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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Wine Advocate (96+)
The 2022 Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos is a serious, structured wine, unwinding in the glass with aromas of ripe, waxy citrus rind, crisp orchard fruit and white flowers, framed by a deft touch of youthful reduction. Full-bodied, dense and satiny, it's layered, concentrated and multidimensional, with the most structure and substance of any wine in the range, but also the greatest need for patience to realize all its considerable potential.د.إ2,330.00 -
Wine Advocate (96)
Derived from over 70-year-old vines at the top of a south- and southeast-facing slope, the 2023 Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos opens with a deep bouquet of orange peel, Anjou pear, beeswax and jasmine, mingling with notes of warm stones. Full-bodied, multifaceted and layered, it is concentrated and enveloping, with a muscular core balanced by ample chalky extract that imparts a sensation of freshness, laden with racy acidity and culminating in a long, saline finish. Harmonious yet built for the long term, it will richly reward patience.د.إ2,085.00 -
Decanter (97)
This comes from two parcels, facing east and south-west, respectively, making a very tidy 2.5ha in total. Showing the delicate touch of one of the very best winemakers in Chablis, this is a saline, focused, wonderfully structured Preuses that has plenty of grip and acidity, sappy, bone-dry flavors and remarkable length.د.إ2,590.00 -
Vinous (94-96)
The 2021 Chablis Les Preuses Grand Cru comes from 2.5-hectares split over two parcels. This has one of my favourite aromatics from Fèvre this year with superb delineation and mineralité. The palate is harmonious and poised, very focused and tensile, plenty of energy with a touch of lime and clementine towards the persistent finish. This is an outstanding Chablis that should age supremely well in bottle.د.إ3,520.00 -
Decanter (96)
Beautiful mix of richness, grace and drive. As always with Fèvre's Les Preuses, this is elegant, long-living and fine. Ultra-stylish and very mineral. From two sections of vines. One situated low down on Les Preuses next to Vincent Dauvissat's plot, on the flatter part facing south, the other on deeper soils, with both adding richness and totalling 2.5ha.د.إ1,405.00 -
Wine Advocate (95)
Sourced from an east-facing slope that yields one of the racier and more ethereal wines in the range, the 2023 Chablis Grand Cru Les Preuses opens with aromas of oyster liquor, orange peel, white flowers and lemon oil. Medium- to full-bodied, taut and tensile, it is nakedly chalky, incisive and searingly saline. The site is so steep that special cable equipment is employed for its cultivation.د.إ1,595.00 -
Wine Advocate (94+)
Sourced from parcels just beneath the forest, the 2023 Chablis Grand Cru Valmur opens with aromas of white flowers, pear and lemon oil, mingling with notes of oyster shell. Medium- to full-bodied, it reveals a chalky core and a layered, textural palate laden with racy acidity, concluding with a long, saline finish.د.إ1,500.00 -
Vinous (93-95)
The 2018 Chablis Vaudésir Grand Cru is a gorgeous, radiant wine that captures the essence of this warm, early ripening site. Sweet and racy with striking inner perfume, the 2018 has so much to offer. Passion fruit, mint, citrus and exotic floral notes are beautifully woven together in this super-expressive, inviting wine. Strong mineral character graces the exquisite finish.د.إ1,770.00 -
The Xavier Gerard Cote Rotie 2020 is a mesmerising testament to Xavier Gerard's dedication to viticulture and his profound understanding of the region's distinctive terroir. From the steep, terraced vineyards of Northern Rhône, this gracefully balanced Syrah embodies impeccable finesse, cultural heritage, and artisanal craft. Each grape is hand-selected and fermented with indigenous yeasts, preserving the unique characteristics of its prized appellations, Côte Brune and Côte Blonde. Post-fermentation, the wine matured for 18 months in French oak barrels, tempering its inherent power to delicate roundness.
This exemplary Rhône River Valley ambassador boasts an intense bouquet of black fruit, violet perfumes, and convergent spices. On the palate, expect an enchanting display of supple tannins, ample acidity, and opulent black fruit flavours harmoniously culminating in a rich, enduring finish. Simply put, the Xavier Gerard Cote Rotie 2020 captures the quintessence of French wine sophistication that discerning connoisseurs will undoubtedly appreciate.
د.إ981.00 -
Immerse yourself in an exquisite experience with the Xavier Monnot Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru En Remilly 2022. Crafted by the esteemed Burgundian vintner, Xavier Monnot, this absolute gem hails from the prestigious Chassagne-Montrachet region. The vineyard is acclaimed for its meticulousness, from vine management right through to the final stages of vinification. Grapes selected for this refined expression are from 50-year-old vines, handpicked, then meticulously fermented and matured in French oak barrels. This meticulous process imparts luscious layers of depth to the wine.
The Xavier Monnot Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru En Remilly 2022 truly embodies the typical Burgundy white finesse, boasting a radiant golden hue with a heady bouquet of blossoming orchard fruits, laced with delicate mineral notes. On the palate, you’ll be delighted with a vivacious acidity, layered complex flavours of citrus fruits, almond, and a distinctive mineral undertone.
د.إ1,595.00 -
د.إ1,130.00 -
Jeb Dunnuck (96)
The NV Vin de France Arcane Le Fou is another unique wine from this incredible winemaker. This cuvée focuses on different clones of Grenache as well as just about every permitted variety out there (although it’s 85% Grenache). It has a big, sweet nose of blueberries, black cherries, lavender, and peppery incense as well as a full-bodied, layered, powerful yet seamless style on the palate. With no hard edges, silky tannins, and a big finish, it’s a singular wine (it’s mostly from vines in Châteauneuf Du Pape) to enjoy over the coming 10-15 years.د.إ393.00 -
Jeb Dunnuck (96)
Blended in 2010 and bottle in 2019, aged in barrels always submerged in wine, the 2001 Châteauneuf Du Pape Ange sports a still youthful ruby color as well as a beautiful bouquet of cured meats, ground pepper, tobacco, white truffle, and spice. Rich, medium to full-bodied, and beautifully textured, it's multi-dimensional, layered, and elegant, with a Bonneau-like complexity and style. This is a thrilling wine.د.إ5,055.00 -
(3x75cl) 2019د.إ2,040.00 -
د.إ4,460.00 -
Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (97)
Give this 5 or 10 minutes to open in the glass because it has a pretty serious structure, deftly weighted, full of white pear, quince and apricot pit, balanced by savoury rosemary, straw and fennel notes, successful and totally moreish. A vintage that had the freshness necessary for great white wines in Bordeaux, and Y pulls away from the pack with this wine.د.إ2,245.00 -
Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (97)
Give this 5 or 10 minutes to open in the glass because it has a pretty serious structure, deftly weighted, full of white pear, quince and apricot pit, balanced by savoury rosemary, straw and fennel notes, successful and totally moreish. A vintage that had the freshness necessary for great white wines in Bordeaux, and Y pulls away from the pack with this wine.د.إ4,000.00 -
A relatively new addition to the formidable Clerget portfolio, this predictably over-achieving Bourgogne Chardonnay is sourced from vines acquired as recently as 2022 with their purchase from Domaine Régis Rossignol. Planted right alongside Clerget’s Aligoté vines, therefore on terroir Thibaut already knows intimately, this cuvée encapsulates the signature of white Côte de Beaune in 2023. Richly coloured with golden flecks, the aromas speak to Chardonnay picked at perfect ripeness. Fresh but generous, notions of stone fruits, seashell and crunchy acidity give way to a surprisingly taught structure that will unwind further with a touch of bottle age. Extremely good value given the talent on display from Clerget, this hard-to-find Chardonnay is a great addition in 2023.د.إ736.00 -
Vinous (92)
The 2017 Volnay En Carelle Sous La Chapelle 1er Cru has a slightly disjointed bouquet that requires only a couple of minutes to gain focus and delineation, though the aromatics lack the vibrancy and purity of the succeeding vintage. The palate is medium-bodied with pretty red cherry and red plum fruit, coming across a little conservative toward the finish, but boy, does this meliorate with aeration! After a couple of hours it suddenly goes up through the gears, developing more precision and harmony than it had immediately after opening. My score reflects this Volnay in full flight.د.إ1,410.00 -
Decanter (96)
Glass-staining purple colour. Incredibly powerful with searching perfume, leaf tea and glove leather behind the intense black fruits. Very fine and deep, perhaps just a touch too high in alcohol, a little overextracted. Phenomenal concentration and length however. A growling, brooding power, this could only be Hermitage. From vines of nearly 50 years of age grown organically on lieux-dits Beaumes and Péléat, matured in demi-muids with malolactic fermentation in barrel.د.إ1,745.00 -
(1x300cl) 2016د.إ2,745.00 -
د.إ2,160.00 -
د.إ2,300.00 -
د.إ6,465.00 -
د.إ2,880.00
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Wine Advocate (94)
From low-yielding Cabernet Franc vines that average 45 years of age and root in the silex clay soils of the côte, the 2019 Bourgueil Le Grand Clos opens with a pure, fine and intense, concentrated but also aromatic and fragrant bouquet of dark and red fruits and crushed stones along with refreshing lemony and spicy notes. Round and very elegant on the palate, this is a beautifully balanced Grand Clos with a concentrated finish with tight but fine tannins and a fresh acidity that gives a positive astringency. The aftertaste is long and intense but always in balance and underlines the remarkable finesse of this wine that aged for 12 to 18 months in 400-liter tonneaux. Tasted in June 2021.د.إ785.00 -
Wine Advocate (93+)
From vines averaging 45 years of age on the slopes of the Coteau and aged in oak barrels for 20 months, the 2018 Bourgueil Les Quartiers opens with a deep, intense and toasty bouquet of ripe, black berries and blackcurrants intermixed with spicy tones, cigar box and graphite. Silky, refined and fresh on the palate, this is an elegant, tight but vivacious, silky-textured Cabernet Franc with crystalline tannins and a long finish that is still oak-influenced in its flavors, but the structure, finesse and intensity and the very delicate raspberry flavor in the aftertaste indicate excellent aging potential. Personally, I prefer the crus that were partly aged in stoneware (amphorae) and also for a shorter period, whereas Les Quartiers represents the old Amirault style, before 2014.د.إ1,230.00 -
Vinous (94)
Translucent yellow. A powerful, highly perfumed bouquet evokes fresh orchard, pit fruits, succulent herbs and pungent flowers, along with a building mineral element. Stains the palate with juicy pear, nectarine and Meyer lemon flavors that are sharpened by a gingery flourish. Shows excellent clarity on a very long, penetrating finish that echoes the floral and mineral notes.د.إ540.00 -
James Suckling (95)
This self-confidently atypical pinot gris has astonishing acidity that’s got the intensity of a lightning strike. Tons of pineapple and toast character, but also gigantic, lemony freshness at the exceptionally bright finish. May be too extreme for some, but we find this amazing. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink or hold.د.إ1,180.00 -
James Suckling (97)
A unique dry riesling with an astonishing combination of mini banana, mirabelle, baking spice and sea salt. Super concentrated and super elegant, this has a level of poise that’s very rare in the 2018 vintage. I love the way the silky finish caresses the palate. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink or hold.د.إ1,865.00
