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France

France has gone on a roller coaster ride. A booming industry was decimated by mildew and phylloxera in the second half of the 19th century, then two World Wars in the 20th century. Thirst won in the end, and, France is now the World’s #2 wine producer by volume.

Without doubt the two greatest drivers of the French wine industry have been the concept of Terroir and the establishment of the Appellation d’origine contrôlée.

Combined these have defined a philosophical approach to growing and making wine and enforced strict controls of grape varieties that can be planted in each region and winemaking practices that can be employed.

Frances has come through with flying colours, successive generations have been better trained, spent time in the New World exposing them to different techniques for growing vines and making wine, and, have been able to push the boundaries to achieve excellence.

First Records of Wine Production – Go back millennia to the 6th century BC. The Greeks kicked things off with the Romans ramping things up. Those Romans got around and took their vines and wines with them! Over time the wealth of the Monastries took over much of the production. Nobility took their turn until the guillotine fell!

Founding Figures – In ‘recent times’, technical advancement in the industry were driven by Minister of the Interior, Jean-Antoine Chaptal following the French revolution, work done by Louis Pasteur in the 19th century, and, the Emperor Napoleon III commissioning of the 1855 classification of Bordeaux.

Area Planted – with around 630,000 hectares of vines France produces 17% of the World’s wine

Established Regions – When we think French wine, the regions that immediately come to mind are Champagne with its fizz, Bordeaux’s Cabernet blends and Sauternes, Burgundy’s Pinot and Chardonnay, the Rhône Valley’s Shiraz, Grenache, Marsanne & Roussane, and, Alsatian Riesling.

Most Common Varieties

White – From greatest area planted down the top red varieties are Ugni Blanc, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Melon de Bourgogne, Sémillon, Chennin Blanc, Colombard, Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains, Grenache Blanc, Viognier, and, Riesling.

Red – The list doesn’t surprise the order they come in does from greatest area planted down the top red varieties are Merlot, Grenache, Syrah, Carignan, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Gamay, Pinot Noir, Cinsaut, Pinot Meunier and Mourvèdre.

Up and Coming Regions – In recent times we’ve seen the Rosé of Provence, the hidden gems from the Languedoc, Jura and Loire Valley increasing in popularity.

Filters & Sorting

Showing 692 Delicious Wines!

A complex, textural and thrilling Chenin Blanc. Two parcels, one picked earlier and devoid of botrytis, one later with a little botrytis marry seamlessly presenting us with an entrancing creature. Dry Chenin of this standing is truly something special. There’s a certain composure and harmony here. A fine example, the textural elements show a leaning to less alcohol and higher perceived acidity than its sibling ‘La Caillardières’ adding a degree of restraint and sophistication to thi
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The vines here are owned by one of Leroux’s close friends and are sited in the heart of the 1er Cru, on the east-facing, Beaune side of Savigny. This is the area from where the most elegant Savigny wines tend to derive—so perfect for powerful years. Like most of the terrain in the Côte d’Or, the soils here are clay/limestone, but the clay here is light and sandy. So, although there’s more flesh here than in the villages cuvée—there is also greater finesse. The 2020 was fermented with
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New Cuvée from 2021 – A parcel in chaume worked separately. This terroir is often used for sweet wines. Makes a great dry according to Thomas (...and Me!) highlighting again the importance of the flavour and phenolics from the skins. Yields of just 15-20Hl/Ha from very old vines give us a wine that is a delight in the glass! Half to ⅓ of DRC's yields!  Fermentation in new wood aged in the same wood for 1 year then 5 months in stainless. This is the same as for the Bastingage. F
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Made with Passion!
Deceptively sophisticated, the depth of fruit is beautifully counterpointed with stunning mineral acid & layers of flavour! Larmandier-Bernier was one of the first grower Champagnes to make a mark in Australia. Everyone had been used to hyped up, over marketed crap from big houses. These guys sent a ripple through the market that became a shock wave of yumminess! 100% Chardonnay Longitude is the more elegant of the two in comparison with Latitude. The Longitude base 2018 is a raging success.�
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Fascinating comparison with the Pavelot Dominode 18. There’s a similarity with the fleshy generous fruit and shape to the fruit. The Tollot Beaut goes for a slightly softer mouthfeel with very silky tannins. Like many 2018’s rich mouth filling fruit is at play, a darkness underlying. I’m going to be fascinated to see the Leroux, Pavelot & Tollot-Beaut Savignys evolve over time. As this opens in the glass the air induces refinement and elegance. Delicious wine that in a blind tasting I'
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Domaine Thibert Pouilly-Fuissé ‘Menetieres’ 2018

Chardonnay | Pouilly-Fuisse, France

To be labelled 1er Cru from the 2020 Vintage! “The 2018 Pouilly-Fuissé Les Ménétrières unwinds in the glass with aromas of citrus oil, crisp yellow orchard fruit, lemon curd, freshly baked bread and anise. Full-bodied, layered and sensual, it's textural and enveloping, with a deep core of fruit, racy acids and a long, precise finish. Stupidly, this part of Les Ménétrières was denied the premier cru classification, so this is the antepenultimate vintage under this name. 2025 - 2040”
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“Aromas of sweet berry fruit, warm spices, forest floor and raw cocoa preface the 2019 Beaune Les Epenottes, a medium to full-bodied, velvety and structured wine that's quite tightly wound, with fine concentration, lively acids and ripe tannins that assert themselves on the finish. This will require a bit of patience, but its track record for aging with grace is excellent.” William Kelley, The Wine Advocate 90+ Points JM 90-92
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A cooler and airier array is comprised by notes of citrus, quinine and essence of algae. The ultra-sleek and overtly mineral-driven flavors possess cuts-like-a-knife delineation before terminating in a chiseled, linear and moderately austere finale. This is a terrific example of Les Lys, indeed it’s textbook. 91-94 points, Drink: 2028+ Burghound The 2021 Chablis 1er Cru Les Lys is one of the range's highlights this year, offering up aromas of almonds, white flowers, green apple, cri
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On the left bank of Le Serein and on the middle of the slope, Vaillons is a particularly well-positioned Premier Cru that enjoys an excellent reputation thanks to the work of several key growers. The domaine works with vines planted in 1974 in the lieux-dits of Les Epinottes (a cooler part of the vineyard) and Roncières (which provides more opulence). Then, a parcel of 75-year-old vines in Sécher usually accounts for 30% of the blend and provides intense mineral cut and structure. The wine wa
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Moreau-Naudet Chablis 1er Cru ‘Forêts’ 2021

Chardonnay | France, Burgundy

Stéphane Moreau called Forêts “…one of the greatest terroirs of Chablis.” It’s a historical sub-plot within the 1er Cru Montmains, located high up the slope and facing southeast. It can certainly produce Chablis of the highest order, as both Dauvissat and Moreau have shown many times (Raveneau also has a small parcel). Moreau farms two plots of vines here, over a total of just under two hectares. The first is alongside the vineyard of Vincent Dauvissat, and the vines are the s
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A more restrained, more elegant and much more citrus-inflected nose grudgingly reveals its spice, floral and iodine suffused aromas. The racy, intense and markedly mineral-driven middle weight flavors possess excellent delineation while displaying plenty of oyster shell character on the dry and focused finale. Lovely. Burghound
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Divine Wine!

Domaine Faiveley Gevrey Chambertin Vieilles Vignes 2019

Pinot Noir | Gevrey-Chambertin, France

I had Faiveley's 2015 Latricières Chambertin recently, delicious, perfumed elegant and refined. Along with the 2015, I devoured a brace of 2016's from across the appellations. They are really stepping up their game, the investments in the vineyard and winery are a testament to this. Unwinding in the glass with aromas of dark berries, cassis, rich spices and loamy soil, the 2019 Gevrey-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes is medium to full-bodied, layered and fleshy, with an ample core of lively, conce
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André Clouet Dream Vintage 2006

Chardonnay | Champagne

This 2006 Dream Vintage sits proud next to the divine 1911 & V6. "The original generosity of this vintage is reinforced by a clear structure that gives it freshness and precision. Fine, bright and elegant. Full, complex nose of grapefruit, peach and raspberry. Structured on the palate, with surprising acidity. A voluptuous Champagne that fills the palate." As always, Jean François Clouet has created a complete Champagne harnessing time to yield a beautifully developed bottle of fizz.
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Sabon Châteauneuf-du-Pape ‘Cuvée Prestige’ 2017

Rhône Blend | Châteauneuf du Pape, France

“Including more Syrah, the 2017 Châteauneuf Du Pape Prestige is 70% Grenache 20% Mourvèdre, and the rest Mourvèdre and other permitted varieties. While it’s brought up mostly in foudre, it has 10% in demi-muids and 30% in cuve tronconique. With thrilling purity of fruit, notes of black raspberries, blackberries, ground pepper, garrigue, and a distinct sense of minerality, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, ripe, sweet tannins, a beautifully opulent texture, and a great fini
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Wines of Presence

Stéphane Ogier Côte-Rôtie Mon Village 2018

Shiraz/Syrah | Côte-Rôtie, France

Fresh dark berries, potpourri, olive, exotic spices and smoky bacon on the highly perfumed nose. Juicy, penetrating blackberry, cherry liqueur and candied violet flavors show fine delineation and a spine of juicy acidity. Subtly chewy tannins add grip to an impressively persistent, mineral- and spice-driven finish that strongly echoes the cherry and floral notes. Josh Raynolds, Vinous
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Pavelot's Top wine rates as one of the few remaining bargains in Burgundy! The 2018 was delicious the 2019 will be in my gob next week! A perfumed, ripe and cool nose features notes of red currant, black raspberry, violet and a hint of sandalwood. There is very fine mid-palate density with an abundance of sappy dry extract to the velvety and mouth coating flavors that flash good minerality on the powerful, balanced and hugely long finish. This is marvelous but it's also a buy and forget
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