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.

Filters & Sorting

Showing 694 Delicious Wines!

Weinbach Les Vignes du Prêcheur 2021

White Blend | France, Alsace

The Preachers Vines – Delicious wine. The non-Riesling component co-ferment field blend shines. Perhaps an unfair statement given the harmonious nature of the wine. Perceived higher alcohol that works in this context driving through the finish with spice. 8 months on lees adding texture and complexity. Heaps of oily phenolics, super complex and perfumed, spiced and baking spice and almost peppery edge, heading down the pear. Fruit tapers a little to finish. Gee it’s a fun wine. You co
$77
$74ea in any 3+
$71ea in any 6+

Domaine Louis Boillot Bougogne 2017

Pinot Noir | Burgundy, France

There is a level of sophistication that you typically only see at the next level up, the village wines! "A super-fresh mix of red and dark berry fruit aromas is liberally laced with earth wisps that can also be found on the vibrant and delicious flavors that possess very good depth and persistence and only a trace of rusticity. This should be accessible young but be able to reward a few years of cellaring as well." Allen Meadows The fruit for the Bourgogne comes largely from Gevrey-Chamber
$78
$74ea in any 3+
$70ea in any 6+

Alphonse Mellot Sancerre La Moussière 2020

Sauvignon Blanc | Sancerre, France

There’s Sauvignon and then there is Sauvignon from Sancerre. There’s Sancerre and then there is Dagenau. Then a pack chasing him. Mellot right at the front of that pack. Beautiful poise, delicacy and vertical long shape to the palate. Lovely bright fruit that has shifted beyond primary to aromas and flavours of intrigue. Crisp fine acid. This is an impressive drink. There’s a little passion fruit and gooseberry if you look for it. Overall it’s just a wonderful seemless Sauvignon Blanc.
$79
$76ea in any 3+
$73ea in any 6+
The 2019 Bourgogne Rouge offers up aromas of sweet red berries and plums mingled with peonies and spices. Medium to full-bodied, seamless and textural, it's deep and complete, with lively acids and a penetrating finish. Bouley now gives his regional bottlings the same extended élevage as his grander appellations, and the result are compelling. William Kelley, The Wine Advocate
$80
$76ea in any 3+
$72ea in any 6+
“parcels in Lignorelles – vines planted by grandfather – 50-60-year-old vines. 40% barrel – a mix of sizes but nothing new, indeed about 5-year-old barrels An extra width that’s filled with extra freshness – that’s a great nose. Direct, structured, still with purity and energy and faintly austere too – overtly great villages – what a wine – bravo!” Bill Nanson “Pale lemon, with a beautifully perfumed nose, ripe but stopping short of honeysuckle. The minerals com
$80
$77ea in any 3+
$74ea in any 6+

Domaine des Hauts Châssis Crozes Hermitage ‘Les Galets’ 2021

Shiraz/Syrah | Rhône Valley, Crozes-Hermitage

There's Crozes and then there's Crozes - Franck Faugier has made a cracker! Stunning Syrah 🍇 Perfume violets, draws you in with the depth and length of aroma. Beautiful integration finely spiced, with a earthy, seasoned wood from grape not oak rhubarb red fruit. Heart shape complete, beautifully weighted and sophisticated. Excellent drinking. Long fine delicious. Honest wines made by farmers of stone fruit & grapes with bloody good palates Galets are pebbles, the vineyard is covered
$80
$76ea in any 3+
$72ea in any 6+
“The 2019 Moulin-à-Vent Les Rouchaux wafts from the glass with notes of dark berry fruit, sweet spices, peonies and raw cocoa, delicately patinated by its élevage in used wood. Medium to full-bodied, ample and layered, with fine concentration, powdery tannins and a spicy finish, it's seamless and complete.” William Kelly, The Wine Advocate
$82
$78ea in any 3+
$74ea in any 6+
Dry

Weinbach Sylvaner 2021

Silvaner | France, Alsace

“Very ripe quince nose, with fresh fruit and a hint of caramelised fruit. Excellent balance of ripeness and vitality, although the acidity is barely present in the foreground, only showing its hand at the long, wet-stone finish.” Stuart Pigott, Jamessuckling.com 92 Points
$84
$80ea in any 3+
$76ea in any 6+
House Fizz!

R.H.Coutier Ambonnay Cuvée Tradition Grand Cru NV

Blend | Montagne de Reims, Ambonnay

Coutier is to Ambonnay what Clouet is to Bouzy! Coutier is to Ambonnay what Clouet is to Bouzy! Two villages just around the corner from each other. Two makers dishing out some seriously tasty vino. Ambonnay is the home to so many great vineyards. Judging by the vino Coutier is playing with the best of them. Their NV along with Clouet’s would have to rate as two of the best value Champagnes at the mo. The Brut tradition is 25-40% Chardonnay 60-75% Pinot in any given release and around 40% r
$86
$82ea in any 3+
$78ea in any 6+
L'Enroulée is a one-off cuvée and is a blend of Le Haie Nardin, which is normally a separate wine, “rolled together” this parcel with the fruit from his vines in Les Quarts-Saint-Vincent.This wine gives a prnounced perfume of white blossom and jasmine. Clos de l'Écotard's hallmark quince is back with more length and depth, as well as a pop of lanolin. The acidity and texture here are superb; mineral and lon, with a layer of phenolics playing nicely on the tongue. Flavours of maple, nuts a
$86
$82ea in any 3+
$78ea in any 6+

Clos de l’Écotard Saumur Blanc 2019

Chenin Blanc | Saumur, France

The estate's signature wine, the Clos de Ecotard, offers a refined and harmonoious expression of Chenin Blanc. With white flowers and delicate perfume, flavours of ripe pear, maple spice and a mineral undercurrent are balanced by a taut line of invigorating acidity. The texture gradually builds on the palate and takes shape beautifully in the mouth, with wonderful depth and length and a gentle sweep of phenolics characterise by a fine silvery bitterness on the finish.
$86
$82ea in any 3+
$78ea in any 6+

Sabon Châteauneuf-du-Pape ‘Les Olivets’ 2017

Rhône Blend | Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf du Pape

“A straight-up fruit bomb, it has full-bodied richness, beautiful purity, and tons of charm. I'm impressed – Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to taste any 2018s from this estate but, unquestionably, their 2017s are some of the wines of the vintage. Now - 2029” Jeb Dunnuck  
$87
$83ea in any 3+
$79ea in any 6+
Wine of personality keep on coming from Savennieres. Lythe, transparent fruit. Dry with pear, baking spice and candied citrus peel. Somehow they have managed to combine a weightless feel with the depth of fruit,a little phenolics and glycerol making for a luscious caress of the tongue. A fine wine that as with all dry Chenin will need a couple of years to start expressing itself in full. I can see why the 2018 managed to score 1 of just 50 wines in show out of almost 19,000 at Decanters 2021 Awa
$87
$83ea in any 3+
$79ea in any 6+
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
$87
$83ea in any 3+
$79ea in any 6+
Pretty, fine, long, textured & rich. Quince fruit with lovely caressing phenolics & a refreshing finish. A faint lick of green leafy herbs chervil or tarragon. Fine, a lovely pithy finish cleansing with a little bitterness. Wild ferment in 1200 stockingers 600 barrels. Fresh & thirst-quenching. Opened beautifully in the glass. Yum! Out to play now with plenty to come.
$87
$83ea in any 3+
$79ea in any 6+
Excellent élévage yet so very tight. Graphite mineral thing. Long even tannins, fine vibrant red fruit fresh red cherry. Pure grape first Syrah with much more going on. Lovely shape. Longer finer feel compared with Villard’s Saint-Joseph that uses much more whole bunch. It’s a matter of preference and difference not necessarily quality between the two. More to come from both with a few years in bottle. Excellent Syrah!
$88
$84ea in any 3+
$80ea in any 6+