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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Rhone | 1 | 95-97 (WA) | د.إ1,030.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (95-97)The 2019 Châteauneuf du Pape Cuvée Réservée looks set to rival the best examples of this bottling. Made up of approximately 80% Grenache, with 6% Syrah, 4% Mourvèdre and smaller amounts of other permitted varieties, it's impressively complex on the nose, with scents of black cherries, blackberries and black olives, plus mysterious wafts of violets and garrigue. Full-bodied, rich and concentrated, it finishes long and velvety, a sure-fire bet for cellaring. |
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Rhone | 1 | 96-98 (WA) | د.إ1,230.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (96-98)I was even more impressed by the 2020 Châteauneuf du Pape Cuvée Réservée than the 2019. Boasting crazily complex floral scents, garrigue, raspberries and cherries, this is one incredibly perfumed example of Pegau. Medium to full-bodied, silky, elegant and long, this is quintessential Pegau. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 92-93 (JS) | د.إ2,255.00 | |||||
James Suckling (92-93)This is very minerally with a peach stone and brambleberry character. Full body, with delicately chewy tannins and a long length. Very refined. Very well done for the second wine of Lafleur that made a top 2011. 54% Merlot and 46% Cabernet Franc. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 90 (VN (NM)) | د.إ3,285.00 | |||||
Vinous - Neal Martin (90)The 2012 Pensées de Lafleur comes across a little bretty on the nose, and this obscures some of the terroir expression. I would have liked more complexity here. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannins, solid with good grip, yet it lacks a bit of charm (not that this Pomerol seems overly concerned). Is it holding something back or just a bit too serious? Tasted blind at the Southwold Ten-Year On tasting. |
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Burgundy | 2 | - | د.إ5,395.00 | |||||
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Emanating from the revered terroirs of Burgundy's Côte de Nuits, the Perdrix Echezeaux Grand Cru 2019 is a profound and impressive expression of Pinot Noir. Crafted by the meticulous hands of Domaine Perdrix, a producer celebrated for their unwavering commitment to both tradition and innovation, this grand cru seduces the palate with its amalgamation of ripe red fruits and subtly earthy undertones. The production of the Perdrix Echezeaux Grand Cru 2019 marries patience and precision. Grapes undergo whole cluster fermentation, enhancing the wine's complexity and tannic structure. Following fermentation, the wine is matured in oak barrels, bestowing even more depth and roundness. The resulting nectar showcases a lavish balance of opulence and restraint, earning it the Grand Cru status. Whether you're a seasoned connoisseur or a discerning newcomer, the Perdrix Echezeaux Grand Cru 2019 guarantees a sublime engagement between the senses and France's winemaking heritage. |
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Champagne | 1 | 94 (WS) | د.إ3,730.00 | |||||
Wine Spectator (94)This finely knit and lithe Champagne is smoky up front, opening into a lovely range of pastry, glazed apricot, lemon curd and candied ginger notes in the glass. Vibrant acidity drives the satinlike finish. |
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Burgundy | 1 | - | د.إ6,035.00 | |||||
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Bordeaux | 2 | 91 (VN (AG)) | د.إ901.00 | |||||
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (91)The 2019 Petit Bocq is a stylish, exuberant Saint-Estèphe to drink now and over the next decade. Plush dark fruit, spice, leather, scorched earth, menthol and chocolate are pushed forward. There is so much to like, starting with the wine's engaging personality. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 90-92 (WA) | د.إ1,065.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (90-92). |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 94 (DC) | د.إ1,365.00 | |||||
Decanter (94)Blackberry notes on the nose, with some herbal perfume touches too that are so appealing. Smooth and softly textured, with chalky nuances and grippy black cherry, strawberry and blackcurrant leaf aspects giving structure and body. Succulent and juicy with mouthwatering freshness. Great vibrancy and drive with life. Super approachable with the same vein of refinement and charm that Figeac does so well. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 88 (VN (NM)) | د.إ1,130.00 | |||||
Vinous - Neal Martin (88)The 2020 Petit-Figeac has a tightly wound, pencil box-tinged bouquet that suggests there is more than the 10% Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend. It's pretty Left Bank in style. The palate is medium-bodied with a graphite entry that dovetails into a fleshier mid-palate. The 30% new oak is neatly integrated with a healthy dash of black pepper on the finish. Fine. |
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Bordeaux | 6 | 94 (VN (AG)) | د.إ2,360.00 | |||||
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (94)The 2023 Petit-Village is one of the best recent vintages I can remember tasting here. Light on its feet and translucent, the 2023 possesses gorgeous mid-palate depth and fine balance to match. Dark red/purplish fruit, lavender, rose petal, mint, spice and blood orange build nicely in the glass. Hopefully the 2023 is a sign of things to come for this Pomerol estate. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 89 (WS) | د.إ12,160.00 | |||||
Wine Spectator (89)Big and very ripe, almost raisiny. Mouth-coating fruit with ripe tannins, but a little clumsy to be outstanding. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 100 (WA) | د.إ22,110.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (100)The 1990 Petrus remains incredibly young, one of the least evolved wines of the vintage (along with Montrose and Beausejour-Duffau). This dense ruby/purple-colored effort is beginning to hint at the massive richness and full-bodied intensity lurking beneath its wall of tannin. The vintage’s sweetness, low acidity, and velvety tannins are present in abundance, and the wine is massive in the mouth as well as incredibly pure and well-delineated. I thought it would be drinkable by now, but it appears another 5-10 years will pass before it begins to reach its plateau of maturity. This wine is capable of lasting at least four more decades. An incredible achievement! Release price: ($5000.00/case) |
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Bordeaux | 2 | 94 (JS) | د.إ11,230.00 | |||||
James Suckling (94)This Petrus is solid for the vintage with bright and pretty fruit. It’s full-bodied, with chewy tannins and a berry, Indian spice, and cinnamon character. Long and intense. Better than most may believe. Still needs some time but who can wait? |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 97 (WA) | د.إ67,825.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (97)It is hard to call Petrus a “sleeper of the vintage,” but the 2008 will merit more attention than most consumers would think. Low yields of 30 hectoliters per hectare resulted in only 25,000 bottles of this beauty. A wine of great intensity (possibly the most concentrated wine of the vintage), this 100% Merlot boasts a dark purple color as well as a sweet perfume of mocha, caramel, black cherries, black currants, earth and forest floor. Deep, unctuously textured, full-bodied and pure, it will benefit from 4-5 years of cellaring and should drink well for 25-30+ years. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 100 (WA) | د.إ16,870.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (100)Medium to deep garnet colored, the 2009 Petrus gives up glorious scents of preserved plums, redcurrant jelly, dried rose petals, blackberry compote and mulberries with touches of licorice, Chinese five spice and fragrant earth. Full, rich, plushly textured and oh-so-decadent, it reveals layer upon layer of spice box, black fruit and ferrous notions, finishing long and fragrant. |
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Bordeaux | 2 | 100 (WI) | د.إ45,415.00 | |||||
The Wine Independent (100)Petrus 2015 has a deep garnet color, with a hint of purple. Upon opening (the bottle was opened in front of me) the nose explodes with an atomic mushroom cloud of molten licorice, black cherry preserves, ripe juicy black plums, and candied violets, followed by hints of Sichuan pepper, Indian spices, crushed rocks, and iron ore. Full-bodied, rich, concentrated and fantastically opulent, the palate delivers super-ripe, velvety tannins and amazing tension to the multi-layered black fruits and exotic spices, finishing with incredible length. Polished, pristine, curvaceous and hedonic - out of the gate gorgeous, this baby has a good 50-60 years+ further to go. |
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Bordeaux | 3 | 100 (WCI) | د.إ16,235.00 | |||||
The Wine Cellar Insider (100)Deep ruby in color, here you find truffle, dark chocolate, coffee bean, cigar box, black cherry and dark plums. Full bodied, elegant, velvety, opulent, sweet and fresh, the presence on the palate is silk and velvet in the texture with purity and sweetness to the fruits. The wine is hedonistic as well as intellectual, and a little bit firm. There is serious aging potential. The wine really sticks with you, for over 60 seconds in the finish. Give this at least 15 or more years in the cellar to develop before popping a cork. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 100 (WCI) | د.إ44,375.00 | |||||
The Wine Cellar Insider (100)Deep ruby in color, here you find truffle, dark chocolate, coffee bean, cigar box, black cherry and dark plums. Full bodied, elegant, velvety, opulent, sweet and fresh, the presence on the palate is silk and velvet in the texture with purity and sweetness to the fruits. The wine is hedonistic as well as intellectual, and a little bit firm. There is serious aging potential. The wine really sticks with you, for over 60 seconds in the finish. Give this at least 15 or more years in the cellar to develop before popping a cork. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 100 (WI) | د.إ45,125.00 | |||||
The Wine Independent (100)The 2018 Petrus has a deep garnet purple color. It skips out of the glass with lifted scents of Morello cherries, redcurrant jelly, and fresh mulberries, plus suggestions of black olives, truffles, and underbrush. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is very firm and taut with ripe, grainy tannins and muscular fruit, finishing long and earthy. Typically for this vineyard, it will require patience! |
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Bordeaux | 5 | 100 (JS) | د.إ14,690.00 | |||||
James Suckling (100)The transparency and complexity in the nose is wonderful, with so much floral character like violets and roses with some fresh spices. Dark berries, too. Sandalwood. It’s medium-bodied but then it just opens and unfolds with incredible depth of fine tannins and great length. It goes on for minutes. It opens like butterfly wings. What a wine. Superb. Drink after 2028. |
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Bordeaux | 50 | 89 (VN (AG)) | د.إ731.00 | |||||
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (89)The 2014 Peyrabon is an attractive, supple Haut-Médoc to drink now and over the next few years. Succulent red cherry, plum, tobacco and cedar wrap around the juicy, pliant finish. This is nicely done. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 90 (JS) | د.إ1,770.00 | |||||
James Suckling (90)Aromatic and fresh with strawberries and flowers. Full-bodied, with firm tannins and a bright acidity. Clean and silky. Better in 2015. |
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Bordeaux | 4 | 96-97 (JS) | د.إ902.00 | |||||
James Suckling (96-97)The complexity and depth is fantastic in this beautifully crafted, refined red. Such poise, finesse and length. Yet dense and very compacted. Love the texture precision. Goes on and on. Best ever? |
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Bordeaux | 10 | 96 (VN (NM)) | د.إ952.00 | |||||
Vinous - Neal Martin (96)The 2020 Phélan Ségur has a very well-defined and seductive bouquet. There's real complexity here, with ebullient red fruit, crushed stone and dried rose petal scents, revealing more graphite aromas with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied, harmonious and poised, with very fine tannins, a keen line of acidity and a very svelte and persistent finish. This is a wine that seems unaware of just how good it is. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting. |
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Bordeaux | 100 | 94 (DC) | د.إ689.00 | |||||
Decanter (94)One of the absolute standouts for me this year. A dark and brooding nose with purity and concentration. The palate is finely textured with mineral-laced tannins that give grip in the mouth but letting the nuances of fruit and acidity play out in harmony. I love the intensity, it's rich but perfectly executed - elegant and finessed with balance and charm but above all a sense of energy and freshness that makes it one of the more memorable wines. Despite the challenges of the vintage, the fruit is ripe and dense and this gives no drop in the mid palate, sustaining pace and directness from start to finish. This is the first time to have such high percentages of both Cabernet Sauvignon (75%) and Petit Verdot (4%) in the blend. A gorgeous wine that has such promise. A surefire must buy and what should be great value too. Tasted twice and both times this was delicious with exceptional freshness and longevity. |
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