Location

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.

Showing 680 Delicious Wines!

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Domaine William Fèvre Chablis Grand Cru Bougros ‘Cote de Bouguerots’ 2020

Chardonnay | France, Burgundy

Bougros sits on a very steep slope, with a gradient of more than 30%, facing due south at the foot of the hill. The shallow soil, a mixture of clay and gravel, prevents excessive yields resulting in complex, robust wines. Note: from a 2.2 ha parcel at the bottom section of the vineyard; even so, the vineyard is so steep here that it must be worked entirely by hand as tractors would be dangerous to use. In a sense, the 2020 Chablis Grand Cru Bougros Côte Bouguerots offers a resumé of

$275

$265ea in any 3+

$255ea in any 6+

Domaine Hubert Lamy Saint-Aubin 1er Cru Les Frionnes 2020

Chardonnay | Saint-Aubin, Burgundy

Lamy has 2.4-hectares in the 1er Cru Les Frionnes, with vines planted in 1935, 1960 and 1985. It’s a southeast-facing site with old, decomposed limestone/clay soils and a plethora of small rocks in the topsoil. The vines are adjacent to the Derrière chez Edouard, but this is a slightly warmer site and is therefore picked earlier. Frionnes gives both pulpy fruit and vibrant, saline freshness along with a compact, rocky close. “The 2020 Saint-Aubin 1er Cru Les Frionnes is one of the mo

$275

$265ea in any 3+

$255ea in any 6+

Auguste Clape Cornas ‘Renaissance’ 2020

Shiraz/Syrah | Rhône Valley, Cornas

I tasted two components that will make up the bulk of the 2020 Cornas Renaissance, both still in foudre. From Patou and 15- to 20-year-old vines, a medium to full-bodied sample featuring mentholated red plum notes, chewy tannins and mouthwatering acids (90 - 92). From Reynard and 30-year-old vines, a medium to full-bodied sample that showed more cassis fruit, silky tannins and great freshness (93 - 95). They should make a lovely Cornas for drinking over the next 10-15 years. Joe Czerwinski, The

$275

$265ea in any 3+

$255ea in any 6+

Domaine de la Pousse d’Or Volnay 1er Cru ‘Clos de la Bousse d’Or Amphore’ 2020

Pinot Noir | Volnay, France

This is also aromatically cool but ripe and spicy though in this case the red and dark raspberry scents are notably more floral in character. The delicious, intense and well-detailed lighter weight flavors possess a succulent mid-palate that contrasts with the moderately austere and quite firm finale where a touch of sweetness gradually emerges. 2030+ Allen Meadows, Burghound

$277

$267ea in any 3+

$257ea in any 6+

Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-Du-Pape 2019

Rhône Blend | Châteauneuf du Pape, France

"Powerful, mineral-accented cherry, blackberry, licorice and -garrigue- scents, along with a hint of candied flowers. Deep, penetrating and alluringly sweet, offering cherry liqueur, dark berry, lavender, exotic spice and cola flavors that are given spine by a core of juicy acidity. In a concentrated yet lively, fluid style. Finishes extremely long and precise, with building tannins and a powerful echo of spiciness and florality. (10/2021)" Josh Raynolds, Vinous

$278

$268ea in any 3+

$258ea in any 6+

The Fizz Master at Work!

Egly-Ouriet Grand Cru Tradition Base 18 NV

Blend | Verzenay, Ambonnay

Egly easily sits in my list of top 5 Champagne Houses The top end of the Champgne spectrum is often perceived (due to a lot of marketing) to be the Super Cuvées like Dom Perignon and Krug. Don’t get me wrong these are great wines. The thing is when you get the chance and taste the top wines from Grower Champagne houses like Egly-Ouriet you find yourself taking things to an all new level. Their vineyards are immaculate, the fruit comes in with so much intensity you could happily drink the fini

The Fabrice Session 🎧 & 🎥 Inside!

R.Pouillon ‘Les Blanchiens’ Brut Nature 2013

Blend | Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, France

Notes on the 2012: This is superb. So fine and delicious. Such harmony is not common, the Pinot and Chardonnay are playing together beautifully. It has just the right level of oxidative vinosity, so well supported by a core of fruit that has great length and depth. I keep coming back the the harmony, layers of complexity and balance. Will the Pinot seems to be the dominant, as would be expected in the front and mid-palate, the line and length from the Chardonnay and the mineral nature to this

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Domaine Olivier Leflaive Puligny-Montrachet ‘Les Encégnières’ 2019

Chardonnay | Puligny-Montrachet, France

Slightly more apparent wood surrounds the overtly floral aromas of white and yellow peach and fennel. There is excellent intensity to the concentrated and unusually powerful flavors that culminate in a clean, very dry and impressively long finale. This too is a very fine villages level wine and one that will age. Outstanding ♥ Allen Meadows, Burghound

$281

$274ea in any 3+

$267ea in any 6+

Domaine Marc-Antonin Blain Chassagne-Montrachet 1er ‘Morgeot’ Blanc 2021

Pinot Noir | France, Burgundy

These vines recently joined the Domaine, a gift from Marc-Antonin’s parents. They lie in a sub-section of Morgeot called Champs Jendreau, just downhill from Clos de La Boudriotte, not far from the village.

$281

$271ea in any 3+

$261ea in any 6+

David Duband Morey-Saint-Denis 1er Cru ‘Clos Sorbé’ 2020

Pinot Noir | Morey-Saint-Denis, France

"A softly perfumed and pretty red berry fruit nose is also trimmed in just enough oak influence to merit pointing out. The round, fleshy and solidly voluminous middle weight flavors possess a refined mid-palate texture that carries over to the youthfully austere and highly persistent finale. This lovely effort needs to develop better depth, but more should develop if it's allowed at least a few years to mellow in a cool cellar." Allen Meadows, Burghound ♥ Outstanding

$282

$272ea in any 3+

$262ea in any 6+

David Duband Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru ‘Les Proces’ 2020

Pinot Noir | Nuits-Saint-Georges, France

This beautifully sited vineyard sits directly above Nuits St Georges adjoining 1er cru Les Pruliers. Average age of vines more than 35+yo and this is one the “sweet-spot” wines of his portfolio always showing excellent expression and balance with notable floral lift to the aromas giving a very attractive and accessible wine with notable elegance yet remarkable depth.

$282

$272ea in any 3+

$262ea in any 6+

David Duband Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru ‘Aux Thorey’ 2020

Pinot Noir | Nuits-Saint-Georges, France

"A more restrained but equally pretty nose displays a broad range of floral nuances along with pretty spice nuances on the red and dark currant scents. The sleek and nicely elegant medium-bodied flavors possess a really lovely mouthfeel as well as excellent length on the compact, youthfully austere and balanced finale. Note that this is sufficiently structured to require at least a few years of cellaring before it will be approachable." 2032+ Allen Meadows, Burghound ♥ Outstanding

$282

$272ea in any 3+

$262ea in any 6+

Benjamin Leroux Beaune 1er Cru ‘Les Cent-Vignes’ 2021

Pinot Noir | France, Beaune

Leroux has been working with a grower here since 2015. Convinced of the quality, he purchased the 0.5-hectare plot in 2021, so from next year’s release, this will be a domaine-owned bottling. The plot, on Cent-Vignes’ brown grèze litée gravels, is planted to two parcels. There’s a section of 50-year-old vines, as well as a young plot planted in 2016. Les Cent-Vignes is one of the first vineyards you encounter if you’re heading west out of Beaune. Leroux is delighted to be working in

$282

$275ea in any 3+

$268ea in any 6+

Benjamin Leroux Blagny 1er Cru ‘La Pièce Sous Le Bois’ 2021

Pinot Noir | France, Beaune

Leroux owns two parcels of vines in Meursault-Blagny’s highest 1er Cru, La Pièce Sous Le Bois. The first is 0.44 hectares of Chardonnay planted in 1953. The second is planted to Pinot and therefore must be labelled as Blagny La Pièce Sous Le Bois (only whites from Blagny can be labelled as Meursault or Puligny, subject to their precise location). Leroux has long beaten the drum for this limestone-rich, high-altitude terroir, firstly for its whites, and even more so for its underappreciate

$282

$275ea in any 3+

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The Fizz Master at Work!

Egly-Ouriet Grand Cru Tradition Base 16 2nd Disgorgement NV

Blend | Bouzy, France

Egly easily sits in my list of top 5 Champagne Houses The top end of the Champgne spectrum is often perceived (due to a lot of marketing) to be the Super Cuvées like Dom Perignon and Krug. Don’t get me wrong these are great wines. The thing is when you get the chance and taste the top wines from Grower Champagne houses like Egly-Ouriet you find yourself taking things to an all new level. Their vineyards are immaculate, the fruit comes in with so much intensity you could happily drink the fini

$284

$274ea in any 3+

$264ea in any 6+

The Fizz Master at Work!

Egly-Ouriet Grand Cru Tradition Base 17 1st Disgorgement NV

Blend | Bouzy, France

Egly easily sits in my list of top 5 Champagne Houses The top end of the Champgne spectrum is often perceived (due to a lot of marketing) to be the Super Cuvées like Dom Perignon and Krug. Don’t get me wrong these are great wines. The thing is when you get the chance and taste the top wines from Grower Champagne houses like Egly-Ouriet you find yourself taking things to an all new level. Their vineyards are immaculate, the fruit comes in with so much intensity you could happily drink the fini

$284

$274ea in any 3+

$264ea in any 6+