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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Indulge in the opulence of the Jean-Philippe Fichet Meursault Le Tesson 2021. This extraordinary Burgundian Chardonnay hails from a pristine vineyard in Meursault, France. Precision, balance and intensity define this exceptional white crafted under the exceptional vision of Jean-Philippe Fichet, known for his meticulous winemaking.
Fichet's commitment to capturing the purest expression of terroir is evident in every drop. Gentle pressing and indigenous yeast fermentation in oak barrels lend this wine nuances of creaminess. The Jean-Philippe Fichet Meursault Le Tesson 2021 showcases unparalleled depth, complexity and texture, laced with notes of crisp apple, pear, and a delicate hint of toasted hazelnuts.
Off-the-chart minerality and vibrant acidity lend a timeless appeal to this contemporary classic. Its unparalleled character and singular voice make the Jean-Philippe Fichet Meursault Le Tesson 2021 a wine of extraordinary elegance and profound depth. An epicurean experience that shouldn't be missed.
د.إ1,695.00 -
Vinous (88-90)
The 2020 Meursault Les Gruyaches just feels a little simple compared to some of the top Village Crus that I encountered from this appellation. The palate is well balanced with good weight, a fine bead of acidity here with orange zest and light mango notes lending a tropical touch. Enjoy this over the next decade.د.إ2,060.00 -
With a distinct expression of Meursault, the Jean-Philippe Fichet Meursault Les Gruyaches 2021 is a profound wine crafted meticulously in Burgundy, France. Jean-Philippe Fichet, the illustrious producer, is widely lauded for his diligent approach and vinicultural dexterity. His Les Gruyaches vineyard offers low yields, contributing to the wine's deep concentration and complex character.
Using traditional, organic methods, careful grape harvesting by hand is followed by fermentation in oak barrels, giving this wine a nuanced roundness. It flaunts a delightful palate of fresh, exotic fruits intertwined with subtle mineral undertones and elegant oak. The final result, a full-bodied Chardonnay with a delicate, lingering finish. This wine is a testament to Fichet's dedication to producing pure, terroir-driven wines, marking it as a memorable indulgence for refined palates.
Immerse yourself in the pleasure of the Jean-Philippe Fichet Meursault Les Gruyaches 2021 and savour its sophistication in every sip.
د.إ1,475.00 -
Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (90-92)
5 Star Wine. Racked to tank but this has fallen clear. This has the most elegant bouquet of the three wines. This is beautiful also on the palate, with a delicious fruit throughout. Jean-Yves thinks that the 2022 is his best yet and because he has enough yield which gives greater finesse than years where the vine has struggled. This is fine-boned with perfectly judged ripeness, and will doubtless add further tension over the next few months – though otherwise seems most attractive to drink now. Very complementary oaking. Drink from 2025-2030.د.إ1,595.00 -
(6x75cl) 2022Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (94-96)
Attractive full crimson purple. The nose too has an excellent density of fruit at perfect ripeness. The finish is agreeably crisp delivering a firm structure to this medium to full bodied Clos de la Roche. Generosity balanced by a sterner side, and good length. Drink from 2032-2040.د.إ5,233.00 -
(6x75cl) 2022Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (95-97)
The darker side of crimson. There is a fine intensity of dark fruit too, ripe raspberry with a few notes of sun-dried cherries, a good structural balance between tannin and acidity. Fractionally less flamboyant than the Clos St-Denis, but a success once again. Large in scale but well made. Drink from 2032-2040+.د.إ5,401.00 -
Wine Advocate (90)
Notes of cassis, dark berries, plums and potpourri introduce the 2022 Côte de Nuits-Villages Vieilles Vignes, a medium to full-bodied, fleshy and textural wine that's supple, lively and penetrating.د.إ1,420.00 -
Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (92)
A clean fresh lemon yellow. The bouquet is just a little more precise and a little more crystalline than Sur La Roche, with possibly greater underlying intensity as well. We are clearly in white fruit territory with a fine mineral backbone. This is stylish and punchy at the same time. Drink from 2027-2034.د.إ2,735.00 -
Jeb Dunnuck (94)
Moving to the three Cornas releases, the 2018 Cornas is brilliant and certainly in the same ballpark as the 2016 and 2017. Lots of red and blue fruits, smoked earth, graphite, iron, violets, and gamey notes define this full-bodied Cornas. With ample tannins, fabulous balance, and a big finish, it's going to need 4-5 years of bottle age at a minimum yet should drink fabulously well over the following 15 years.د.إ663.00 -
(6x75cl) 2020
Jeb Dunnuck (94+)
Readers who love classic, old school, yet clean and impeccably made Cornas should jump on the 2020 Cornas from Johann Michel. Sporting a deep purple hue as well as killer notes of black cherries, scorched earth, iron, graphite, and violets, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a focused, firm, yet layered mouthfeel, a good sense of freshness, and enough tannins to allow it to evolve for 15+ years.د.إ872.00 -
Jeb Dunnuck (99)
There are two special cuvées from this estate. Looking first at the 2018 Cornas Cuvée Jana, it tastes like the essence of Cornas with its meaty, bloody aromas and flavors of scorched earth, ground pepper, rare steak, iron, cedar, and dark, almost blue fruits. Tight, tannic, and concentrated on the palate, this full-bodied effort packs incredible intensity and power yet stays lively, elegant, and weightless. It's a brilliant, brilliant Cornas, yet certainly not for those seeking instant gratification. It actually reminds me slightly of the incredibly age-worthy wines from Domaine Clape, and I suspect it will have a similar evolution. Hide bottles for 7-8 years and enjoy over the following two decades.د.إ2,505.00 -
Jeb Dunnuck (98)
Only made in top vintages, the 2018 Cornas Mère Michel is a tribute to Johann's wife and a play on the French song "La Mere Michelle." Brought up in a new demi-muid, it's a richer, broader wine compared to the Cuvée Jana yet still has incredible Cornas style in its red, black, and blue fruits as well as notes of toasted spice, roasted meat, chocolate, and wild herbs. Rich, full-bodied, and opulent, it has a touch more upfront appeal and should be drinkable in just 4-5 years yet also evolve for two decades.د.إ1,925.00 -
Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (92-95)
5 Star Wine. An even light lemon colour. The limestone shows up well on the nose without excess sun, no roasted stones aspect. Beautifully juicy on the palate, with a lift in every sip, optimum ripeness, the first wine picked and got just exactly right. Bravo. Drink from 2027-2032. Tasted Nov 2024.د.إ1,570.00 -
The Joseph Colin St Aubin Compendium 2018 is an exceptional white Burgundy from a highly celebrated producer. Sourced from plots within the St Aubin appellation of France's wine-rich region Burgundy, this Chardonnay-based beauty encapsulates a marriage of limestone earthiness and keen minerality. The terroir, coupled with meticulous vinification efforts, indeed make this offering a compelling compendium of the 2018 vintage.
Joseph Colin's traditional methods, using petite cosecha with natural yeast fermentations in stainless steel vats, result in an expressive and intricate wine. The 11-month maturation on lees contributes to its complexity and refinement. Joseph Colin St Aubin Compendium 2018 delivers citrus scented aromas layered with crisp pear and subtle floral nuances, followed by a deeply textured palate of sumptuous fruit and unquestionable elegance.
An investment in Joseph Colin St Aubin Compendium 2018 offers a rare opportunity to experience the epitome of fine Burgundy. Savour the eloquent whispers of terroir and vintage that resonate in each bottle of this distinguished white.
د.إ1,210.00 -
Jancis Robinson (17.5)
Despite being in its infancy, there is a lot to love about this already: perhaps the nose is reticent, but the palate has beautiful crunchy cherry and cranberry fruit with just a touch of black olive on the finish. There's dark chocolate and lovely hedgerow notes too, giving plenty of interest beyond fruit. Certainly not at its best just yet, but full of promise.د.إ2,370.00 -
James Suckling (98)
The iodine, blackberry and rose-stem character comes through clearly. Plenty of fruit and depth. Medium-bodied with fine tannins that caress the palate and provide endless flavors of Indian spices, flint, nutmeg and light crust. Such refinement and integrity. Drinkable now, but better in three or four years.د.إ2,955.00 -
(6x75cl) 2017Wine Advocate (93+)
Tasted from bottle, Drouhin's 2017 Beaune 1er Cru Clos des Mouches Blanc is showing very well, offering up aromas of fresh pear, Meyer lemon and grapefruit zest that are still quite youthfully marked by a generous application of buttery new oak that experience shows will integrate nicely with a little age. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied, satiny and textural, with racy underlying acids, a fragrant core of fruit and a long, penetrating finish. This is a very elegant, aromatic rendition of this emblematic Drouhin cuvée.د.إ3,545.00 -
Vinous (92-94)
The 2018 Beaune Clos des Mouches Blanc 1er Cru, which has been produced by Drouhin since 1928, comes from six separately aged parcels. Drouhin mentioned that quite a few barrels were deselected from this vineyard and blended into the Côte de Beaune Blanc. This possesses an intense bouquet with subtle scents of almond, praline and pressed white flower aromas. The palate is taut and linear on the entry, featuring lovely orange pith and apricot notes and hints of tangerine and white chocolate toward the gorgeous, pure finish. Wonderful.د.إ3,605.00 -
Vinous (91-93)
The 2019 Beaune Clos des Mouches Blanc 1er Cru, which is a selection from six different tries through the vineyard, has an intense nose, slightly Alsace-like in style thanks to a hint of linseed oil intermingling with yellow plum and orange blossom. The palate is well balanced with a tensile opening. Lovely orange pith and nectarine notes here. Not a voluminous wine, but very focused on the finish. Excellent.د.إ3,735.00 -
Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (94-97)
Pale lemon colour. The power is immediately apparent on the nose, but in a good way. A wine for longer elevage before bottling and then worth the wait in bottle thereafter. This has all the expected volume of white fruit while retaining impeccable balance. Adds depth with time in the glass, before reaching quite a saline finish. A very youthful but impressive Clos des Mouches. I recently enjoyed a stunning bottle of the 2017, and this could very well match it in due course. Tasted: November 2021د.إ4,240.00 -
Vinous - Neal Martin (91)
The 2021 Beaune Blanc Clos des Mouches 1er Cru has a fragrant, comely bouquet with white flowers, lemon verbena and just a hint of honeysuckle, a lick of vanilla pod from the new oak. The palate is rounded on the entry, quite powerful and lush for a Meursault, a real mouth-filling experience with tropical-tinged fruit that perhaps feels a little evolved for its age. Yet it has real chutzpah and is very drinkable now. Tasted blind at the Burgfest tasting.د.إ5,075.00 -
Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (93-96)
Fresh light lemon colour. The bouquet indicates a little more flesh, as is typical, but not at the expense of precision. As always this is extraordinarily intense on the palate, not yet as fleshy as it will become, but one can see into the future. Fine fruit and acid balance too, of course. 13.7% alcohol which makes sense for Clos des Mouches. Drink from 2030-2040. Tasted: November 2023.د.إ3,565.00 -
Jancis Robinson (17)
Cask sample. Mid purplish cherry red. Lovely floral and open nose. So pure and scented with cherry and violets. On the palate, some oak in evidence in sweet spice. Incredibly smooth and rounded texture. Packed with fruit, generous and remarkably approachable. Just fresh enough. Very persistent with that fruit.د.إ1,505.00 -
Vinous (92-94)
The 2019 Beaune Grèves 1er Cru has a well-defined bouquet of dark berry fruit, light seaweed and oyster shell scents, and the 30% whole cluster lends a subtle tertiary aspect. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp, slightly chalky tannins. This is very well structured, delivering palpable energy. A saline finish gets the saliva flowing. Just a delicious Beaune Grèves.د.إ1,580.00 -
د.إ2,725.00 -
James Suckling (96)
Perfectly ripe strawberries with raspberry and citrus undertones. It’s medium-to full-bodied with really fine tannins that are nicely wrapped in ripe fruit. There’s a savory, lightly meaty highlight to the flavors. It’s long and complex in the finish. Really balanced and attractive now, but will deliver even more in the future. Better after 2023.د.إ7,825.00 -
Vinous (93)
The 2017 Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru has an open nose of brambly red fruit, sous-bois and wilted rose petals, very pure and charming, and not dissimilar in style to François Bertheau's Chambolle 1er Cru. The palate is very harmonious, open and transparent. It feels lighter than others, yet the tension and precision will see this age with style, and perhaps it will not close down. Tempting now, but I would prefer to wait. Classy. Tasted blind at the Burgfest 2017 tasting.د.إ2,475.00 -
Decanter (95)
This is a classic 'cuvée ronde', combining fruit from six different Premiers Crus to produce a stylish example of what Véronique Drouhin calls the 'cashmere of Burgundy'. Scented, balanced and ethereal, it's a transparent expression of Chambolle's range of terroirs, with sweet summer berry flavours and fine, velvety tannins. Accomplished stuff.د.إ2,300.00 -
Tim Atkin MW (94)
Most of this fruit comes from domaine-owned parcels, but some is purchased. Six parcels in total contribute to this pretty, floral and silky-textured Chambolle. Sweet red fruits spread gently across the mid-weight palate before a light ganache note joins in and brings the wine into a gently fading finish. 2022-34د.إ3,215.00 -
Vinous - Neal Martin (91-93)
The 2022 Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru comes from estate and purchased fruit, five or six different sources blended during vinification, and includes around 35% whole bunches. The bright bouquet offers dark cherries, wild strawberries, and hints of wild heather and sea spray. The medium-bodied palate has pliant tannins, is quite harmonious, and has more dark fruit toward the finish, laced with dark chocolate and brown spices. Very fine.د.إ2,790.00
