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 | 7 | 92 (JA) | HK$1,480.00 | |||||
Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (92)You'll find a greater difference in quality than in a typical vintage between this and Hauts de Smith, with greater clarity of expression and rich aromatics here. Blueberry, raspberry leaf, lemongrass and campfire smoke, with salted cracker salinity on the finish. This is where you fid the sweet stuff in 2021 - not by looking for ripe fruit but by going long on juicy, elegant, well balanced savoury fruit that has plenty of character. A great 2nd wine that is worth seeking out. 30% new oak. |
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Bordeaux | 72 | 94-95 (JS) | HK$1,215.00 | |||||
James Suckling (94-95)This has a big structure of polished tannins that are energetic and punchy. Medium to full body with beautiful blackcurrants, as well as dark tobacco and wet earth. Chewy at the end, but a pointed and focused finish. More structured than 2022. 60% cabernet sauvignon and 40% merlot. From organically grown grapes. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 89-91 (VN (AG)) | HK$3,105.00 | |||||
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (89-91)The 2014 Le Petit Haut Lafitte Blanc is wonderfully aromatic and fragrant. White flowers, lemon peel, lychee and mint inform a perfumed, crisp white to drink in its youth. The Petit Haut Lafitte is 80% Sauvignon Blanc and 20% Semillon, all done in barrel with some lees stirring, but no malolactic fermentation. This is the brightest of the estate's whites. |
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Bordeaux | 14 | 92-93 (JS) | HK$1,795.00 | |||||
James Suckling (92-93)A dense, layered white with cooked-apple, honey and lemon aromas and flavors. Layered and flavorful with a zingy, mineral finish. 80% sauvignon with 20% semillon. |
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Bordeaux | 7 | 94-95 (JS) | HK$2,165.00 | |||||
James Suckling (94-95)Good vibration here, with edgy, fresh acidity that makes it long and vivid. It's medium-bodied and tight, with sliced lemon and green apple and stone character. Better than 2022? 80% sauvignon blanc and 20% semillon. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 82 (WA) | HK$362,935.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (82)This wine unquestionably possesses an excessive amount of toasty new oak for its fragile, delicate constitution. The wine displays medium to dark ruby color, an aggressively woody, slightly smoky, and herb-scented nose, and medium-bodied, black-cherry-like flavors that are insufficient to stand up to the veneer of wood. Low in acidity, slightly diluted, and full of cosmetic smoke, vanillin, and wood, it should be consumed over the next 5-6 years. Given the frightfully high price asked for the 500+ cases of Le Pin (usually an exotic as well as brilliant wine), this is a vintage when the proprietor should have declassified the wine. |
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Bordeaux | 2 | 94 (VN (NM)) | HK$265,695.00 | |||||
Vinous - Neal Martin (94)The 1994 Le Pin is one of Jacques Thienpont’s greatest successes in the context of the limitations of this growing season, which this wine transcends. It has a spellbinding floral and mineral-laden nose with wonderfully defined pine needle and wild heather aromas. The palate is beautifully balanced with fine tannins. The 1994 has a silky texture and a florid red berry finish that caresses like a 1995. It is finely poised and demonstrates outstanding length and composure. Tasted at a private dinner in London. |
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Bordeaux | 6 | 96 (JD) | HK$259,195.00 | |||||
Jeb Dunnuck (96)Spicy herbs, red and black fruit, tobacco, camphor, and a beautiful sense of white truffle all emerge from the 2000 Château Le Pin, a remarkably pure, focused, and elegant Pomerol that was closed at first and needs air to show at its best. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it has fine tannins, a silky, pure mouthfeel, and outstanding length on the finish. As always, this complex, exotic wine shines for its elegance and finesse, and it should hold nicely for another 15-20 years. Drink 2026-2046. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 95 (WA) | HK$169,635.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (95)There are 580 cases of the exotic, flamboyant 2004 Le Pin. Its dense plum/ruby color is accompanied by sweet aromas of kirsch, cassis, smoke, earth, and roasted herbs. Super-opulent for the vintage, it possesses wonderful fruit and glycerin, medium to full body, and a fleshy personality. It should drink well young, yet age nicely for two decades or more. The Pomerol of the vintage? |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 97 (VT) | HK$174,720.00 | |||||
Vintage Tastings (97)The 2005 Le Pin lived up to the hype and ultimately was wine of the afternoon for me. It had a great nose, t 'n a city yet still refined but also with so much stuffing. There was noticeable citrus with decadent fruit - cranberry, blueberry, blackberry, cassis, boysenberry - everyone was invited! There was great spine and length, but the 2005 was still so elegant. Jef called it 'a lip smacker' and noted 'kirsch and strawberry.' The 2005 was all that and then some. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 90-93 (WS) | HK$129,600.00 | |||||
Wine Spectator (90-93)Very typical Le Pin, with floral, cassis and light plum character. Full, yet refined, with lovely silky tannins and a long, long sweet fruit finish. Very pretty. Not many 2007s like this. The winemaker says that this has a deluxe caress and it does. Score range: 90-93 |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 90-93 (WS) | HK$25,580.00 | |||||
Wine Spectator (90-93)Very typical Le Pin, with floral, cassis and light plum character. Full, yet refined, with lovely silky tannins and a long, long sweet fruit finish. Very pretty. Not many 2007s like this. The winemaker says that this has a deluxe caress and it does. Score range: 90-93 |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 100 (WA) | HK$218,725.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (100)Medium garnet colored, the 2009 Le Pin comes charging out of the glass with exuberant notions of baked red and black cherries, mulberries and warm plums with touches of star anise, cigar box and lavender plus wafts of menthol and fragrant soil. Full-bodied and boldly fruited, it has tons of vibrant red and black fruit layers with wonderful mineral and floral sparks throughout the long, plushly textured finish. |
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