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 | 91-93 (VN) | HK$9,140.00 | |||||
Vinous (91-93)The 2020 Bonnes-Mares Grand Cru has a tightly-wound bouquet with blackberry and raspberry fruit, hints of wet limestone, quite strict and a little timid. The palate is framed by gritty tannins, quite saline and robust, though for me, this lacks the flow and harmony of the Fuées. I would like to see this after four or five years. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 88-90 (VN) | HK$39,735.00 | |||||
Vinous (88-90)The 2021 Bonnes-Mares Grand Cru has a satisfying bouquet with beautifully defined red fruit, potpourri, orange zest and crushed limestone. The palate leaves a few questions to be answered however. It is light-bodied, a little skeletal, which is something you never expect from this habitually opulent Grand Cru. This slightly tapers towards its strict finish, as if the wine had been rationed by the 2021 growing season, dropping away rather rapidly. I must be parsimonious with my score because it is lapped by Mugnier's Premier Crus. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 93 (VN) | HK$69,325.00 | |||||
Vinous (93)Medium red. Lovely perfumed nose offers raspberry, rose petal and minerals as well as hints of darker black cherry and blueberry. A distinct step up in density from the foregoing 2004s; silky, scented and almost lush for the year. Compellingly perfumed and vibrant wine. Finishes broad and long, with strikingly sweet tannins and lovely lingering perfume (a rapid succession of sensations is the way Mugnier puts it). |
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Burgundy | 1 | 95 (VN) | HK$22,105.00 | |||||
Vinous (95)Bright, dark red. Knockout nose combines raspberry, flowers and crushed stone. Utterly seamless on the palate, with its fruit sweetness perfectly countered by minerality. The wine's powerful stony underpinning gives it outstanding sappiness and inner-mouth tension. Offers a remarkable combination of thick, silky texture and energy. Finishes with thoroughly buffered, noble tannins and outstanding length. This should evolve slowly and gracefully for at least the next two decades. |
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Burgundy | 2 | 95-97 (WA) | HK$21,100.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (95-97)Captivating aromas of peonies, rose petals, blood orange, violets, raspberries and warm spices preface Mugnier's 2020 Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Amoureuses, a medium to full-bodied, ample and exquisitely perfumed wine that's elegant and seamless, with a perfumed, sensual profile and a long, resonant finish. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 95 (VN (NM)) | HK$84,160.00 | |||||
Vinous - Neal Martin (95)The 2021 Chambolle-Musigny Les Amoureuses 1er Cru has an open nose with macerated red cherries, raspberry and rose petals, though it does not quite have the complexity and intensity of de Vogüé's Amoureuses. There is some reduction in situ, though it does not feel fixed. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins. Smooth and silky in texture, touches of dried blood infuse the dark red fruit with a slightly savoury peppercorn-tinged finish. Plenty of character in this wine; it will benefit from two or three years more in bottle. Tasted blind at the Burgfest tasting. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 92 (VN) | HK$50,275.00 | |||||
Vinous (92)The 2002 Chambolle-Musigny Les Fuées 1er Cru has a light and leafy, almost herbaceous bouquet that in my opinion needs more fruit. Et voilà! When poured the same wine an hour later, it begins to manifest some lovely red cherry and cranberry notes. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannin, slightly savoury in style but without the depth that Frédéric Mugnier imparts into this cuvée these days. Nevertheless, the harmony and precision is beguiling. Do afford it an hour in a decanter. Tasted at Sarah Marsh MW’s 2002 Red Burgundy tasting. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 88-91 (VN (ST)) | HK$41,285.00 | |||||
Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (88-91)Musky nose is dominated by pungent smoky minerality and crushed stone. Then fatter and chewier than the village wine, with more smoky oak and brown spices showing. Finishes with a note of tobacco. Seems less pristine and distinctive than the village wine, but there's more wine here. A sample from a second barrel was still quite bound-up, showing musky strawberry and mocha notes and a bit more clarity. |
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