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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Rhone | 2 | 100 (JD) | HK$8,685.00 | |||||
Jeb Dunnuck (100)An absolute blockbuster of an Hermitage that tastes like the blood of Syrah, the 2019 Hermitage Le Greal sports a saturated purple hue to go with insane aromatics of pen ink, smoked meats, burning embers, currants, and ground pepper. Massively concentrated, full-bodied, structured, and yet also flawlessly balanced, this legendary Hermitage is going to need a decade or more to get close to maturity, and I suspect it will have 40-50 years of overall longevity. I wouldn't be surprised if the 1961 Jaboulet Hermitage La Chapelle tasted similar to this on release. |
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Rhone | 1 | 99 (JD) | HK$1,755.00 | |||||
Jeb Dunnuck (99)Even better, the 2020 Hermitage Le Gréal showed brilliantly, and this powerful, concentrated Hermitage is going to be one for the cellar. Revealing a dense purple hue as well as great aromatics of blackberries, new saddle leather, truffle, roasted herbs, and peppered meat, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a layered, mouth-filling texture, building tannins, and a great finish. It's going to take a decade to hit maturity, but this brilliant Hermitage will have 30 years of longevity. Bravo! |
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Rhone | 1 | 99 (JD) | HK$9,495.00 | |||||
Jeb Dunnuck (99)Even better, the 2020 Hermitage Le Gréal showed brilliantly, and this powerful, concentrated Hermitage is going to be one for the cellar. Revealing a dense purple hue as well as great aromatics of blackberries, new saddle leather, truffle, roasted herbs, and peppered meat, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a layered, mouth-filling texture, building tannins, and a great finish. It's going to take a decade to hit maturity, but this brilliant Hermitage will have 30 years of longevity. Bravo! |
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Rhone | 1 | 96 (DC) | HK$2,060.00 | |||||
Decanter (96)A particularly fruity Gréal, much more open than usual at this stage. It has weight and presence and a seriously mineral edge. Less concentration and structure than a typical year, but it should last well thanks to its energy, tension and strict tannins, and end up very Pinotesque in style with age. It’s pure and elegant and with good ripeness of fruit and tannin. Impressive, but don't expect a huge wine. Very true to Bessards, like sucking pencil lead. Vines partly grown on Le Méal, partly on Les Greffieux, and 10% whole bunch used. |
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Rhone | 1 | 96 (DC) | HK$10,930.00 | |||||
Decanter (96)A particularly fruity Gréal, much more open than usual at this stage. It has weight and presence and a seriously mineral edge. Less concentration and structure than a typical year, but it should last well thanks to its energy, tension and strict tannins, and end up very Pinotesque in style with age. It’s pure and elegant and with good ripeness of fruit and tannin. Impressive, but don't expect a huge wine. Very true to Bessards, like sucking pencil lead. Vines partly grown on Le Méal, partly on Les Greffieux, and 10% whole bunch used. |
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Rhone | 1 | 97 (WA) | HK$11,025.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (97)A strong candidate for the title of the wine of the vintage, the 2022 Hermitage Le Greal is gorgeous. Evoking a perfumed, complex and vibrant bouquet of blackberry, rose petal, violet, flowers and dark cherries mingled with lovely notes of lead pencil, it's suave and sappy, complete and deep, with a multidimensional core of fruit and beautifully refined tannins enhanced by an energetic mid-palate that segues into a long, perfumed and ethereal finish due to the use of whole bunches. Truly gorgeous. It should gain raciness with age. |
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Burgundy | 1 | - | HK$1,055.00 | |||||
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Marc Soyard, Marsannay, Tercet 2020 embodies the quintessential elegance of the Marsannay appellation. Crafted from meticulously selected Pinot Noir grapes harvested from premier vineyards, this wine undergoes a delicate fermentation process in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks, preserving its vibrant fruit character and fine tannins. Following fermentation, it is aged for twelve months in French oak barrels, imparting subtle layers of spice and complexity without overshadowing the fruit's purity. The terroir of Marsannay, with its limestone-rich soils and favourable microclimate, bestows distinctive floral and red berry notes to the Tercet 2020. Marc Soyard, a revered producer with decades of expertise in Burgundy, ensures each vintage reflects a harmonious balance between tradition and modern vinification techniques. The result is a refined wine exhibiting silky texture, nuanced aromas, and a lingering finish, making Marc Soyard, Marsannay, Tercet 2020 a distinguished choice for connoisseurs seeking an exceptional Burgundy expression. |
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Burgundy | 1 | - | HK$3,465.00 | |||||
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Unlock the intrigue of the Marc-Antonin Blain Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Morgeot Rouge 2022, a magnificent showpiece of one of Burgundy's most treasured producers. Hailing from the Chassagne-Montrachet village subregion, famed for its distinctive terroir, this first-class red expresses a deep complexity and sublime elegance that gratifies even the most discerning palate. Heir to traditional wine-making techniques, Marc-Antonin Blain meticulously oversees each vintage's production, ensuring the grapes yield their fullest potential. Savour the entrancing bouquet of ripe berries, cherries, and a hint of spice; a testament to the Pinot Noir's extraordinary transformation in Burgundy's calcareous clay soils. This robust yet silky tannin masterpiece captivates with its long, lingering finish. Marc-Antonin Blain Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Morgeot Rouge 2022, simply an epitome of fine wine! |
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Alsace | 1 | - | HK$3,630.00 | |||||
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Renowned for its compelling complexity and ethereal elegance, Marcel Deiss Altenberg Bergheim 2016 is a quintessential representation of Alsace's unrivalled terroir. Produced by the pioneering biodynamic estate of Domaine Marcel Deiss, this grand cru wine is a harmony of 13 Alsatian grape varieties, each contributing to its multifaceted character. From cultivation to bottling, Marcel Deiss meticulously adheres to traditional practices, treating each vineyard plot as a distinct entity. This respect for nature and regional heritage is palpable in the 2016 vintage, noted for its impressive ageing potential. Expect an opulent bouquet of honeyed citrus, ripe orchard fruits and spicy undertones; the palate offers a luxurious texture balanced with a vibrant acidity. Hailing from the sun-drenched slopes of Altenberg de Bergheim, Marcel Deiss Altenberg Bergheim 2016 beautifully encapsulates the synergy between varietal and vineyard, delivering an unforgettably profound vinous experience. |
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Alsace | 5 | 96 (JS) | HK$2,410.00 | |||||
James Suckling (96)A ripe set of orchard fruit with quite a rich and assertive, minerally edge. The palate has a supple, juicy and attractively fresh feel with plenty of concentrated, rich, yellow-fruit flavors with very intense, fresh and focused drive to the finish. Twists dry. Impressive. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold. |
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Alsace | 1 | 98 (WA) | HK$5,200.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (98)The 2015 Grand Cru Schoenenbourg opens clear, intense, precise and floral on the nose, with concentrated lemon confit and smoky gypsum flavors. This 2015 is really concentrated on the nose and displays a gorgeously fresh and vegetal greeniness. Sweet, finessed and lush on the creamy textured palate, this is a very precise and concentrated Schonenbourg with a very long, intense and seductive finish. There is great elegance, finesse and complexity here. Very salty. This is a great long-distance runner. |
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Beaujolais | 1 | 92 (VN) | HK$1,470.00 | |||||
Vinous (92)(this is the non-sulfured version of this wine, which is designated by an N on the left side of the back label): Lurid ruby. Black raspberry, violet and smoky minerals on the highly fragrant nose and in the mouth. Juicy, focused and pure, with a hint of blood orange coming up slowly as the wine opens. This lively, focused wine finishes with excellent clarity and length, the supple tannins coming in late. The differences between these two versions of this wine are fairly slight right now but in my experience the no-sulfur bottling shows more brightness for the first two or three years after release while the sulfured rendition holds up somewhat better to cellaring. If cellaring this wine were a priority--and for me it is--I'd opt for the S bottling, and in fact I did. |
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Beaujolais | 1 | - | HK$3,060.00 | |||||
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Beaujolais | 5 | - | HK$1,340.00 | |||||
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Beaujolais | 4 | 92 (VN) | HK$1,340.00 | |||||
Vinous (92)This bottle of 2023 Morgon comes from the first bottling run completed in March 2024 (there will be five bottlings until September). Lapierre told me that this is destined for markets in Japan, Canada and a little for the US. The nose reveals dark berry fruit, sous-bois and light Indian ink aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins and crisp acidity, a little rustic in a good way with a slightly savory finish. Lovely. |
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Beaujolais | 1 | - | HK$4,505.00 | |||||
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Beaujolais | 1 | - | HK$1,975.00 | |||||
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Burgundy | 3 | - | HK$11,575.00 | |||||
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Perfectly crafted in Burgundy's renowned winemaking region, the Marchand Freres Griotte-Chambertin Grand Cru 2022 is an unparalleled expression of its terroir. A product of meticulous labour, each vine is pruned to guarantee the highest quality grapes, ensuring a wine of stunning depth and complexity. Brought to fruition by the esteemed Marchand Frères, a family-run domaine with heritage dating back to the 17th century, the wine reflects their commitment to respecting the environment, with practices that lend sustainability and an authentic flavour to every bottle. The Marchand Freres Griotte-Chambertin Grand Cru 2022 offers an indulgent bouquet of ripe fruits and fine spices. On the palate, a symphony of red berries, coupled with an elegant minerality makes for an unparalleled drinking experience. Supple tannins and an enduring finish further accentuate this Grand Cru's distinction. A true exemplar, it represents Burgundy's winemaking excellence, encapsulating the region's rich history in every sip. |
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