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 | |||||
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Burgundy | 1 | 93-95 (VN) | HK$5,310.00 | |||||
Vinous (93-95)(not racked; from a single parcel of vines on pure white soil on the Morey-Saint-Denis side of the cru, which was barely touched by frost according to Leroux): Healthy dark red. Captivating lift to the sappy aromas of maraschino cherry, licorice and exotic herbs. Dense, vigorous wine with terrific medicinal reserve and punch to its dark fruit, licorice and mineral flavors. Youthfully imploded in a classic Bonnes-Mares manner but not rigid or hard. A wine with outstanding finishing energy and length, built for a slow evolution in bottle--and a classic expression of its terroir. (Incidentally, Leroux is looking to supplement this fruit source with another piece of Bonnes-Mares.) |
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Burgundy | 1 | 90-92 (VN) | HK$6,215.00 | |||||
Vinous (90-92)The 2021 Bonnes-Mares Grand Cru has a well-defined bouquet, with a mixture of red and black fruit, undergrowth and dried leaves. The palate is medium-bodied with light tannins. It's quite linear for a Bonnes-Mares and has a welcome, bitter edge on the finish. Fine, but a bit gawky. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 91-94 (VN) | HK$10,920.00 | |||||
Vinous (91-94)Spicy nose is going through a slightly oxidative phase (this wine is lower in total sulfur today than the Abbaye de Morgeot and Les Baudines). Very rich and pliant but salty and hard to assess today, with its peachy yellow fruits in the background. This densely packed, nutty wine finishes with terrific grip, excellent length and a powerful impression of dry extract. These vines are 50 to 60 years of age and struggling, Leroux told me. There's barely 20 centimeters of topsoil here and the vines don't look healthy but they produce very concentrated grapes, added Leroux, who refers to this wine as his baby grand cru. (13% alcohol) |
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Burgundy | 1 | 96 (VN) | HK$12,285.00 | |||||
Vinous (96)The 2015 Clos Saint-Denis Grand Cru has an immediately seductive, extremely pure bouquet of bright red fruit, strawberry and cranberry; hints of blueberry surface with aeration. The oak is very well integrated, and with continued aeration in the glass, the raspberry component becomes more expressive. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy red fruit encased by grippy, slightly firm tannins. This is a very serious Grand Cru, extraordinarily focused and full of tension; the mouth still tingles 60 seconds after it has exited. A consummate expression of a great Burgundy vintage. Tasted blind at the annual Burgfest tasting. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 90-93 (VN) | HK$2,365.00 | |||||
Vinous (90-93)(Leroux lost one-third of the crop here but noted that the wall around Clos Vougeot gave his vines some protection): Dark red. Inviting ripe perfume of cherry, raspberry and licorice. Distinctly fatter and sweeter in the mouth than the Echézeaux, conveying a more pliant texture and lovely perfume as well as a strong mineral character. Then tougher on the back end, finishing with substantial chewy, tongue-dusting tannins and an impression of medicinal reserve. |
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Burgundy | 1 | - | HK$1,805.00 | |||||
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Burgundy | 1 | - | HK$1,415.00 | |||||
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Burgundy | 2 | 91 (VN) | HK$3,705.00 | |||||
Vinous (91)Good medium red. Musky red berries, spices and dried flowers on the scented nose. Silky and seamless on the palate, displaying rare volume for village wine. Very sexy round, dry village wine with subtle Gevrey soil tones. The long finish features lingering red berry flavors. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 89-91 (VN) | HK$950.00 | |||||
Vinous (89-91)The 2020 Gevrey-Chambertin Village has a slightly stemmy bouquet (around 20% whoe bunch), dark berry fruit laced with cold tea, just a slight beetroot note emerging with time. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy red fruit, firm grip, fine depth with a crisp finish. Very fine. |
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Benjamin Leroux Gevrey-Chambertin
(6x75cl)
2023
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Burgundy | - | 90-92 (IB) |
HK$2,870 - HK$3,505 |
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Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (90-92)A rich but even purple. Plenty of generosity on the nose, covering the more savoury aspects. Very nicely poised with a burst of dark fruit energy, with a savoury dark strawberry note to finish, and medium plus length. Drink from 2029-2035. Tasted Oct 2024. |
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Burgundy | 2 | - | HK$5,880.00 | |||||
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Burgundy | 1 | - | HK$7,670.00 | |||||
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Burgundy | 2 | 90-92 (VN) | HK$4,695.00 | |||||
Vinous (90-92)The 2019 Nuits Saint-Georges Aux Thorey 1er Cru has a detailed bouquet of tertiary red berry fruit that just needs a little more intensity. The palate is medium-bodied with chalky tannins. Quite a masculine NSG, leading to a slightly hard finish. Racking will soften this up and my score is based on that being carried out. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 90-92 (VN) | HK$8,665.00 | |||||
Vinous (90-92)The 2017 Nuits Saint-Georges Les Boudots 1er Cru, which contains 50% whole bunches, has a vibrant bouquet of red fruit infused with hints of quince and orange blossom; veins of blue fruit emerge with time. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, almost pastille-like in terms of purity, and the finish is sensual and quite approachable. This will drink young but has the substance to give 15+ years of pleasure. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 92-94 (VN) | HK$5,435.00 | |||||
Vinous (92-94)The 2018 Nuits Saint-Georges les Boudots 1er Cru, picked on September 8, has a superb bouquet of dark cherries mixed with raspberry preserve and damp earth and moss aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy red fruit, very fine tannins and a precise, elegant finish that expresses its terroir beautifully. Superb. |
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