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 | 94-96 (WA) | HK$14,890.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (94-96)The 2018 Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Aux Brûlées is brilliant, unfurling in the glass with an exquisite bouquet of sweet red berries, cherries, orange rind, smoked duck and exotic spices, followed by a medium to full-bodied, concentrated and enveloping wine framed by velvety tannins and succulent acids, concluding with a long and youthfully chalky finish. From a parcel planted in the 1930s, I often think that Aux Brûlées is Méo's finest wine; and while I'd give the Cros Parantoux the edge this year, it is a superb effort. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 94-96 (WA) | HK$31,655.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (94-96)The 2018 Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Aux Brûlées is brilliant, unfurling in the glass with an exquisite bouquet of sweet red berries, cherries, orange rind, smoked duck and exotic spices, followed by a medium to full-bodied, concentrated and enveloping wine framed by velvety tannins and succulent acids, concluding with a long and youthfully chalky finish. From a parcel planted in the 1930s, I often think that Aux Brûlées is Méo's finest wine; and while I'd give the Cros Parantoux the edge this year, it is a superb effort. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 94-96 (IB) | HK$5,065.00 | |||||
Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (94-96)5 Star Wine. Bright purple colour, Another very striking bouquet, balanced in its richer deep raspberry register. Aux Brûlées puts on further darker notes afterwards with a touch of coffee but then the gorgeous noble fruit takes over and this is underpinned by a limestone freshness. Really fine energy to finish. Tasted: December 2021. |
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Burgundy | 4 | 85-88 (VN) | HK$5,405.00 | |||||
Vinous (85-88)Fresh medium red. Red fruit and mint aromas. Fat and liqueur-like in the mouth, but a bit reduced today and hard to judge. Very ripe and sweet. Complicating note of leather. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 87-90 (VN) | HK$6,680.00 | |||||
Vinous (87-90)Bright ruby-red. Spicy blackberry and blackcurrant aromas complicated by floral, animal and tarry nuances. Densely packed but bright, with lively acidity and well-defined fruit flavors. Nicely pliant and easygoing. Finishes with ripe tannins and a distinct component of sweet oak. Meo experimented with a bit of reverse osmosis on this cuvee, eliminating about 5% of the water. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 89-92 (VN) | HK$27,550.00 | |||||
Vinous (89-92)Bright, deep red. Reticent aromas of black cherry, minerals, menthol and licorice, plus a whiff of meat. Silky and chocolatey; a step up in density from the regular village wine, and more classically dry. This somewhat more muscular wine has the middle-palate stuffing to support its broad, ripe tannins. The village wine will offer early appeal, but this wine will require a few years of patience. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 88-90 (WA) | HK$1,765.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (88-90)The 2012 Vosne-Romanee Village comes from two parcels in “Les Barreaux” and “Aux Communes”, the former representing a good 70% of the blend. It is actually one of the last cuvees to be harvested as it is a cool site. It has a tightly wound, slightly laconic bouquet that takes some coaxing from the glass, eventually offering black rather than red tertiary fruit. The palate is well balanced with fine acidity, taut red berry fruit with a crisp, chalky structure towards the finish. This will probably need two or three years in bottle to really unfurl. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 88-90 (VN) | HK$1,310.00 | |||||
Vinous (88-90)The 2019 Vosne-Romanée Village was a little sullen when I tasted the barrel sample, offering broody black fruit and quite a strong marine influence plus a touch of black olive. The palate is medium-bodied with crunchy black fruit, quite Morey-like in terms of structure, leading to a more austere finish than some of its peers at the moment. Will need time. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 91-94 (IB) | HK$1,415.00 | |||||
Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (91-94)5 Star Wine. Fine glowing deep purple. Here there is both depth and class. This is a blend from Aux Communes, ripe fruit, and north facing Barreaux, now assembled and returned to barrel. This works really well together with the plummy ripe notes kept well in check. Very long finish. I think this could be exceptional. Tasted: December 2021. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | - | HK$10,350.00 | |||||
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Savour the complexity of the Meyney 1981, a riveting vintage from the storied Chateau Meyney of Bordeaux's Saint Estèphe region. As a distinguished Bordeaux Superieur, this wine exudes the meticulosity of the winemaking process. The vineyard, established in the 17th century, boasts a remarkable location next to the river Gironde, leading to a unique terroir that damasks itself into layers of flavour. The Meyney 1981 reveals its age through pronounced tannins and a striking boldness on the palate. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Petit Verdot, the wine offers a nod to tradition while expressing individuality. Expect notes of ripe fruit, truffle, and tobacco, elegantly underpinned by a subtle touch of oak from 18 months in French barrels. An embodiment of Chateau Meyney's commitment to excellence, the Meyney 1981 remains a testament to the enduring appeal of fine Bordeaux wines. |
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Bordeaux | 3 | 89 (WE) | HK$2,740.00 | |||||
Wine Enthusiast (89)Typical of Saint-Estèphe, this wine is totally closed up. It is more tannins than fruit at this stage of its development. But it is obvious that there is fruit there, and that it will develop. But for now, it's a case of watch this space. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 90 (JS) | HK$6,215.00 | |||||
James Suckling (90)This starts off a little bretty with barnyard undertones, but it blows off to flowers and rich fruit. Round and juicy, with yummy flavors. A long finish on this. Very spicy and earthy. St. Estephe character. Enjoy or age. 14+22+22+32. $398HK |
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Bordeaux | 2 | 91 (VN (AG)) | HK$3,840.00 | |||||
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (91)The 2012 Meyney is a deep, structured wine with a lot going on in the glass. The expressive bouquet alone is enticing, but all the elements simply come together effortlessly. The pliant fruit suggests the 2012 can be enjoyed young - and it can - but there is also more than enough depth to allow the wine to age gracefully for years. This is an impressive Saint-Estephe, especially for the year. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 91 (VN (AG)) | HK$1,315.00 | |||||
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (91)The 2012 Meyney is a deep, structured wine with a lot going on in the glass. The expressive bouquet alone is enticing, but all the elements simply come together effortlessly. The pliant fruit suggests the 2012 can be enjoyed young - and it can - but there is also more than enough depth to allow the wine to age gracefully for years. This is an impressive Saint-Estephe, especially for the year. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 93 (VN (NM)) | HK$890.00 | |||||
Vinous - Neal Martin (93)The delightful 2014 Meyney marks a year when winemaker Anne Le Naour and her team raised their game once more. A nose of lovely red berry fruit mixed with wilted rose petals and cedar gains intensity with aeration. The palate demonstrates much finer tannins than previous vintages, well-pitched acidity and superb precision on the classically styled finish. This is just entering its drinking plateau. Tasted at a vertical at Château Meyney. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 93 (VN (NM)) | HK$3,295.00 | |||||
Vinous - Neal Martin (93)The delightful 2014 Meyney marks a year when winemaker Anne Le Naour and her team raised their game once more. A nose of lovely red berry fruit mixed with wilted rose petals and cedar gains intensity with aeration. The palate demonstrates much finer tannins than previous vintages, well-pitched acidity and superb precision on the classically styled finish. This is just entering its drinking plateau. Tasted at a vertical at Château Meyney. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 18.50 (JR) | HK$3,480.00 | |||||
Jancis Robinson (18.50)Tasted blind. Very dark crimson. Rich array of aromas on the nose. Ambitious with lots of stuff covering a pretty massive charge of tannins. Just slightly inky. Exciting finish. Very persistent. Classic build with lots of ambition. Everyone thought this was Montrose! VGV |
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