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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(6x75cl) 2021Vinous (89-91)
The 2021 Gevrey-Chambertin Village is the most expressive and charming of Arlaud's Village Crus with lovely brambly red fruit mixed with sous-bois and light citrus scents. The palate is medium-bodied with a velvety smooth entry, plush tannins, hints of kirsch and blood orange on the finish. Excellent.HK$3,355.00 -
Vinous (89+)
Good deep red. High-pitched aromas of sweet red berries and spices. Dense and very ripe, with noteworthy fat as well as a medicinal reserve to the flavor of raspberry liqueur. Finishes broad and quite dry, with substantial but well-buffered tannins.HK$11,935.00 -
Vinous (90-92)
(these vines average 40 years of age): Medium bright red. Sexy soil-driven aromas of raspberry, redcurrant, iron, leather, smoke and spices. A step up in creaminess of texture and mellow sweetness from the preceding examples. The tannins are substantial but ripe and late-arriving, allowing this wine to maintain its sweetness longer. Finishes with lingering spicy lift. Classic Morey-Saint-Denis from a ripe year.HK$1,415.00 -
Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (92-94)
Fresh dark purple, a mild reduction, a wine of elegance and charm on the palate with a surprisingly peppery finish. Almost exotic Asian spices. The fruit itself spreads beautifully across the palate, a mix of red and black. Tasted: December 2021HK$5,015.00 -
(3x75cl) 2021Vinous (91-93)
The 2021 Morey-Saint-Denis Les Millandes 1er Cru has impressive definition on the nose with blackberry, raspberry and crushed limestone. The palate is very well balanced with quite saturated tannins, fine-boned and finessed with a touch of kirsch and blood orange on the finish. Excellent.HK$2,730.00 -
Burghound (91-94)
A discreet application of wood sets off the softly spicy and earthy aromas of violet, lavender plum and red currant. The powerful and markedly more concentrated broad-shouldered flavors exude a subtle minerality on the succulent yet very firmly structured finale that exhibits excellent length. Patience will be necessary but it should be well-rewarded in time as this is packed with development potential.HK$5,065.00 -
Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (92-94)
Not too deep in colour, an even crimson ruby. Very much a red fruit nose as well, actually this is quite striking and very well poised. Fills the mouth, discreetly, then develops further depth of fruit at the back of the palate, as well as showing a little oak. I think this will emerge as a very successful 2023. Drink from 2030-2036. Tasted Dec 2024.HK$5,035.00 -
(6x75cl) 2010Vinous (91)
Medium red. Highly aromatic scents of redcurrant, clove, cinnamon and dried flowers. Juicy, spicy and precise on the palate, with lovely lift and a light touch. Most impressive today on the very fine-grained, building finish, which features sweet tannins and palate-staining spice character. All about perfume.HK$6,915.00 -
Vinous (91-93)
The 2017 Morey-Saint-Denis Aux Chesaux 1er Cru offers an attractive mélange of mulberry, blackberry and subtle traces of blue fruit. It feels pure and quite generous. The palate is medium-bodied with a saline, almost briny entry and a powdery texture. This has one of the firmest backbones among the _ domaine’s_ Premier Crus, that brine-like element tangible all the way through to the masculine finish. Excellent, but one for those who love traditional Morey-Saint-Denis.HK$880.00 -
Vinous (89-91)
The 2019 Morey-Saint-Denis Aux Chezaux 1er Cru perhaps does not convey the same cohesion as Arlaud’s other Premier Crus at the moment, a little earthier and more broody. The palate is sweet and ripe with rounded black cherries and crème de cassis notes, though it needs a little more precision and terroir expression on the finish. One to watch.HK$920.00 -
(6x75cl) 2022Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (93-95)
Mid crimson purple. Perhaps a slight reduction but the fruit really wants to express itself here. Expressive yet with refinement. Richer raspberry fruit here, fills the mouth impressively, though never over opulent, a little pepper and spice at the back, long and satisfying.HK$3,970.00 -
HK$4,930.00 -
Vinous (90-92)
(the Arlauds have gotten this fruit from 60-year-old vines through a fermage arrangement since 2004): Good bright red. Lively aromas of black raspberry, spices and violet. Juicy, fruity, spicy and fresh; very ripe but not a fleshy style. Finishes with noteworthy verve and punch, and the spine to reward aging. This dark clay and calcaire soil would probably be great for Chardonnay, noted Cyprien Arlaud.HK$3,940.00 -
(3x75cl) 2021Vinous (92-94)
The 2021 Morey-Saint-Denis Les Blanchards 1er Cru, which contains just over 30% whole bunches, has a little more mineral expression than the Les Millandes, focus and precise. The palate is medium-bodied with lithe tannins, very citrus fresh, blood orange and tangerine towards the grainy finish. This is very promising.HK$3,070.00 -
Vinous (92-94)
The 2021 Morey-Saint-Denis Les Blanchards 1er Cru, which contains just over 30% whole bunches, has a little more mineral expression than the Les Millandes, focus and precise. The palate is medium-bodied with lithe tannins, very citrus fresh, blood orange and tangerine towards the grainy finish. This is very promising.HK$3,810.00 -
(6x75cl) 2014Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (92-94)
Bright red-ruby. Sexy iron and fresh blood notes on the reduced nose. Rich, broad and mouthfilling without any heaviness, thanks to strong minerality. The wine's red fruit flavors are under wraps today but show enough power and depth to support the serious, ripe tannins. For all its volume, this premier cru boasts terrific spine and energy. Arlaud told me that this cru "both eats and showcases the vintage," by which he means that it can mask a vintage's more obvious traits while presenting it to best advantage.HK$5,695.00 -
Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (94-96)
A delightful fresh glowing even mid purple. The bouquet is compelling, far from the deepest or headiest, but with a sense of finesse. The perfume grows steadily to add more volume. There is a magical balance in this wine between the sensuality and the freshness, a finesse in the tannins too. Tasted: December 2021HK$4,855.00 -
Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (93-95)
Quite a dense mid purple. The bouquet is beautiful, correctly ripe fruit with an admirable finesse. There is a swell of dark raspberry fruit then a refined mid palate with slightly fresher red fruit, a little hint of spice and quite a long finish. Scaled down from the beauty of the 2019 but sharing the same exceptional qualities. Drink from 2026-2033.HK$3,475.00 -
Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (93-95)
Quite a dense mid purple. The bouquet is beautiful, correctly ripe fruit with an admirable finesse. There is a swell of dark raspberry fruit then a refined mid palate with slightly fresher red fruit, a little hint of spice and quite a long finish. Scaled down from the beauty of the 2019 but sharing the same exceptional qualities. Drink from 2026-2033.HK$6,330.00 -
Vinous (93-95)
The 2022 Morey-Saint-Denis Les Ruchots 1er Cru has a classic Morey-Saint-Denis bouquet with mineral-driven black fruit and touches of melted tar and tobacco. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, well-balanced and grippy, with perhaps the most saline finish amongst Arlaud's Morey Premier Crus. This will need more time than the Aux Chesaux, but it will be worth the wait.HK$6,510.00 -
Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (92-95)
A fine even purple. The bouquet is beautifully, florally, perfumed. This seems to be one of the riper wines but still has the quintessential cool balance of an Arlaud wine. Heady roses, with a ripe raspberry underlay. The acidity is sufficiently present and the tannins refined A long, supple finish. Drink from 2031-2038. Tasted Dec 2024.HK$9,445.00 -
Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (90-91)
A pretty mid ruby colour. Fresh raspberry, very sensual up front, firmer tannins behind, but the fruit covers them nicely. Linear in style, good acidity, and with a more complex crunch to the fruit at the back. Drink from 2028-2033. Tasted: November 2023.HK$3,125.00 -
Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (90-91)
Fresh crisp ruby purple. The fruit on the nose too is on the fresh raspberry side. Powerful intense dark raspberry fruit, adequate acidity, fair persistence. Still quite backward but there is a sense of class. Drink from 2028-2033. Tasted Dec 2024.HK$2,775.00 -
HK$2,670.00 -
(6x75cl) 2019HK$6,165.00 -
(1x75cl) 2020HK$745.00 -
HK$3,950.00 -
HK$15,700.00 -
HK$50,830.00 -
Jancis Robinson (17)
Very pale and delicate, tiny bead. Very appetising and fresh and directed. Sprightly and racy. Lovely texture. But not that long.HK$27,400.00

