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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.

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Showing 694 Delicious Wines!

With its terroir split into two parts on either side of the Sainte Vaubourg fountain path, it has slightly deeper clay-limestone soils than the other Grands Crus. Its shape is reminiscent of a small valley hence the name “Valmur”. Unwinding in the glass with aromas of peach, lemon oil, freshly baked bread, oyster shell and struck match, Fèvre’s 2020 Chablis Grand Cru Valmur is full-bodied, concentrated and incisive, with a racy, electric profile and a searingly saline, intensely
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Disgorged June 2023. Complantée comes from a single parcel in Avize that Agrapart co-planted (complantée) with six varieties: Pinot Noir, Meunier, Chardonnay and the heirloom Champagne varieties of Arbane, Petit Meslier and Pinot Blanc. Chardonnay accounts for one-quarter of the blend, with the remainder split equally between the other five varieties. The vines are all in the Fosse vineyard, the same site that gives us the great Vénus cuvée (the name of the specific vineyard parcel w
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Domaine Louis Jadot Corton-Grèves Grand Cru 2019

Pinot Noir | Aloxe-Corton, Burgundy

"Abundant menthol and wood nuances are present on the ripe aromas of black raspberry and sauvage scents. The dense, plush and less powerful flavors also exude evident minerality on the austere, focused and balanced finish that isn't quite as complex. Note that this classic Corton is also quite compact and in need of extended cellaring." Allen Meadows, Burghound
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Les Preuses is probably taken from the word “Perreuse” (stone), the name given to the ancient Roman road which ran below the current vineyard. Made for ageing thanks to a dense, compact, clay-rich soil resting on a limestone bed. The 2020 Chablis Grand Cru Les Preuses is, if anything, even more electric than the formidable Valmur, wafting from the glass with notions of citrus oil, freshly baked bread, oyster jus and wet stones. Full-bodied, satiny and chiseled, it’s racy and intense
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The Fabrice Session 🎧 & 🎥 Inside!

R.Pouillon Reserve Brut MAGNUM NV

Blend | Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, Avenay-Val-d'Or

The perfect introduction to Pouillon's wines, yet, far from an entry level. The gives you a peak into just how much personality and vitality his wines have. Balancing a hint of oxidative character with delicious fruit with great length and depth. The Reserve Brut represents a little splash of fruit across most of Pouillon's holdings. The blend of Pinot, Meunier and Chardonnay is expertly integrated. Fabrice truly gets élévage. This is an incredibly complex, layered and beautiful Champagne. Suc
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An exuberantly spicy and overtly floral nose is airy, cool and elegant. Unlike some of the other reds in the range with very low yields, the mouthfeel of the mediumbodied flavors reflects the expected density while remaining sophisticated, refined and classy on the beautifully persistent, mineral-driven and youthfully austere finale. This is terrific and should age effortlessly. 2033+ Sweet spot Outstanding ♥ Allen Meadows, Burghound 92-94 Points WK 92-94
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David Duband Morey-Saint-Denis 1er Cru ‘Clos Sorbé’ 2018

Pinot Noir | Morey-Saint-Denis, France

‘A fresh, cool and more elegant array is comprised by notes of both red and dark pinot fruit along with background floral and earth suggestions. The succulent, round and delicious middle weight flavors are finer if less powerful, all wrapped in a lingering finish that progressively tightens up as it sits on the palate to the point that it becomes quite compact. This will definitely need a few years to unwind. Drink 2028+.’ Burghound.com January 2020.
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From Les Casse-Têtes and Meursault Les Murgers de Monthelie. “This is aromatically similar to the Clousots but with more floral elements. There is even better volume and mid-palate density to the muscular medium weight flavors that coat the mouth with dry extract on the overtly powerful finish where a hint of bitter lemon arises. This is a very serious Meursault villages that should amply repay up to a decade of cellaring. This too is recommended. ♥ 2026+ Burghound
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“The 2020 Nuits Saint-Georges Mont des Oiseaux 1er Cru offers dark cherries, hints of peppermint and spice on its quite extravagant nose. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy dark berry fruit, good volume here, fine acidity, hints of white pepper and sage furnishing the composed finish.” Neal Martin, Vinous 89-91 Points
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Thibaud Boudignon Savennières ‘Clos de La Hutte’ 2020

Chenin Blanc | Savennières, D'Anjou-Saumur

”The 2020 Clos de la Hutte is a wine that makes your shoulders drop such is its tranquility and sense of comfort in your mouth. It blooms in the mouth and does so without any sense of heaviness. The finish, scented with flowers and nectarines, is long, fragrant and textural. I hate using the word minerality as it means so many different things to people, but in my opinion, this has it in spades. It is incredible that the vines were only planted in 2011 on the schistous site on the grounds of a
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The pure, super-elegant and airy nose displays its array of plum, red and dark currant, spice and pretty floral wisps. The notably finer if less powerful and muscular middle weight flavors also possess both lovely detail and punch, all wrapped in youthfully austere, balanced and highly persistent finish. Lovely. 2030+ Allen Meadows, Burghound
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This is aromatically similar to the La Cardeuse but spicier. The palate impression of the middle weight flavors is also rich to the point of opulence before terminating in sappy, long and better-balanced finish though there is still a hint of backend warmth. Allen Meadows, Burghound
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Powerful and muscular, the 2020 Volnay Vieilles Vignes is richer than the ethereal Clos de la Cave, offering up aromas of sweet cherries, plum compote, licorice and spices. Full-bodied, layered and enveloping, it’s broad shouldered and fleshy, with lively acids and a long, expansive finish. Drink 2030-2050 William Kelley, The Wine Advocate 92 Points
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Benjamin Leroux Gevrey-Chambertin 2021

Pinot Noir | Gevrey-Chambertin, Côte-de-Nuits

The 2021 Gevrey hails from 50-year-old vines in Les Seuvrées (bordering Morey) and the northern, limestone-rich La Justice and Les Crais. Some old vines in Les Jeunes Rois and fruit from Champerrier and En Champs (each on the Brochon side of the appellation), complete the picture. And ‘complete’ is the operative word. There’s no doubt the old vines of Jeunes Rois bring a greater dimension to this cuvée, and we’re glad Leroux decided to keep it in the blend. (It’s so good
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Vincent Dauvissat Chablis 2021

Chardonnay | France, Burgundy

A more floral and more citrus-infused nose speaks of cool and admirably pure aromas of iodine, ocean breeze and green apple along with a hint of the exotic. The rich and solidly concentrated medium-weight flavors also possess excellent length on the bright, clean and very dry finish. This chiseled and promising effort should amply repay 7 to 10 years of cellaring. Drink 2029+ Allen Meadows, Burghound 90 Points
It hard to talk about Nuits-Saint-Georges without talking about Henri Gouges. For near a century the Domaine has quietly been working away to expand their holding and continually improve their wines. "A more deeply pitched and brooding nose only grudgingly reveals its aromas of cassis plum liqueur and pungent earth where the latter is also found on the vibrant and well-detailed big-bodied and tautly muscular flavors that deliver excellent depth and persistence. This is not as dense as the bes
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