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 (VN) | HK$10,080.00 | |||||
Vinous (94)The 2016 Chablis Les Clos Grand Cru has the most expressive of Raveneau’s three Grand Crus this year with scents of dried honey, pressed flowers, almond and a little wild fennel, almost Provençal-like in style. The palate is taut and crisp with fine acidity, rather linear and perhaps not quite as voluminous as I was anticipating, yet very persistent with a tang of salinity that lingers on the finish. Impressive. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 97 (WA) | HK$144,535.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (97)Serious and tensile, Raveneau's 2019 Chablis Grand Cru Clos unwinds in the glass with aromas of orange oil, white flowers, confit lemon, green apple and deftly judged reduction. Full-bodied, taut and chiseled, it's an immensely concentrated, racy wine with huge depth at the core and a long, intensely saline finish. Its style exemplifies the 2019 Chablis vintage at its best. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 97+ (BH) | HK$147,700.00 | |||||
Burghound (97+)A restrained nose immediately makes clear that it could be from nowhere else but Chablis with its array of mineral reduction, oyster shell, iodine, spice, floral and citrus aromas. There is once again excellent volume and intensity to the even more concentrated big-bodied flavors that deliver huge length on the bone-dry, austere and compact finish. This is presently a block of stone that is going to need at least some patience and a wine that should repay 15+ years of cellaring. Moreover, it is not only a candidate for wine of the vintage honors but could legitimately vie for being one of the all-time great examples of Raveneau Clos. I shudder to think at what price it will trade at but if you can afford it, don't hesitate. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 93+ (VN) | HK$27,570.00 | |||||
Vinous (93+)The 2009 Chablis Valmur is quite closed. There is plenty of power in the glass, but not much else. Today the Valmur isn't showing much. It is the only 2009 that appears to be showing the ill effects of its recent bottling. This will be an interesting bottle to re-visit in another 6-12 months. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 97+ (VN) | HK$6,585.00 | |||||
Vinous (97+)Precision, nuance and translucence - not qualities typically associated with this site - are the signatures in Raveneau's 2012 Chablis Valmur. This is a decidedly understated Valmur built on restraint and a total sense of polish. The silky, resonant finish is utterly beautiful. The Valmur is another of the 2012s here that appears to be holding back much of its personality. I imagine it will offer thrilling drinking over the next two decades. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 97+ (WA) | HK$5,195.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (97+)A strong candidate for the title of wine of the vintage in Chablis this year, the Raveneau family's 2019 Chablis Grand Cru Valmur unwinds in the glass with aromas of crisp green apple, citrus zest, iodine, oyster shell and fresh hazelnuts. Full-bodied, taut and chiseled, it's incredibly taut and concentrated, with huge depth at the core, tangy acids and a long, penetrating, pungently saline finish. Might this turn out to be even better than the magical 2017? Time will tell, but this is clearly a masterful achievement. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 96 (BH) | HK$8,790.00 | |||||
Burghound (96)Once again there is just enough wood to mention on the green fruit, shellfish, quinine-suffused nose. The sleekly muscular, rich, powerful and serious larger-scaled flavors are unusually refined for Valmur before concluding in a driving, bone-dry and hugely long finale. This is a big but impeccably well-balanced effort that should easily repay 12 to 15 years of cellaring. In short, this is seriously good. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 96 (WA) | HK$31,305.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (96)The 2022 Chablis Grand Cru Valmur is brilliant, mingling aromas of citrus oil, fresh mint and white flowers with notions of iodine and wet stones in a complex bouquet, followed by a full-bodied, deep and layered palate that's cool and racy, defying the vintage, and concluding with a long, saline finish. |
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Rhone | 7 | 91+ (VN) | HK$11,175.00 | |||||
Vinous (91+)Medium red-ruby. Smoky redcurrant nose, with hints of game, leather and pepper; surmuri notes of dried fruits. Fat but quite fine; less sweet and fruit-driven today than the Pignan but more complex, more serious. This has solid structure for aging. The Pignan always tastes better young than Rayas, Reynaud points out. |
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Rhone | 1 | 95.0 | HK$72,365.00 | |||||
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Rhone | 8 | 92.0 | HK$9,825.00 | |||||
