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 | 1 | 98+ (JD) | HK$11,840.00 | |||||
Jeb Dunnuck (98+)Another incredible white from this family is the 2019 Hermitage Blanc, a powerful, concentrated, and remarkably pure Hermitage that has laser-like focus as well as textbook Marsanne notes of quince, green almond, powdered rock, licorice, and spice. It’s still tight, focused, and inward at present, yet it reminds me of the 2018 with its purity and rare mix of power and elegance. It’s worth trying a bottle any time over the coming 3-5 years, but after that, I’d recommend waiting until after 2031. |
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Rhone | 2 | 99 (JD) | HK$2,745.00 | |||||
Jeb Dunnuck (99)Another heavenly white from this estate is the 2020 Hermitage Blanc, which is the usual 80% Marsanne and 20% Roussanne from a mix lieux-dits. Incredibly perfumed with notes of acacia flowers, buttered stone fruits, toasted brioche, honeysuckle, and crushed stone, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a seamless, layered texture, beautiful mid-palate depth, and a great finish. The purity, balance, and intensity here are just about off the charts, and this beauty deserves a solid decade of bottle age, although you'll be excused if you drink one in its youth as well. |
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Rhone | 1 | 99 (JD) | HK$14,880.00 | |||||
Jeb Dunnuck (99)Another heavenly white from this estate is the 2020 Hermitage Blanc, which is the usual 80% Marsanne and 20% Roussanne from a mix lieux-dits. Incredibly perfumed with notes of acacia flowers, buttered stone fruits, toasted brioche, honeysuckle, and crushed stone, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a seamless, layered texture, beautiful mid-palate depth, and a great finish. The purity, balance, and intensity here are just about off the charts, and this beauty deserves a solid decade of bottle age, although you'll be excused if you drink one in its youth as well. |
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Rhone | 1 | 96 (VN) | HK$2,030.00 | |||||
Vinous (96)Vinified from grapes that were harvested as late as the 26th of September, the 2021 L'Hermitage Blanc was cropped at 38 hL/ha, above the levels of 2022. It dazzles with vivid spring blossom, honeysuckle, lemon peel, white peach, quince, apricot and discrete cedar aromas. Medium-bodied and immaculately balanced by bright acidity, this is an athletic L'Hermitage Blanc with marked freshness and energy. A saline aftertaste wraps up the sapid finish. Outstanding. |
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Rhone | 1 | 96 (VN) | HK$11,450.00 | |||||
Vinous (96)Vinified from grapes that were harvested as late as the 26th of September, the 2021 L'Hermitage Blanc was cropped at 38 hL/ha, above the levels of 2022. It dazzles with vivid spring blossom, honeysuckle, lemon peel, white peach, quince, apricot and discrete cedar aromas. Medium-bodied and immaculately balanced by bright acidity, this is an athletic L'Hermitage Blanc with marked freshness and energy. A saline aftertaste wraps up the sapid finish. Outstanding. |
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Rhone | 1 | 97 (JD) | HK$11,395.00 | |||||
Jeb Dunnuck (97)Coming from tiny yields of 22 hectoliters per hectare, the 2022 Hermitage Blanc is a focused, pure, and chiseled white Hermitage offering riveting stone fruits, spice, and crushed stone, which turn to blanched almond and subtle brioche with air. Medium to full-bodied, focused, and tight on the palate, yet rich and powerful, it has the structure of a red wine and needs plenty of air if drinking any time soon. It will ideally be enjoyed over the coming 4-5 years or after a decade. |
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Rhone | 1 | 93 (VN) | HK$1,165.00 | |||||
Vinous (93)Deep ruby. Vibrant, sharply focused aromas of fresh dark berries, potpourri and licorice along with a smoky mineral overtone. Juicy and vibrant on the palate, offering concentrated boysenberry and bitter cherry flavors that become sweeter and spicier with air. Fine-grained tannins give shape to the impressively long, mineral-driven finish, which leaves behind sexy floral pastille and spicecake notes. |
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Rhone | 1 | 93 (VN) | HK$7,555.00 | |||||
Vinous (93)(made with 25 percent whole clusters) Inky ruby. Pungent, spice-accented aromas of ripe dark berries, candied violet, licorice and smoky minerals. Juicy and expansive on the palate, offering pliant black and blue fruit and floral pastille flavors that are complemented and lifted by a jolt of peppery spices. Becomes sweeter and deeper with air, with no loss of energy, and finishes sappy and very long; smooth tannins add shape and grip. |
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Rhone | 1 | 18.5 (JR) | HK$1,055.00 | |||||
Jancis Robinson (18.5)Sample 1: Dardouille. Beautiful black-olive and smoke-tinged nose – granitic graphite notes, fantastic depth of fruit and fine silky tannins with a dollop of spice. Sample 2: Le Clos. Stacks of black pepper, menthol and clove showing on the nose. The palate is densely concentrated but with real energy, freshness and vibrancy. Sample 3: Chaillés. Beautiful whole-bunch aromas of lapsang souchong, smoke, ash and five spice. Fantastic vibrant freshness and sculpted fine tannins. Sample 4: Bachasson. A nose packed full of black-olive tapenade and Lagavulin peaty smoke. The palate has a floral tinge with white pepper and tannins that are fine and silky. There's such finesse here! |
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Rhone | 1 | 96-97 (VN) | HK$3,760.00 | |||||
Vinous (96-97)As with the 2020 L'Hermitage, I tasted this wine in its components, shortly before blending and bottling. This vintage is highly successful at Chave, and this wine, which would qualify as the gateway bottling made from estate fruit, looks to be outstanding, with juicy, spice-laced red and blue fruit character of noteworthy freshness, plus strong florality and mineral drive. I was also struck by the fineness of the tannins, which will likely make the final wine deceptively approachable on release. Don't be fooled - this wine has a long and enviable track record for rewarding patience. |
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Rhone | 3 | - | HK$4,095.00 | |||||
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Rhone | 1 | - | HK$775.00 | |||||
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Rhone | 3 | 94 (VN) | HK$8,845.00 | |||||
Vinous (94)Inky violet color. Displays ripe dark fruit, licorice, olive, potpourri and cracked pepper aromas, plus a smoky mineral flourish that adds an energetic lift. Sappy and broad on the palate, offering appealingly sweet black and blue fruit, cola, licorice and exotic spice flavors that show impressive depth and vivacity. Finishes very long and precise, with a lingering floral quality and dusty, slowly building tannins. |
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Rhone | 1 | 94 (VN) | HK$4,580.00 | |||||
Vinous (94)Inky violet color. Displays ripe dark fruit, licorice, olive, potpourri and cracked pepper aromas, plus a smoky mineral flourish that adds an energetic lift. Sappy and broad on the palate, offering appealingly sweet black and blue fruit, cola, licorice and exotic spice flavors that show impressive depth and vivacity. Finishes very long and precise, with a lingering floral quality and dusty, slowly building tannins. |
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Rhone | 1 | 95 (VN) | HK$900.00 | |||||
Vinous (95)Saturated violet color. Smoky, mineral-accented black and blue fruit scents are complicated by olive paste, licorice and floral nuances that build in the glass. Juicy and energetic in the mouth, offering vibrant blackberry, boysenberry, candied violet and smoky bacon flavors that become sweeter with air. The floral and mineral notes come back strong on the penetrating finish, which shows outstanding persistence and fine-grained, harmonious tannins. |
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Rhone | 1 | 93 (VN) | HK$3,855.00 | |||||
Vinous (93)Full violet color. Heady, spice-accented dark berry, cola and floral pastille scents show excellent clarity and pick up a mineral nuance with aeration. Juicy and expansive on the palate, offering bitter cherry, blueberry and olive paste flavors that are given spine by a core of juicy acidity. Finishes gently sweet, broad and very long, with an echo of candied violet and slowly emerging tannins. |
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Rhone | 1 | 89 (VN) | HK$7,535.00 | |||||
Vinous (89)Deep ruby-red. Very ripe aromas of raspberry, cherry, violet and game. Dense, ripe and sweet, with fruit currently overshadowed by its strong oak component. Finishes with firm but suave tannins and very good length. This is very attractive red wine, but I'm not sure I would identify it blind as Cornas. |
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Alsace | 20 | - | HK$1,205.00 | |||||
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Discover the exquisite Jean-Luc Freudenreich, Cremant d'Alsace, Brut NV. An exceptional French traditional sparkling wine, it's crafted in the Alsace region, famed for producing wines of unrivalled character and depth. Jean-Luc Freudenreich, a family-owned boutique winery with a deep-seated passion for viticulture, expertly fashions this remarkable cremant. The Brut NV reveals a delicate complexity; meticulously produced following the 'methode traditionnelle'. A detailed process entailing second fermentation in the bottle, lending it an indomitable elegance and vivacious bubbles. The result is a striking blend brimming with freshness, balanced acidity and rich, fruity aromas. Expect intoxicating notes of green apple, quince, and white flowers, underlined by a yeasty complexity. Ideal as an aperitif or pairing beautifully with delicate seafood dishes. An exquisite testament to the prowess of Jean-Luc Freudenreich, Cremant d'Alsace, Brut NV is a must for any fine wine enthusiast's collection. |
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Alsace | 20 | - | HK$1,225.00 | |||||
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Discover the exquisite Jean-Luc Freudenreich, Cremant d'Alsace, Rose NV. This superb sparkling wine hails from the renowned vineyards of Alsace in northeastern France. The vinification process adopted by master winemaker Jean-Luc Freudenreich resonates the exclusive terroir, delivering a sublime expression of the region's rich characteristics. Freudenreich has established an unswerving reputation for producing top-tier crémants for over three decades. His crémant d'Alsace Rose NV is crafted using the traditional method, secondary fermentation occurring in the bottle itself, ensuring maximum effervescence. This wine exudes an elegant, light strawberry hue, with a captivating palate that blends subtle red fruit dancing with nuanced minerality. The lingering finish leaves behind a romantic afterglow of nuanced spice and fruit. Expertly crafted, this wine is a testament to Freudenreich's dedication to quality, authenticity, and passion. With its inherent complexities and vibrant character, the Jean-Luc Freudenreich, Cremant d'Alsace, Rose NV excels in capturing hearts while invigorating the senses. |
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Rhone | 1 | 5 (JLL) | HK$3,010.00 | |||||
John Livingstone-Learmonth (5)The bouquet is bold, on beef stock, iron, dense black berries, has a poised, integral sweetness, airs of raspberry liqueur, oak smoke. It’s a solid start. The palate has the theme of mineral well placed through it, a lot of mountain of matter, thickening towards the finish. It holds sparkling and dense fruits – cassis, soaked cherries. It is vibrant and very full; there is real flair off its sun-dialled deck. It has great juice; it’s a treat to taste this. Decanting advised. It has a lot of black fruits, a belle freshness to underpin it; it’s very long. |
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