France - All Sparkling Wines
Several regions in France are renowned for producing sparkling wine, but the most famous and prestigious are Champagne, Alsace, and the Loire Valley.
Champagne is the most well-known region for producing sparkling wine, and the name "Champagne" is protected by law to designate only the sparkling wines made in that region. The climate and soil of the Champagne region, located in northeastern France, are ideal for growing the grapes used to make sparkling wine, including Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier. Some notable Champagne houses include Moët & Chandon, Veuve Clicquot, and Dom Pérignon.
Alsace, located in northeastern France, is also known for producing high-quality sparkling wine, primarily made from Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, and Riesling grapes. The wines from Alsace are typically drier and crisper than Champagne, with a more pronounced fruitiness. Notable producers include Domaine Bruno Sorg, Domaine Mittnacht Frères, and Domaine Weinbach.
The Loire Valley, located in central France, is another region known for producing excellent sparkling wine, made primarily from Chenin Blanc grapes. The wines from the Loire Valley tend to be lighter and fresher than those from Champagne, with a more pronounced acidity and minerality. Notable producers include Bouvet Ladubay, Langlois-Château, and Domaine des Baumard.
Other regions in France that produce sparkling wine include Burgundy, which produces Crémant de Bourgogne; Limoux in Languedoc-Roussillon, which is known for its Blanquette de Limoux; and the Jura region, which produces sparkling wine made from the Savagnin grape. However, Champagne, Alsace, and the Loire Valley remain the most well-known and respected regions for producing sparkling wine in France.
France - All Sparkling Wines
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Champagne | 1 | 97 (WE) | د.إ2,530.00 | |||||
Wine Enthusiast (97)Coming soon. |
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Champagne | 1 | 97 (DC) | د.إ2,380.00 | |||||
Decanter (97)Aromas of smoke and raspberry cede to a delightful mousse on the palate, with brisk acidity propelling complex notes of pear, melon and brioche. Well-judged, elegant and impressively long, this never wavers in its elegance. Platinum Medal. |
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Champagne | 1 | - | د.إ1,725.00 | |||||
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Savour the elegance of the Hure Freres 4 Elements Chardonnay 2015, a wine of distinctive stature from the revered Champagne house, Hure Freres. Produced in Ludes in the Montagne de Reims, a town that equally intensifies the uniqueness of its Grand Cru vineyards, this Chardonnay is magnificently crafted from 100% Chardonnay grapes. Expertly vinified in oak barrels for 12 months, it unfolds refreshing elegance and complexity. Wonderfully precise, this Chardonnay incorporates the purest essence of the '4 Elements' - earth, water, air, and fire - reflecting the harmony of nature. The carefully guarded maturation process infuses crucial depth and vivacity, creating an impression both profound and lasting. An embodiment of the rich Hure Freres heritage with hints of citrus and tangible minerality, Hure Freres 4 Elements Chardonnay 2015 is perfect for the astute fine wine enthusiasts. A sip of this premium wine takes you on an enchanting journey of timeless French winemaking tradition. |
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Champagne | 2 | - | د.إ1,495.00 | |||||
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Hure Freres 4 Elements Pinot Noir 2016 embodies excellence. This delectable wine hails from France's Champagne region, renowned for pristine-quality grapes. Hand-picked to ensure supreme quality, the 100% Pinot Noir grapes, are meticulously processed, paying respect to each of the four elements: earth, fire, air and water. Hure Freres, the esteemed family vineyard, expertly harnesses their years of winemaking heritage, beautifully infusing these elements into each bottle. Savour the intense fragrance of ripe cherry and plum with an echoing smoky note. On the palate, Hure Freres 4 Elements Pinot Noir 2016 is a sensuous delight. It unveils complex layers of red fruit and spice, intertwined with subtle wood nuances, balanced by an invigorating acidity. Aged for 12 months in French oak barrels, this wine flaunts a sophisticated silkiness that lingers on the palate. Reflecting its regal lineage, this wine stands testament to refined winemaking, making Hure Freres 4 Elements Pinot Noir 2016 a coveted choice for the discerned palate. |
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Champagne | 1 | 97 (DC) | د.إ3,535.00 | |||||
Decanter (97)This compellingly beautiful wine opens with aromas that include a piercing, lemony fruit, salty minerality, chalk, smoke and spice. On the palate, there is a beautiful tension, but also enough substance to give the wine breadth and a lovely, impressive length. It is structured and very crisp, yet still approachable and easy to drink. It was produced from a blend of the lieux-dits Le Cotet and Les Paluets, exclusively fermented in tank. There is immense ageing potential here and you’ll be rewarded for keeping it. |
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Champagne | 1 | 97 (VN (AG)) | د.إ14,940.00 | |||||
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (97)The NV (2019) Extra-Brut Mareuil-sur-Aÿ Sous Le Mont is elegant, nuanced and super polished. Cranberry, white pepper, cedar, sweet pipe tobacco and rose petal are some of the notes that take shape in the glass. This is one of the most elegant, refined editions of Sous Le Mont I have ever tasted. It's an ethereal, delicate Champagne with an equilibrium defined by grace and a silky, polished finish more than overt power. All this needs is time in bottle to blossom. Closing notes of blood orange and Campari are classic Mareuil. Dosage is 1.7 grams per liter. Disgorged: January 9, 2026. |
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Champagne | 1 | 97 (JS) | د.إ9,810.00 | |||||
James Suckling (97)Very pronounced and wonderfully complex nose of persimmon, egg yolk, cinnamon, tarte tatin, caramel, mango pastry, apricot tart and spice box. The full-bodied palate feathers a fine line between sheer power, luscious dried fruit and laser-guided acidity. Very long and intense on the finish. Drink now or hold. Disgorged 13 November 2018. |
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Champagne | 1 | 99 (WA) | د.إ16,090.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (99)The most harmonious wine of the six lieux-dits this year—and one of the finest renditions of this cuvée—is the 2018-based NV Ambonnay Le Bout du Clos, disgorged in February 2025 without dosage. The wine unfurls from the glass with a deep bouquet of orange oil, dried flowers, lychee and Sichuan pepper, mingled with kumquat and almond paste. On the palate, it is full-bodied and precise, with an elegantly muscular core of fruit, uniting the typical depth of complexity attained in this bottling with ample structuring extract that provides a vivid sense of freshness. Simultaneously grandiose and racy, it is driven by a bright spine of acidity and culminates in a long, searingly saline finish. Multifaceted and complete, it encapsulates everything that is so compelling about the Selosse lieux-dits. As ever, it derives from two south-facing parcels within the same lieu-dit that are characterized by clay-rich soils, and it is composed of approximately 80% Pinot Noir and 20% Chardonnay, which are picked and pressed together. The historic blend dates back to 2002. |
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Champagne | 1 | 100 (VN) | د.إ11,230.00 | |||||
Vinous (100)The 2008 Extra-Brut Millesime Grand Cru is outrageous. Deep, powerful and explosive, the 2008 possesses tremendous vertical depth. There is a feeling of dimension here that is truly breathtaking. Readers will find a Champagne that marries Selosse’s trademark volume and texture with all of the energy of this great vintage. Lemon confit, dried flowers, mint, chamomile, pear, ginger and light hazelnut notes linger. Time in the glass really helps bring out the elegance and freshness here. I look forward to tasting and drinking the 2008 Selosse in the coming years next to the other great Champagnes of this important vintage in what will surely be a hedonistic, off the charts experience! Needless to say, readers who can latch on to a few bottles should not hesitate. Disgorged: January 16, 2020. |
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Champagne | 1 | 97 (WA) | د.إ34,025.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (97)Disgorged in January 2020, the 2009 Extra-Brut Premier Cru Millésime represents a new direction for Selosse's vintage bottling, as Guillaume Selosse wanted to produce this cuvée from all of the six villages in which the domaine's holdings are located. The resulting wine is spectacular, soaring from the glass with a deep and complex bouquet of mandarin orange, honeycomb, ripe peaches, freshly baked bread, almond paste and dried apricots. Full-bodied, deep and complete, it's elegantly muscular and multidimensional, with extraordinary mid-palate amplitude, ripe but lively acids and a long, intensely sapid finish. |
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Champagne | 1 | 96 (WA) | د.إ33,335.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (96)Demonstrative and charming, Selosse's 2010 Extra-Brut Millésime will be a great vintage to drink while patient readers are waiting on the 2010. Bursting from the glass with botrytis-inflected aromas of tangerine, crisp yellow orchard fruit, citrus blossom, clear honey and toasted nuts, it's full-bodied, satiny and pillowy, with an open, expressive profile that lends it real immediacy. Guillaume Selosse explains that to produce the Millésime, he doesn't select the "best" barrels from each of the lieux-dits, but rather those with a more pronounced personality. The 2010 likely won't be the most long-lived vintage of this bottling, but it will deliver enormous pleasure over the next decade. |
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Champagne | 1 | 97 (JD) | د.إ13,920.00 | |||||
Jeb Dunnuck (97)The NV Champagne Brut Rosé is 92% Chardonnay from the chalky middle portion of the slopes within Avize, Cramant and Oger, with the still wine of Pinot Noir coming from Ambonnay. Pouring a golden orange hue, it’s elegant and medium-bodied, opening to refined aromas of fresh peach, orange blossom, orgeat, and saline. Crisp, linear, and vibrant on the palate, it takes on its chalky straightness with a silky texture of wet stone and has significantly more tension, as well as a long-lasting, salty finish. This is one of my personal favorite Rosé Champagnes. Drink 2024-2039. 2.7 grams per liter of dosage. |
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Champagne | 1 | - | د.إ2,945.00 | |||||
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Indulge in the sublime taste of Jean-Marc Seleque Partition 7 Parcelles Extra Brut 2016, an exceptional Champagne by a distinguished producer. Crafted with precision and passion in the hailed terroir of Pierry, a highly revered commune in the Côte des Blancs sub-region of Champagne, France. This extraordinary Champagne is a symphony of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier grapes meticulously cultivated from seven select parcels, hence the name 'Partition 7 Parcelles'. The 2016 vintage was marked by optimal conditions that produced a perfect harmony of acidity and ripeness. Jean-Marc Seleque, a producer famed for his unwavering commitment to sustainable viticulture, employs traditional vinification methods and elevates the wine in oak barrels, lending it intricate buttery and toasted notes. This extra brut exudes elegance and complexity, with a well-balanced finish that lingers on the palate. Savour the Jean-Marc Seleque Partition 7 Parcelles Extra Brut 2016's delightful nuances of crisp apple, ripe peach, and toasted brioche. An absolute must for discerning Champagne aficionados. |
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Champagne | 1 | - | د.إ2,750.00 | |||||
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The Jean-Marc Seleque Soliste Pinot Noir Les Gayeres Premier Cru 2016 is a fine testament to Franche Champagne craftsmanship. Produced by esteemed winemaker Jean-Marc Seleque in Pierry, a picturesque Premier Cru village, this Pinot Noir embodies the exceptional savoir-faire and years of family vineyard expertise. Utilising organic and sustainable methods, Seleque’s dedication to uncompromising quality is evident in this vintage. The 2016 Soliste, matured for 18 months in 35% new oak, boasts a captivating aroma. A triumphant harmony of wild strawberries, cherries, forest floor and subtle spice linger on the nose, promising an impeccable tasting journey. On the palate, here's finesse; a silken texture met with bright acidity, and a satisfying, lingering finish. This poised, elegant red offers notes of red fruits and a touch of spice, mirrored from the bouquet. A true delicacy for enthusiasts, the Jean-Marc Seleque Soliste Pinot Noir Les Gayeres Premier Cru 2016 won't fail to enchant. |
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Champagne | 1 | 98 (WS) | د.إ14,690.00 | |||||
Wine Spectator (98)A very youthful '95. Delicate. Intense aromas of ginger, citrus, candied berry and multigrain bread turn to honey, roasted almonds and graphite on the palate. It's all underscored by a precise structure and creamy texture. Its structure keeps it persistent through the long finish. A picture of precision and intensity. Drink now through 2025. 1,700 cases imported. -BS |
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Champagne | 1 | 98 (WS) | د.إ13,245.00 | |||||
Wine Spectator (98)This harmonious Champagne offers luxurious texture and powerful, focused acidity, showing aromatic accents of spring blossom, crushed thyme and chai, with rich notes of lemon meringue, hazelnut, black currant and fresh porcini mushroom. The full package. Impressive. Drink now through 2028. |
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Champagne | 1 | 97 (WS) | د.إ1,450.00 | |||||
Wine Spectator (97)Rich and mouthwatering, this powerhouse Champagne is driven by vivacious acidity, with an expansive palate featuring flavors of glazed apricot, toasted brioche, candied kumquat and ginger, espresso crème, fleur de sel and cognac. The well-spiced finish is long and lingering. Disgorged summer 2013. Drink now through 2030. 949 cases made. |
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Champagne | 1 | 100 (JS) | د.إ4,170.00 | |||||
James Suckling (100)The much-anticipated 2002 has impeccable detail and depth with a lot of chalky, stony and flinty elements on the nose as well as a very fresh edge. The nose is very complex and wound up tight but presents itself as very integrated and compressed. There are aromas of lemon rind, lime juice and a lime custard all at once, complemented in turn by a super-restrained hazelnut-like edge. Undertones of brown mushrooms, chalky minerals and lemon leaf. The palate has a core of sizzlingly intense, concentrated chardonnay framed whitin a powerful phenolic structure that will underpin the future of this Champagne. Flawlessly fresh and as perfect as it gets. Give this time as it needs to settle: best from 2020 and then for another decade beyond. |
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Champagne | 1 | 100 (JS) | د.إ1,720.00 | |||||
James Suckling (100)The much-anticipated 2002 has impeccable detail and depth with a lot of chalky, stony and flinty elements on the nose as well as a very fresh edge. The nose is very complex and wound up tight but presents itself as very integrated and compressed. There are aromas of lemon rind, lime juice and a lime custard all at once, complemented in turn by a super-restrained hazelnut-like edge. Undertones of brown mushrooms, chalky minerals and lemon leaf. The palate has a core of sizzlingly intense, concentrated chardonnay framed whitin a powerful phenolic structure that will underpin the future of this Champagne. Flawlessly fresh and as perfect as it gets. Give this time as it needs to settle: best from 2020 and then for another decade beyond. |
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Champagne | 1 | 100 (JS) | د.إ9,365.00 | |||||
James Suckling (100)The much-anticipated 2002 has impeccable detail and depth with a lot of chalky, stony and flinty elements on the nose as well as a very fresh edge. The nose is very complex and wound up tight but presents itself as very integrated and compressed. There are aromas of lemon rind, lime juice and a lime custard all at once, complemented in turn by a super-restrained hazelnut-like edge. Undertones of brown mushrooms, chalky minerals and lemon leaf. The palate has a core of sizzlingly intense, concentrated chardonnay framed whitin a powerful phenolic structure that will underpin the future of this Champagne. Flawlessly fresh and as perfect as it gets. Give this time as it needs to settle: best from 2020 and then for another decade beyond. |
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Champagne | 1 | 19 (JR) | د.إ8,445.00 | |||||
Jancis Robinson (19)ID 113015. Disgorged winter 2012-13. 46% Pinot Noir, 29% Chardonnay, 25% Pinot Meunier. Named ‘Vivacious Radiance’ at Krug. A truly unique year with particularly challenging circumstances. The first harvest was on 23 August, the earliest since 1822. Pale gold. Pungent nose. Very tight. Hint of putty on the nose. Opens out on the palate. Masses to chew on. Real concentration. Perfect for drinking now. Dry but complete. Intellectual and great balance. Very impressive. |
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Champagne | 1 | 19 (JR) | د.إ7,475.00 | |||||
Jancis Robinson (19)ID 113015. Disgorged winter 2012-13. 46% Pinot Noir, 29% Chardonnay, 25% Pinot Meunier. Named ‘Vivacious Radiance’ at Krug. A truly unique year with particularly challenging circumstances. The first harvest was on 23 August, the earliest since 1822. Pale gold. Pungent nose. Very tight. Hint of putty on the nose. Opens out on the palate. Masses to chew on. Real concentration. Perfect for drinking now. Dry but complete. Intellectual and great balance. Very impressive. |
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Champagne | 1 | 98 (VN (AG)) | د.إ3,785.00 | |||||
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (98)The 2004 Vintage is a gorgeous Champagne that is just beginning to enter its first plateau of maturity. Dried flowers, brioche, mint, marzipan, tangerine peel and spice lend notable nuance throughout. A hint of reduction adds intrigue. As always, the 2004 is a linear, focused Champagne endowed with terrific energy. It is impeccably done. There's a bit more Chardonnay and Meunier than usual in this vintage, and that very much comes through in the wine's personality and overall feel. The blend is 37% Pinot Noir, 39% Chardonnay and 24% Meunier as opposed to the more classic 50%/35%/15% blend. Disgorged: Summer 2018. Krug ID: 318031. |
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Champagne | 5 | 98 (VN (AG)) | د.إ6,970.00 | |||||
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (98)The 2004 Vintage is a gorgeous Champagne that is just beginning to enter its first plateau of maturity. Dried flowers, brioche, mint, marzipan, tangerine peel and spice lend notable nuance throughout. A hint of reduction adds intrigue. As always, the 2004 is a linear, focused Champagne endowed with terrific energy. It is impeccably done. There's a bit more Chardonnay and Meunier than usual in this vintage, and that very much comes through in the wine's personality and overall feel. The blend is 37% Pinot Noir, 39% Chardonnay and 24% Meunier as opposed to the more classic 50%/35%/15% blend. Disgorged: Summer 2018. Krug ID: 318031. |
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Champagne | 2 | 97 (VN) | د.إ6,625.00 | |||||
Vinous (97)Krug 2006 Vintage is bright, tense and full of energy. Lemon confit, pastry, chamomile, dried flowers and tangerine oil all race out of the glass. The breadth of the Pinot comes through on the mid-palate and finish, as the 2006 gains power and resonance with a bit of aeration. Light tropical inflections, along with hints of almond and spice, open up later, adding further shades of nuance. Although it has just been released, the 2006 is unusually open and a real pleasure to taste today. In most vintages, Krug demands cellaring, but in the 2006 readers will find a Krug Vintage that is superb, even in the early going. |
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Champagne | 6 | 100 (JS) | د.إ9,760.00 | |||||
James Suckling (100)This is very structured and framed with an almost red sensibility. Very phenolic. Full-bodied in a tightly wound ball with so much going on. Very pinot like. Mineral and stone. Shell and stone. Iodine. Vinous. The bubbles just fade into the finish of the wine, which goes on for minutes. Turns to toffee and salted caramel with time in the glass. One for the cellar. Great length. Blend of 53% pinot noir, 25% pinot meunier, 22% chardonnay. Disgorged in beginning of 2020. Drink or hold. |
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Champagne | 2 | 98 (JS) | د.إ6,685.00 | |||||
James Suckling (98)It shows reserved character but with a lot of energy and tension. Concentrated citrus fruit, candied lemons and mandarin peel with hints of savory herbs and spices. Notes of brioche and caraway seeds. Full-bodied, complex and nervy on the palate. It has fine, silky bubbles yet it’s structured and firm with a lot of power. It builds up on the finish with freshness and vibrancy. Drink or hold. |
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Champagne | 2 | 92+ (VN) | د.إ12,600.00 | |||||
Vinous (92+)I must admit, Krug's 2000 Clos d'Ambonnay remains a mystery. The first bottle I tasted, in March, at Krug, was utterly spectacular. Rich, creamy and ample on the palate, the 2000 was captivating from start to finish. Two thousand is the first vintage made entirely by current Chef de Caves Eric Lebel. My impression at the time was that Lebel had given his Ambonnay softer, gentler contours than the 1995, 1996 and 1998, all which were much more austere when first released. But then I tasted the 2000 several times in the US, where it has so far been less impressive. I am hoping issues with shipping for a handful of samples will turn out to be the root cause, and that the 'real' Ambonnay will be closer to what I tasted at Krug in March. If that turns out to be the case the 2000 will be due for a major upgrade. |
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