France
France remains the benchmark for fine wine, home to many of the world's most celebrated vineyards, historic estates and sought-after, age-worthy wines. Its extraordinary diversity of climates, soils and grape varieties has shaped centuries of winemaking tradition, with many of the world's great wine styles and varieties still judged against their French counterparts.
Bordeaux is renowned for its structured, long-lived blends of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, while Burgundy produces remarkably precise, terroir-driven expressions of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Champagne, made principally from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, is the world's most celebrated sparkling wine, equally capable of marking a special occasion or developing wonderful complexity with age.
Elsewhere, the Loire Valley stretches from mineral Sauvignon Blanc and wonderfully age-worthy Chenin Blanc to elegant Cabernet Franc and Pinot Noir. The Rhône Valley brings another contrast, from the perfumed, structured Syrah of the Northern Rhône to the rich, Grenache led blends of the south. Provence has become synonymous with elegant, pale rosé, while the Languedoc and Roussillon offer an exciting combination of historic vineyards, Mediterranean varieties and exceptional value.
From everyday regional wines to some of the rarest and most coveted bottles in the world, few countries can match France for its breadth of styles, sense of place and enduring influence on the world of wine.
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Domaine Francois Lamarche, La Grande Rue Grand Cru 2006, 75cl
"A very pretty, even perfumed, nose speaks mostly of fresh red berry fruit, spice and lilac nuances that display only a touch of secondary characte...
View full detailsDomaine Gros Frere & Soeur, Richebourg Grand Cru 1993, 75cl (Stained Label)
"The pronounced oak char that this displayed when it was younger has almost completely disappeared to be replaced by aromas of earth, spice and dam...
View full detailsLouis Roederer Cristal 1996, Champagne, 75cl
Created in 1876 for Tsar Alexander II of Russia, Cristal remains one of the world's most iconic prestige cuvées. Produced only in exceptional vinta...
View full detailsM. Chapoutier, Ermitage L'Ermite Blanc 2014, 75cl
"The wine of the vintage (and I’ll include all the wines of the northern Rhône, red and white in that grouping) is the 2014 Ermitage l’Ermite Blanc...
View full detailsDomaine Georges Roumier, Chambolle Musigny 2005, 75cl
"Deep ruby. A pretty and very high-toned nose features a beguiling mix of red and black berry fruit and hints of underbrush and spice that introduc...
View full detailsHubert Lignier, Charmes Chambertin Grand Cru 1997, 75cl
"Good dark red. Pretty, floral aromas of currant, red cherry, licorice and flowers. Thick, supple and quite flatteur today, thanks to its wonderful...
View full detailsDomaine Denis Mortet, Mazis Chambertin Grand Cru 2014, 75cl
"This is also notably ripe, indeed it sidles right up to the point of being surmature with plum, warm earth, crushed herbs and a floral note that g...
View full detailsVeuve Clicquot La Grande Dame Rose 1990, Champagne, 150cl Magnum
Created in honour of Madame Clicquot, the visionary "Grande Dame of Champagne", La Grande Dame represents the pinnacle of Veuve Clicquot's winemaki...
View full detailsDomaine Jean-Louis Chave, Hermitage Rouge 1988, 75cl (Damaged Capsule)
"It has been several years since I last tasted the 1988 Hermitage from Chave. Previous bottles had demonstrated more density and grip, where this i...
View full detailsDomaine Jean-Jacques Confuron, Romanee Saint Vivant Grand Cru 1995, 75cl
"Classic RSV nose of oriental spice and subtle tea, leather and hoisin notes mix beautifully with black, sappy pinot fruit aromas but the flavors a...
View full detailsPalmer & Co Collection Vintage 1985, Champagne, 150cl Magnum (Gift Pack)
One of the great treasures of Champagne Palmer & Co, the Vintage Collection is the result of a unique programme begun in 1947 to preserve the H...
View full detailsChateau Margaux 1983, Margaux 1st Growth, 75cl
"The 1983 Château Margaux is a fantastic wine that heralded the true return of the First Growth. This bottle came directly from the château's cella...
View full detailsBernard Moreau et Fils, Chevalier Montrachet Grand Cru 2015, 75cl
"Firm reduction renders the nose unreadable at present. Otherwise, there is good freshness to the intensely mineral-inflected and beautifully well-...
View full detailsDomaine de L'Arlot, Romanee Saint Vivant Grand Cru 2006, 75cl
"A discreet but brilliantly layered nose features a strikingly elegant mix of red and blue pinot fruit plus violet nuances trimmed in anise, cinnam...
View full detailsJoseph Roty, Charmes Chambertin Cuvee Tres Vieilles Vignes Grand Cru 1990, 75cl
"Full medium red. Huge, deep, lightly medicinal nose combines scents of raspberry, blueberry coulis, mocha, coffee, clove, minerals and licorice. H...
View full detailsDomaine Drouhin-Laroze, Bonnes Mares Grand Cru 2006, 300cl Double Magnum
"Here there is more aromatic breadth with a pure and enveloping nose that combines red and blue pinot fruit plus lovely floral notes, particularly ...
View full detailsDomaine Gros Frere & Soeur, Richebourg Grand Cru 1990, 75cl (Stained Label)
"Classic Richebourg nose with copious amounts of Vosne spice and rich, long flavors underpinned by solid, ripe tannic structure. Despite the young ...
View full detailsDomaine Francois Raveneau, Chablis Grand Cru Blanchot 1997, 75cl (Damaged Capsule)
Few names in Chablis command the quiet reverence of Domaine François Raveneau. Meticulous vineyard work, low yields and patient élevage in older ba...
View full detailsDomaine Francois Raveneau, Chablis Grand Cru Valmur 2003, 75cl (Damaged Capsule)
Few names in Chablis command the quiet reverence of Domaine François Raveneau. Meticulous vineyard work, low yields and patient élevage in older ba...
View full detailsDomaine Leflaive, Bienvenues Batard Montrachet Grand Cru 2000, 75cl
"This is aromatically quite similar to the Pucelles with the same honeysuckle and fresh white flower aromas followed by sweet, fine, extract-laden,...
View full detailsDomaine Leflaive, Bienvenues Batard Montrachet Grand Cru 2001, 75cl
"An expressive and still nicely fresh nose includes white flower, pronounced honey and softly exotic fruit aromas nuanced by spice and wood hints. ...
View full detailsLouis Carillon et Fils, Bienvenues Batard Montrachet Grand Cru 1995, 75cl
"I've often felt that Domaine Louis Carillon made some of the most delicate Puligny Montrachets around. These are not fat, super-ripe wines like th...
View full detailsBollinger Skyfall 007 Limited Edition 2002, Champagne, 3x75cl (Gift Pack)
Bollinger’s “002 for 007” is a striking limited edition release created to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the James Bond film franchise and the ...
View full detailsDominique Laurent, Romanee Saint Vivant Grand Cru 2002, 75cl
"Ruby-red. Nose dominated by coffee, cocoa and smoky oak. Very sweet, lush, creamy and mouthcoating, with excellent vinosity giving the concentrate...
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