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 | 95 (WA) | HK$5,655.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (95)The 2008 Echezeaux is flat-out great. It is a deep, dark wine graced with exquisite balance, lovely inner perfume and a layered, eternal finish. Here the slightly higher percentage of new oak (70%) gives the wine an additional measure of volume. The Echezeaux is made from two parcels; Les Rouges du Bas (just in front of Clos Vougeot) and Les Quartiers de Nuits (next to Clos Vougeot) vinified together. Everything of the Echezeaux is first-class. Anticipated maturity: 2018-2038. |
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Burgundy | 3 | 95 (WA) | HK$10,520.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (95)The 2009 Echezeaux comes across as rich, powerful and totally seductive. It shows considerable richness and depth in a more immediate style than the 2010. The aromatics and nuance of the 2010 are missing, but in exchange readers will find a deep, fleshy wine that will deliver considerable pleasure with minimum cellaring. I especially like the intensity of the finish. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2034. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 93-96 (VN) | HK$11,335.00 | |||||
Vinous (93-96)A dark, powerful, brooding wine, the 2012 Echézeaux boasts stunning depth and concentration. This is an unusually big, rich wine for the domaine, yet all the elements are wonderfully balanced. Layers of dark, spiced fruit flow through to the resonant, hugely expressive finish. The abnormally low yields of the vintage are felt in the wine's gravitas and breath. Readers who can find the Echézeaux should not hesitate. It is magnificent. Yields were just 10 hectoliters per hectare in Rouge du Bas and 25 hectoliters per hectare in Quartiers de Nuits. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 94 (VN) | HK$10,005.00 | |||||
Vinous (94)Good bright, deep red. Complex, subtle aromas of raspberry, redcurrant and graphite minerality, plus some sexy oak tones. Ripe and silky, even plump for the year, but classically dry and light on its feet. Saturates the mouth and cheeks without leaving any impression of heaviness. At this point in my tasting, Marie-Christine Mugneret noted that these 2013s had been uncorked the previous evening. They are showing spectacularly now and I suspect they benefited dramatically from aeration. Finishes with very suave, even tannins and a suggestion of minty lift. Very classy juice. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 92 (VN) | HK$23,580.00 | |||||
Vinous (92)Good full red. Reticent aromas of redcurrant, tobacco, dried rose and musky minerality complemented by a touch of smoky, spicy oak. The oak element builds in the mouth, which is less sweet and filled in today than the Feusselottes. Hints of dried flowers and menthol currently dominate the wine's red berry flavors. A touch tart-edged on the finish, with the tannins showing a slightly granular quality. I don't find the same consistent ripeness here that the estate's two other grand crus display. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 92-94 (VN) | HK$30,840.00 | |||||
Vinous (92-94)(55% new oak; from Les Rouges du Bas and Les Quartiers de Nuits): Bright medium ruby. Very pure but subtle and shy on the nose, exuding scents of blackberry, dark cherry, violet and dark chocolate accented by orange zest. Offers an exhilarating balance of almost chocolatey sweetness and penetrating acidity. Finishes very long and primary, even a bit inky, with suave tannins and firm acidity. Marie-Christine Mugneret noted that new oak really marks the delicate Echézeaux character, but this wine has the stuffing to support its lumber. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 93-95 (VN) | HK$7,355.00 | |||||
Vinous (93-95)(from the estate's two parcels in Les Rouges du Bas and Les Quartiers de Nuits, both of them frosted in 2016; just 17 hectoliters per hectare produced): Deep ruby-red. Very ripe aromas of black cherry, dark chocolate, licorice and flowers, plus a note of black pepper. Offers incredible concentration to its flavors of blackberry syrup and savory minerality, conveying an almost liqueur-like ripeness for a dry wine. Painfully intense in the early going but the big tannins are buffered by the wine's impression of extract. This wine will need extended cellaring to absorb its penetrating saline minerality. I can understand why Marie-Christine Mugneret presented this wine last. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 93-95 (VN) | HK$48,870.00 | |||||
Vinous (93-95)(from the estate's two parcels in Les Rouges du Bas and Les Quartiers de Nuits, both of them frosted in 2016; just 17 hectoliters per hectare produced): Deep ruby-red. Very ripe aromas of black cherry, dark chocolate, licorice and flowers, plus a note of black pepper. Offers incredible concentration to its flavors of blackberry syrup and savory minerality, conveying an almost liqueur-like ripeness for a dry wine. Painfully intense in the early going but the big tannins are buffered by the wine's impression of extract. This wine will need extended cellaring to absorb its penetrating saline minerality. I can understand why Marie-Christine Mugneret presented this wine last. |
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Burgundy | 2 | 18 (JR) | HK$8,915.00 | |||||
Jancis Robinson (18)Cask sample. Rich and sweet – and much more forward than the village Vosne! Layers and neatness. Good intensity and this should have a long and rather glorious life ahead. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 93-95 (VN) | HK$8,665.00 | |||||
Vinous (93-95)The 2020 Echézeaux Grand Cru is the only cuvée with whole bunch, around 25% this year. It comes from two parcels that are always picked on the same day and matured in 60% new oak with a very light toasting. Brambly red fruit, wild hedgerow and briary on the nose that (again) blossoms with aeration whilst maintaining outstanding focus. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy red fruit, fine acidity, taut and fresh with a bit of sinew on the finish, a bit of grip. So give this 5-8 years in bottle. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 92 (BH) | HK$5,465.00 | |||||
Burghound (92)(the blend has now changed from 50/50 to two-thirds/one-third in the climats of Les Rouges du Bas and Les Quartiers de Nuits; 15% whole cluster vinification). A slightly cooler though still ripe nose blends notes of both red and dark berries and a wonderful array of spice elements. There is excellent verve and freshness on the palate of the sleek, refined and focused medium-bodied flavors that aren’t especially dense but do flash focused power on the dusty, compact and serious finale where a touch of warmth slowly emerges. Fine if not exceptional development potential here and I particularly like the sophisticated texture. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 92 (BH) | HK$12,990.00 | |||||
Burghound (92)(the blend has now changed from 50/50 to two-thirds/one-third in the climats of Les Rouges du Bas and Les Quartiers de Nuits; 15% whole cluster vinification). A slightly cooler though still ripe nose blends notes of both red and dark berries and a wonderful array of spice elements. There is excellent verve and freshness on the palate of the sleek, refined and focused medium-bodied flavors that aren’t especially dense but do flash focused power on the dusty, compact and serious finale where a touch of warmth slowly emerges. Fine if not exceptional development potential here and I particularly like the sophisticated texture. |
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