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
| Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Bordeaux | 6 | 95-96 (JS) | د.إ924.00 | |||||
James Suckling (95-96)This has so much lead pencil, stone and blackcurrant character, as well as blackberry. It’s medium-bodied with a solid core of fruit and a polished finish. Very classy and structured. |
|||||||||
|
|
Bordeaux | 1 | 97 (JA) | د.إ3,695.00 | |||||
Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (97)Full sweet spot Brane Cantenac, not tasting quite as luscious as during the recent vertical at the estate, with the austerity more evident in the tannins, but come on, this is still hard to argue with, full of character and sap and vivid life, cocoa bean, brambled autumnal fruit, cola, crushed rocks and crayons. 70% new oak barrels. Eric Boissenot consultant, Henri Lurton owner, Christophe Capdeville technical director. |
|||||||||
|
|
Bordeaux | 5 | 97 (JA) | د.إ1,805.00 | |||||
Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (97)Full sweet spot Brane Cantenac, not tasting quite as luscious as during the recent vertical at the estate, with the austerity more evident in the tannins, but come on, this is still hard to argue with, full of character and sap and vivid life, cocoa bean, brambled autumnal fruit, cola, crushed rocks and crayons. 70% new oak barrels. Eric Boissenot consultant, Henri Lurton owner, Christophe Capdeville technical director. |
|||||||||
|
|
Bordeaux | 1 | 95 (WE) | د.إ2,230.00 | |||||
Wine Enthusiast (95)While the wood flavors are palpable in this wine, so are the firm tannins and dense black fruit. These elements suggest a wine that will have power and great concentration while also generous blackberry fruits. Drink from 2024. |
|||||||||
|
|
Bordeaux | 12 | 95 (WE) | د.إ1,175.00 | |||||
Wine Enthusiast (95)While the wood flavors are palpable in this wine, so are the firm tannins and dense black fruit. These elements suggest a wine that will have power and great concentration while also generous blackberry fruits. Drink from 2024. |
|||||||||
|
|
Bordeaux | 3 | 97 (WA) | د.إ1,340.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (97)Derived exclusively from the château's holdings on the deep gravel soils of the plateau of Brane, the 2019 Brane-Cantenac has turned out brilliantly and merits a special effort to seek out. Wafting from the glass with aromas of wild berries, pencil shavings, violets, sweet loamy soil and cardamon, it's medium to full-bodied, layered and concentrated, with lively acids, ripe tannins and a beautifully seamless, perfumed profile. Retaining all the estate's signature elegance but with an extra dimension of depth and intensity, it's the finest Brane-Cantenac of the modern era and one of the great successes of the 2019 vintage. |
|||||||||
|
|
Bordeaux | 1 | 96-97 (JS) | د.إ1,205.00 | |||||
James Suckling (96-97)Extremely floral and beautiful with blackberry and blackcurrant aromas that follow through to a full body with a solid core of fruit and loads of dark fruit, sweet tobacco, bark and earth. Chewy, fine tannins. Perhaps the best of the trilogy years. |
|||||||||
|
|
Bordeaux | 1 | 94-95 (JS) | د.إ1,105.00 | |||||
James Suckling (94-95)A medium-bodied, very polished Brane-Cantenac with firm yet fine and textured tannins. Deep and compact core of black fruit, herbs and spices. Pretty licorice and clove notes. Structured and long. 74% cabernet sauvignon, 22% merlot, 2% cabernet franc, 1% petit verdot and 1% carmenere. |
|||||||||
|
|
Bordeaux | 1 | 99 (JD) | د.إ1,865.00 | |||||
Jeb Dunnuck (99)An undeniable star in Margaux, the 2022 Château Brane-Cantenac checks in as a blend of 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 1% each Cabernet Franc, Carménère, and Petit Verdot. This deep purple-hued beauty offers up a sensational perfume of darker currants and cassis that gives way to more floral, spicy oak and graphite nuances with air. With flawless overall balance, ripe, velvety tannins, terrific purity, and a great finish, this riveting Brane-Cantenac already offers pleasure, yet I wouldn't be surprised to see this firm up with 4-5 years of bottle age, only to reemerge later and drink beautifully for 30+ years. It's one of the truly greats in the appellation, and readers will love to have this beauty in the cellar. |
|||||||||
|
|
Bordeaux | 1 | 96+ (VN (AG)) | د.إ1,255.00 | |||||
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (96+)The 2023 Brane-Cantenac is deep, bold and explosive, yet also closed in on itself. That won't be a problem in another few years' time, but today, the Grand Vin is embryonic. Time in the glass brings out dark red fruit, cedar, tobacco, dried herbs, mint and spice. Brane-Cantenac remains a wine of timeless classicism, a wine that embodies all the beauty and charm that only Bordeaux is capable of. Floral notes lift the dense, sustained finish. Superb. |
|||||||||
|
|
Burgundy | 1 | 94-96 (VN) | د.إ6,120.00 | |||||
Vinous (94-96)The 2019 Bonnes-Mares Grand Cru has a rich and generous bouquet with blueberry and black cherry aromas, the most extravagant of Bruno Clair’s wines this year. The palate is medium-bodied with fine grain tannins, very poised and focused with a mineral-driven finish that lingers in the mouth. Lovely strictness on the finish counterbalances the precocity on the nose. |
|||||||||
|
|
Burgundy | 1 | 96 (VN) | د.إ9,575.00 | |||||
Vinous (96)The 2016 Chambertin Clos-de-Bèze Grand Cru has a generous and pleasing nose with scents of strawberry preserve, crushed stone, rose petals and subtle orange-blossom. This is refined and transparent. The palate is medium-bodied with chalky tannins. Beautifully balanced, this has a symmetry that is beguiling and classic. A little austere finish suggests it will benefit from several years in bottle. Utterly beguiling with enormous ageing potential. Tasted blind at the 2016 Burgfest tasting. |
|||||||||
|
|
Burgundy | 1 | 93-95 (VN) | د.إ8,155.00 | |||||
Vinous (93-95)The 2019 Chambertin Clos-de-Bèze Grand Cru, populated by ancient vines planted in 1912, suffered a lot of millerandé berries. The bouquet is very well defined with white pepper and tea leaf infusing the mineral-rich black fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, very harmonious and smooth in texture, perhaps just needing a little more depth and grip to come through on the finish. Wonderful. |
|||||||||
|
|
Burgundy | 1 | - | د.إ2,455.00 | |||||
|
The Bruno Clair Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Clos du Fonteny 2011 is a riveting exhibit from the esteemed house of Bruno Clair. Constructed within the notable terroir of Gevrey-Chambertin, in the heart of Burgundy, this wine proudly represents its Premier Cru status. The 2011 vintage seduces the palate with a harmonious blend of black fruits, ripe berries and lighter floral notes, underpinned by the quintessential minerality that is a testament to its chalky-clay soil origin. Bruno Clair, a benchmark Burgundian producer, exhibits masterful traditional winemaking methods, from hand-harvested grapes to aging in French oak barrels for 12 to 18 months. This meticulously crafted bottle, rightly named 'Clos du Fonteny', is well-regarded for its depth, elegance and remarkable ageing potential. A premier choice for collectors and enthusiasts seeking the refinement of Bruno Clair Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Clos du Fonteny 2011. |
|||||||||
|
|
Burgundy | 1 | 94-96 (IB) | د.إ2,885.00 | |||||
Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (94-96)5 Star Wine. Beautiful colour here, a darker crimson, and the fruit is magical. Perfectly on the red and black cusp while the whole bunches add a floral note. The Clos du Fonteny is on terrific form today with a fine balance of acidity to finish, alongside balanced tannins. A fine long aftertaste. Drink from 2030-2036. Tasted Nov 2024. |
|||||||||
|
|
Burgundy | 1 | 91-94 (BH) | د.إ3,410.00 | |||||
Burghound (91-94)(Sweet Spot) (from a .25 ha parcel that is located on the southern side of the vineyard near En Ergot). Here there is sufficient reduction to blur the nuances of what are clearly floral-suffused red berry aromas. There is excellent freshness and verve to the intensely mineral-driven middle weight flavors that terminate in a linear, chiseled, austere and very serious finale. This is beautiful but it’s also a ‘buy and forget you own it’ wine. |
|||||||||
|
|
Burgundy | 2 | 90 (WA) | د.إ663.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (90)The 2023 Bourgogne Blanc Clos Alfred derives from a parcel planted 20 years ago at 14,000 vines per hectare, and it has produced a deliciously pure, charming wine this year, bursting with aromas of pear, honeyed peach and fresh bread, with a medium-bodied, fleshy and fresh palate. |
|||||||||
|
|
Burgundy | 1 | 95 (WA) | د.إ2,920.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (95)The 2023 Mercurey 1er Cru Pièce 15 is an especially extrovert rendition of this cuvée, a bottling produced from 15 small, old-vine parcels growing on calcium-rich soils that Lorenzon considers his finest plots. Bursting with aromas of ripe citrus fruits, flowers, clear honey, buttery pastry and wet stones, it's medium- to full-bodied, rich and ample, with a fleshy, layered core and a long, expansive finish. Of course, it may shut down with some additional time in bottle, but for now, the 2023 is wide open. |
|||||||||
|
|
Champagne | 1 | 95 (VN) | د.إ1,995.00 | |||||
Vinous (95)The 2008 Extra Brut N.P.U. Nec Plus Ultra is a brilliant, taut Champagne. The combination of vintage and the extra brut style favored a Paillard that yields a young Champagne that is quite austere. It will be interesting to see if the 2008 fills out with time in bottle. Today it is piercing in its intensity. Disgorged: April, 2019. |
|||||||||
|
|
Corsica | 2 | - | د.إ620.00 | |||||
|
The Roca Gianaca 2020 we have on offer today is a white of serious Burgundian pedigree. The vineyard has been consulted, trained, and analysed by Bruno Clavelier, a famous vigneron from Vosne Romanée; and the barrels used for ageing have been sourced directly from Domaine Ramonet. Indeed a seriously treated wine from vineyard to bottling, the Roca Gianaca is made from 100% Vermentino.
More Info
|
|||||||||
