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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Languedoc | 1 | 95 (DC) | د.إ2,815.00 | |||||
Decanter (95)Pale creamy white. Perfumed aromas of lemons and lavender. On the palate, the oak is well integrated, with notes of creamy, honeyed richness and white almonds, opening up to vibrant, ripe red berries and floral notes. The palate is intense and powerful with rounded ripe fruit, a well-balanced structure and mouth-watering, salted lemon concentration. Rebellious in terms of pricing and weighty complexity, the wine, despite being released when young, has a strong focus on ageability. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 88 (VN) | د.إ1,475.00 | |||||
Vinous (88)The 2015 Chablis 1er Cru Montée de Tonnerre has an attractive if slightly obvious bouquet of lime cordial, orange zest and a touch of lychee. The palate is well balanced, with a fine thread of acidity, although like many of its peers, it feels smudged toward the finish and lacks the detail of 2014 or 2017. Tasted blind at the annual Burgfest tasting. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 85-87 (VN) | د.إ1,030.00 | |||||
Vinous (85-87)The 2020 Bourgogne Rouge, which comes from parcels in Gilly, has a light-hearted, pure and winsome bouquet with dark cherry and raspberry fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with a tart entry, moderate depth with a tang of sour cherry on the finish. Drink over 3-4 years. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 89-91 (VN) | د.إ1,050.00 | |||||
Vinous (89-91)The 2022 Bourgogne Rouge Les Bons Batons is the Domaine's largest cuvée from 1.8 hectares of vines. It has a well-defined bouquet with bright red fruit. The medium-bodied palate has vivid red fruit and fine structure with gentle grip on the finish. Village quality here. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 86-89 (BH) | د.إ822.00 | |||||
Burghound (86-89)Outstanding. Pretty and fresh aromas of various red berries and earth give way to vibrant and well-detailed flavors that possess a succulent mid-palate before concluding in a mildly austere and persistent finale. Solid quality here for its level. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 90-92 (VN) | د.إ5,640.00 | |||||
Vinous (90-92)Bright red with ruby tones. Crushed black fruits and cherry on the nose, lifted by notes of mint, rock and orange zest. Pliant but firm wine with thickness, clarity and lift. Sappy flavors of medicinal dark cherry, spices and red licorice display excellent balance and depth. A strong performance for this cuvée, from a crop that was off by 50% due to the frost. This reminded me of the superb 1993 bottling. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 90-93 (BH) | د.إ3,660.00 | |||||
Burghound (90-93)This is also aromatically really fresh with its blend of dark raspberry, violet and a crushed fennel aromas. The mouthfeel of the slightly richer flavors is also caressing but here there is a subtle minerality on the lacy, balanced and youthfully austere finale that delivers slightly better persistence. Textbook Chatelots. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 92-94 (VN) | د.إ5,820.00 | |||||
Vinous (92-94)The 2022 Chambolle-Musigny Les Gruenchers 1er Cru has a spicy bouquet that takes time to cohere in the glass. Dark cherries, pain d'épice and dried flowers unfold in the glass. The palate is perhaps the most marine-influenced of the cuvées. Rather foursquare perhaps: it's tightly wound and slightly conservative towards the finish, yet feels long in the mouth. Very fine…but you must be patient. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 89-91 (IB) | د.إ2,160.00 | |||||
Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (89-91)Mid crimson ruby in colour, with softly ripe fruit on the nose. Attractive mid strawberry fruit, quite ripe though not heated, needs a touch more tension. Drink from 2028-2032. Tasted Nov 2024. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 94 (VN) | د.إ1,690.00 | |||||
Vinous (94)The 2019 Chablis Vosgros 1er Cru was showing just a small reduction on the nose, though it could not disguise the scents of yellow plum and honeysuckle and touches of wet limestone. The palate is very well balanced, taut and fresh, pinned down by a fine bead of acidity and very intense on the minerally finish. This fulfills the potential I found last year out of barrel. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 93 (WA) | د.إ1,590.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (93)Unwinding in the glass with scents of citrus oil, oyster shell, fresh pastry and light reduction, the 2020 Chablis 1er Cru Vosgros is medium to full-bodied, satiny and incisive, with a racy spine of acidity and a long, mineral finish. This is another impeccably balanced, precise wine from Didier Picq. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 93-95 (VN (NM)) | د.إ1,970.00 | |||||
Vinous - Neal Martin (93-95)The 2022 Chablis Vosgros 1er Cru takes a little more time to open on the nose than Picq's other cuvées but eventually reveals eucalyptus-tinged citrus fruit flanked by wet stone aromas. The palate is very well-balanced with a fine bead of acidity, very saline but with a countervailing, almost honeyed element keeping this on its toes. This is a brilliant follow-up to the 2021. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 92-94 (VN) | د.إ1,175.00 | |||||
Vinous (92-94)At the moment, the 2022 Chablis Au Dessus des Carrières is stoic on the nose compared to Picq's other cuvées, despite both of us giving our glasses vigorous swirls. The palate is where the action is: great concentration and depth, hints of white peach and nectarine, the power loaded at its back end. Give this two or three years in bottle. |
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Burgundy | 1 | - | د.إ938.00 | |||||
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Discover the magnificent Gilles Bouton & Fils Saint-Aubin Les Argillers 2021. A heralded creation from the esteemed Bourgogne winery, this wine is a benchmark of quality craftsmanship, rooted in the deep traditions of French winemaking. This exceptional white wine is grown in the celebrated soil of Saint-Aubin, a vineyard nestled on the slopes of the Côte de Beaune. Gilles Bouton, a fourth-generation vintner, and his son, Julien, expertly oversee the vinification process using traditional methods, resulting in a rich, full-bodied wine exhibited in its truest form. The Gilles Bouton & Fils Saint-Aubin Les Argillers 2021 showcases a delightful harmony of freshness and complexity. Its captivating bouquet reveals notes of mature golden apple, white flowers, coupled with a lingering minerality. The longevity in the bottle further enhances its lush, refined palate, making it a splendid accompaniment to your gourmet meals. Savour true wine mastery with this sublime French classic. |
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Rhone | 1 | 100 (JD) | د.إ2,600.00 | |||||
Jeb Dunnuck (100)Bigger and richer, the 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Gallimardes is mostly Grenache (there’s 10% Syrah) all from incredibly old vines in the Les Gallimardes lieu-dit located in the southern part of the appellation. This estate owns a tiny parcel here, and this cuvée is incredibly limited, with just 250 cases made. Possessing a huge, incredible nose of blackberries, black raspberries, crushed rocks, garrigue, melted licorice, and cured meats, this full-bodied 2016 has a wealth of fruit and richness, no hard edges, building tannins, and awesome purity of fruit. It’s the finest example of this cuvée ever made and a perfect wine. Don’t miss it! |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 96 (JS) | د.إ3,430.00 | |||||
James Suckling (96)Plenty of violets and dark berries on offer here. This has a striking sense of purity as well as an energetic, regal palate. The structure is impressively groomed with effortless depth and length. A standout wine. Try from 2022. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 96-97 (JS) | د.إ2,490.00 | |||||
James Suckling (96-97)Lots of deep blue fruit with blackberries and grape skins, as well as tar and asphalt. Lead, too. It’s full-bodied, yet very tight with powerful, defined tannins, surrounded by attractive ripe fruit. Serious. Reminds me of the excellent 1975. A blend of 65% cabernet sauvignon and 35% merlot. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 96-97 (JS) | د.إ1,170.00 | |||||
James Suckling (96-97)Lots of deep blue fruit with blackberries and grape skins, as well as tar and asphalt. Lead, too. It’s full-bodied, yet very tight with powerful, defined tannins, surrounded by attractive ripe fruit. Serious. Reminds me of the excellent 1975. A blend of 65% cabernet sauvignon and 35% merlot. |
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Bordeaux | 2 | 94-96 (VN (AG)) | د.إ2,630.00 | |||||
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (94-96)The 2021 Giscours is fabulous. In fact, the 2021 is one of the best Giscours in recent memory. Silky and impeccable in its balance, the 2012 possesses magnificent elegance that brings out its pedigreed personality. Rose petal, lavender, spice, gravel and black cherry all come together, framed by silky tannins that wrap it all up. The 2021 is less aromatic than most recent vintages, but the depth here is considerable, as is the potential. Taste two times. |
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Bordeaux | 2 | 94-96 (VN (AG)) | د.إ957.00 | |||||
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (94-96)The 2021 Giscours is fabulous. In fact, the 2021 is one of the best Giscours in recent memory. Silky and impeccable in its balance, the 2012 possesses magnificent elegance that brings out its pedigreed personality. Rose petal, lavender, spice, gravel and black cherry all come together, framed by silky tannins that wrap it all up. The 2021 is less aromatic than most recent vintages, but the depth here is considerable, as is the potential. Taste two times. |
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Bordeaux | 3 | 98 (JS) | د.إ1,395.00 | |||||
James Suckling (98)Stunning aromas of blackcurrants, dark mushrooms and black cherries with forest-floor notes. Full body that fills your mouth with fine, caressing tannins and dark, flavorful fruit. The tannins are very intense and structural, spreading across the palate in layers and giving intensity and energy. Plenty of energy and verve here. This has gravity, too. 64% cabernet sauvignon, 30% merlot, 3% petit verdot and 3% cabernet franc. Best after 2029. |
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Bordeaux | 3 | 97 (VN (AG)) | د.إ1,205.00 | |||||
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (97)The 2023 Giscours is a potent, brooding wine. Black cherry, plum, new leather, dried herbs, chocolate and gravel infuse the palate with notable depth and intensity. This has really shut down post-bottling. Giscours is usually much more charming in its youth. Today, the stress of a vintage marked by heat and low yields of just 30 hectoliters per hectare comes through in the wine's tannic profile and overall feel. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 97 (VN (AG)) | د.إ3,340.00 | |||||
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (97)The 2023 Giscours is a potent, brooding wine. Black cherry, plum, new leather, dried herbs, chocolate and gravel infuse the palate with notable depth and intensity. This has really shut down post-bottling. Giscours is usually much more charming in its youth. Today, the stress of a vintage marked by heat and low yields of just 30 hectoliters per hectare comes through in the wine's tannic profile and overall feel. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 97 (VN (AG)) | د.إ1,150.00 | |||||
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (97)The 2023 Giscours is a potent, brooding wine. Black cherry, plum, new leather, dried herbs, chocolate and gravel infuse the palate with notable depth and intensity. This has really shut down post-bottling. Giscours is usually much more charming in its youth. Today, the stress of a vintage marked by heat and low yields of just 30 hectoliters per hectare comes through in the wine's tannic profile and overall feel. |
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Burgundy | 1 | - | د.إ1,790.00 | |||||
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From the renowned French vineyard, the exquisite Glantenay Volnay 1er Cru Les Ronceret 2020 is a testament to the exceptional terroir of Volnay in Burgundy. Hailing from the 2020 vintage, the fragrant, vivid red fruits of this Pinot Noir are beautifully complimented by its mineral nuances and velvety tannins. Predominantly grown in calcareous-clay soils, the grapes are hand-picked, de-stemmed, then gently pressed, allowing extraction of sublime flavours and holding back excessive tannins. This wine has spent 18 months maturing in oak barrels, crafted by the talented Glantenay family, who have been making wine in Volnay for several generations. With its deep ruby hue and the balance of fruit, spice, and earthy notes, Glantenay Volnay 1er Cru Les Ronceret 2020 is a captivating expression of its unique origin. Expertly crafted and reflecting the passion and dedication of its makers, this is a wine for true connoisseurs. |
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Bordeaux | 3 | 96 (VN (AG)) | د.إ922.00 | |||||
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (96)The 2016 Gloria is one of the undisputed stars of this vintage. Rich, deep and explosive, the 2016 possesses tremendous intensity in all of its dimensions. Sweet red cherry, tobacco, menthol, licorice and dried rose petal all add complexity. In 2016 Gloria is a real head-turner. It should be a fabulous value as well. There is not much else to say. |
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Bordeaux | 2 | 18 (JR) | د.إ780.00 | |||||
Jancis Robinson (18)Tasted blind. Complex nose with savoury layers. Aromatic ink. Smooth and polished. Lovely balance with really lively energy. Nothing forced. Very long. Almost pretty! |
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Bordeaux | 4 | 95 (VN (NM)) | د.إ746.00 | |||||
Vinous - Neal Martin (95)The 2020 Gloria is another Saint-Julien with an unapologetically backward nose, yet it has razor-sharp delineation and superb mineralité. It's just tightly coiled at the moment. Very harmonious, the palate is medium-bodied and satiny in texture, with sapid black fruit and a precocious yet beautifully controlled and persistent finish. Outstanding. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting. |
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Champagne | 1 | 97 (FS) | د.إ2,800.00 | |||||
Falstaff (97)The nose of the golden wine immediately radiates creaminess, a soft richness that is reminiscent of freshly baked apricot and almond tart and red apple flesh, laced with fine, heady notions of freshly zested Tarocco orange peel. The palate is as creamy as the nose suggests, yet has the poise and the beautiful, salty depth of 2008. A lovely phenolic edge reminds of bitter almond and apple pip, this sits well with the sinuous, toned and lightly salty richness, the ultra-fine mousse and that lovely streak of ripe lemon zest. Gorgeous. |
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