossoms and honeysuckle over preserved apricots, apple pie and allspice hints. It's wonderfully elegant, sophisticated and beautifully balanced in the mouth, with oodles of layers and epic length. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 90+ (VN (ST)) | HK$2,260.00 | |||||
Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (90+)Subdued but pure aromas of peach, orange marmalade and white plum, complicated and lifted by a floral topnote. Concentrated, fresh and spicy, with a flavor of peach and a repeating floral element. Youthful and persistent on the back end, which features sweet butter, vanilla and spicy oak. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 96 (WA) | HK$6,850.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (96)The La Tour Blanche 2001 has long been the “insiders’ Sauternes” for the vintage. Leave the Yquem ’01 for the millionaires: load up on one of the finest recent vintages from the estate. It has a potent honeyed, frangipane and white flower-scented bouquet with subtle nougat scents in the background lending it an exotic edge. The palate is extremely well balanced with fine acidity effortlessly slicing a swathe through that unctuous, honeyed fruit. There are also understated marmalade notes with a suggestion of crème brûlée furnishing the weighty finish that goes on and on. Just don’t tell anyone how good this La Tour Blanche is...promise? |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 90 (VN (NM)) | HK$6,510.00 | |||||
Vinous - Neal Martin (90)The 2007 La Tour Blanche has an incongruous, minty bouquet with fine delineation; it's fairly open and pure though missing the complexity of its peers. The palate is well balanced with a viscous opening, quite Aszú like in style with a long honeyed, quince finish and a touch of spice on the aftertaste. Fine. Tasted at the 2007 horizontal in Sauternes. |
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Bordeaux | 5 | 97 (WE) | HK$2,385.00 | |||||
Wine Enthusiast (97)96-98 Barrel sample. A powerful, complex wine, its layers of sweetness mixed with a total dryness from botrytis. The wine is impressively rich, considerably inspired by dried fruits and spice. Certainly for aging over decades. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 97 (WE) | HK$6,250.00 | |||||
Wine Enthusiast (97)96-98 Barrel sample. A powerful, complex wine, its layers of sweetness mixed with a total dryness from botrytis. The wine is impressively rich, considerably inspired by dried fruits and spice. Certainly for aging over decades. |
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Bordeaux | 6 | 97 (WE) | HK$2,330.00 | |||||
Wine Enthusiast (97)96-98 Barrel sample. A powerful, complex wine, its layers of sweetness mixed with a total dryness from botrytis. The wine is impressively rich, considerably inspired by dried fruits and spice. Certainly for aging over decades. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 93 (VN (NM)) | HK$760.00 | |||||
Vinous - Neal Martin (93)The 2010 La Tour Blanche has a vivacious bouquet with aromas of yellow plum, fig, blood orange and a very subtle oily/lanolin scent. The palate is well balanced with a viscous entry and notes of orange rind, apricot, stem ginger and a touch of white pepper. This feels long, tender and cohesive, with fine depth. The 2010 surpasses subsequent vintages such as the 2011 to 2013. It is excellent. |
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