France Wines

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This stellar Sancerre is a remarkable expression of the Sauvignon Blanc grape. This wine captivates the senses with an enchanting mélange of aromas, featuring vibrant notes of pink grapefruit, pear and green apple. These scents are harmoniously balanced, offering a fresh and crisp bouquet that invites you to delve deeper. The wine’s crisp acidity and mineral undertones contribute to its refreshing character, making it an excellent companion for a variety of dishes, from seafood to goat cheese. What truly sets this Sancerre apart, however, is its long, lingering finish. Sokolin Tasting Panel | 94+ SP

Aged for seven months in wood, this ripe wine has power as well as richness. Its spicy character chimes with the dense white fruits from old Sémillon. Drink from 2025.Wine Enthusiast | 91 WE

The 2022 Meursault Vignes Blanches is a new purchase for the Domaine on deeper soils on the Volnay side towards Santenots. The vines were planted in 1948, with a small portion re-grafted this year. The well-defined bouquet has touches of chalk infusing the citrus fruit. Tightly-coiled, but this has a lot to give down the line. The vibrant and tensile palate is lively and full of energy. Harmonious with a brisk and linear finish, this is a Village Cru punching at Premier Cru level.Vinous Media | 92-94 VMNew in 2022, from old vines low on the slope. Mid yellow, softly oaky from the mix of normal oak and 450 litre barrels. The fruit starts out quite soft with a ripe plum and lemon scented fruit, then a little less marked behind. Medium length. Drink from 2027-2032. Tasted: October 2023.Jasper Morris | 88-90 JM

Made from 40% each of Grenache Blanc and Roussanne and the rest Clairette, brought up all in wood, (2/3 demi-muids and 1/3 barrels, 5% new), the 2022 Châteauneuf Du Pape Grand Vin Blanc is one of – if not the – white of the vintage. White peach, citrus oil, green almonds, brioche, and toasty notes define the aromatics, and it’s full-bodied, with a layered, concentrated yet focused mouthfeel, good acidity (pH 3.4), and a great finish. It’s a stunning white from the south that I wish every reader could taste. It will evolve for 15 years or more.Jeb Dunnuck | 99 JDThe Guigal team have done much to resuscitate this estate, and this 2022 Chateauneuf du Pape Grand Vin Blanc is indeed a great wine. Scents of ripe pears, pineapples and tangerines are accented by hints of pencil shavings on the nose, while the medium to full-bodied palate is honeyed, silky and harmonious, concentrated, elegant and long. It’s mainly Grenache and Roussanne, with close to 20% Clairette and tiny amounts of Picardin and Picpoul Blanc.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 96 RPA full-bodied expression, the generous fruit is further accentuated by flowing, silky oak – all cut through, thankfully, by a line of acidity and a long finish. Plenty of impact, no lack of intensity or concentration. Give it a year or two for the oak to fully integrate.Decanter | 94 DECIn spite of the full body and richness of this wine, this has a clarity and coolness that make it very satisfying. Plenty of ripe apricot and melon character. A cuvee based on roussanne with a good amount of grenache blanc and some clairette. Drink or hold.James Suckling | 93 JS

The 2022 Rosé BY.Ott is such a complete wine. It’s just so elegantly put together. Orange oil, strawberry fruit, strawberry top (yes, the leafy part), ruby red grapefruit and fresh mint form an intoxicating bouquet as the 2022 puts on weight in the glass, especially in the mid-palate. Fresh, lively, juicy, salivating—all of these apply. A satisfying mineral bitterness tugs at the tongue as the wine exits the mouth, lingering with the subtlest hint of fruit sweetness. The finish is long and measured. Very well done. - Billy NorrisVinous Media | 92 VM

Exhibiting a delicate, subtle bouquet of oak reduction, white orchard fruits and flowers, the 2022 Sancerre Les Chasseignes possesses a medium to full-bodied, satiny and deep palate with a seamless texture, a fleshy core of fruit and a long, saline, ethereal finish. Matured for 14 months in barrels, this Sancerre, crafted from vines planted on chalky soils at the top of hillsides facing northeast, is simply stunning.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 95 RPThe 2022 Les Chasseignes is a silky, richly textured Sancerre with a volume sensation in the mouth. There’s an impression of sweet fruit and glycerol, which coats the palate on the long finish. Gently refreshing rather than bright, this marks a departure from the previous racy vintage.Vinous Media | 91-93 VM

This bottling is made from the same tuffeau-based vineyard as the Silex Noir and Trois Argile Demi-Sec bottlings from Domaine Pinon. It is handled the same in the cellars as the regular Sec bottling, with indigenous yeast fermentation and aging in a variety of older, large oak barrels. The wine offers up a beautifully refined aromatic constellation of apple, sweet quince, bee pollen, white lilies, a gorgeous base of chalky soil tones and a nice touch of lanolin in the upper register. On the palate the wine is vibrant, focused and full-bodied, with a rock solid core, superb mineral drive and cut, snappy acids and great balance on the long, complex and very precise finish. This is outstanding juice. (Drink between 2023 - 2065)John Gilman | 94 JGThe 2022 Les Déronnières Sec is the domaine’s limestone-derived dry Chenin that sits almost above the cellars on the appellation’s premiere cotes. Julien Pinon calls it a parcel for lazy people (!) as it’s easier to maintain than clay parcels, leading to better drainage, fewer frosts and requiring less work while making smaller bunches with smaller berries. It may offer tenderness initially but remains a fresh, well-defined style. There is plenty of concentration here, and the balance is impeccable. In addition to attractive apple fruit, it has spiced pastry flavors.Vinous Media | 93 VM

Aged 12 months in neutral barrels, the 2022 Pouilly-Fuissé has a gorgeous perfume of spiced citrus and orchard fruits, honeyed white flowers, and a kiss of sappy herbs. Wonderfully balanced, medium-bodied, textured, and elegant, it’s a beautiful white from this estate that will shine for 4-6 years.Jeb Dunnuck | 92 JD

Pure, clean orchard and tropical fruits, spice, crushed stone, and white flower notes all emerge from the 2022 Saint Véran, a medium-bodied, clean, incredibly classy, balanced Saint Véran that has good mid-palate density, integrated acidity, and outstanding length.Jeb Dunnuck | 91 JD

The 2022 Languedoc Les Darons brings more density and richness, with ripe black cherries, wild strawberry, ground pepper, and floral notes in a medium to full-bodied, pure, beautifully balanced package. The purity and balance here are top-notch. The blend is 70% Grenache, 25% Syrah, and the rest Carignan, from old vines, with the aging in concrete. This is going to be a smoking value.Jeb Dunnuck | 92-94 JDA well-made red from old grenache with notes of cherries, blueberries, stones and black pepper. Medium body with fine, firm tannins. Textured and balanced with a compact and juicy peppery finish. Drink or hold.James Suckling | 92 JS

Quite an aromatic chardonnay here, with discerning notes of sliced green apples, melon and lemon zest. Round and textured, with simple apple pith and nectarines in the pristine yet flavorful palate. Lots of fruit in the round, medium- to full-bodied palate. Drink now.James Suckling | 91 JS

Julien Brocard’s ’7 Lieux’ are seven distinct vineyards, run biodynamically under his own name. Fermented with indigenous yeast and matured for 12 months in foudres. Lovely wine with a fine balance of fleshiness, power, vivid acidity and lingering minerality to keep everything precise and in check. You can almost feel the health of the vineyard. Delicious.Decanter | 94 DECThe 2022 Chablis La Boissonneuse has a clean, precise bouquet with more mineralité than the Petit Chablis, a subtle crustacea scent emerging with time. The palate is taut on the entry with commendable linearity, certainly one of the stricter, meaner takes of the vintage that will appeal to Chablis purists. Good value.Vinous Media | 90 VM

Supple and lively, there’s a nice energy to this with plump strawberry and raspberry fruit and a clean, almost salty tang to the mid palate. Tannins are well integrated, they’re at the fore, and give the structure but have a lovely comforting texture. Juicy, clean, easy, well made, a lovely second wine with freshness, cool blue fruit and stony touches. Just a lighter version of everything...tannins, fruit, acidity. Harvest 7-19 September. Yield of 31.5hl/ha. 3.57pH. 1% Petit Verdot completes the blend.Decanter | 92 DECA linear and very fine second wine with blackcurrants, and a light bitterness with lemons. Medium body. Pretty tannins. Fresh and bright. 65% merlot, 30% cabernet sauvignon, 4% cabernet franc and 1% petit verdot.James Suckling | 92-93 JSThe 2022 Baron de Brane capture all of the richness of the year in its exuberant personality. Super-ripe dark cherry, plum, spice, leather and licorice offer notable radiance. This supple, enchanting Margaux should drink well with minimal cellaring. There is a bit of firmness in the tannin from the drought. Hopefully élevage will soften some of the edges.Vinous Media | 90-92 VMExhibiting aromas of ripe berries, loamy soil and a subtle hint of sweet saddle leather, the 2022 Baron de Brane is medium to full-bodied, rich and fleshy, with a layered core of fruit, velvety tannins and a long, sapid finish.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 89-91 RP

This Vire Clesse from Roally showcases the pinnacle of Maconnais Chardonnay, hailing from one of the finest vintages in recent memory. On the nose, it offers an enticing bouquet of spring flowers intertwined with aromatic notes of lemon balm, white peach and verbena. On the palate, it is lively and fresh and the wine’s minerality shines through exhibiting the characteristic flinty undertone that is prized in the best examples from this appellation. This is the under $35 bottle of white Burgundy that Puligny Montrachet lovers serve at parties and pools. Sokolin Tasting Panel | 94 SP

Plenty of density evident. A fine combination with concentration, a touch of smoke and richess on the palate, cut with direct acidity. Sunny and ripe yet remains fresh and focused. Will appeal when still relatively young but has the ability to age well.Decanter | 93 DEC

The 2022 Chablis Sainte Claire, which comes from organically grown fruit within several large parcels, is one of the hidden gems from Brocard. The enticing nose offers Mirabelle, wet stone and nuanced patisserie scents, with just a hint of white asparagus in the background. The palate is well-balanced, with a crisp bead of acidity and commendable depth. This is a strong follow-up to the impressive 2021; who knows, it may surpass it.Vinous Media | 90+ VM

Restrained on the nose, with a brooding, savoury character on the palate. Initially a bit more subdued than the ’straight’ Chablis Sainte Claire, this has the potential for future development given the concentration on show; certainly pushing premier cru quality, if not even higher. Julien Brocard explains that the vines here age up to 75 years, reaching down 25m into the soil.Decanter | 94 DECThe 2022 Chablis Vieilles Vignes de Sainte Claire has a more backward, less articulate nose than the regular cuvée at this time. The palate has a pleasing lick of salinity on the entry. With fine depth, this linear and taut Chablis will appeal to those seeking a more classic style in this warmer vintage. Excellent.Vinous Media | 91 VMAt least 60 years old. A clean clear colour with a green edge. There is notably more reduction here as well as a broader depth of white fruit. This terroir tends to reduce a little bit and that also explains the little youthful bitter touch. Yet the wine expands beautifully across the palate Drink from 2025-2029. Tasted: June 2023.Jasper Morris | 90 JM

Dense and rich style with a hint of reduction on the nose. More peach fruit than the citrus seen in Brocard’s other Chablis. Love the extra weight here, very classy and fine. Aged in wood (petit foudre of 15 hectolitres). Comes from a massale selection planted after the Second World War.Decanter | 93 DEC

Evoking aromas of flowers, peony, rose, lilac and iris mingled with delicate blackberry notes, the 2022 Echalas, matured for 18 months in barrel, possesses a medium to full-bodied, satiny and seamless palate with a creamy texture and an incisive mid-palate. It concludes with a penetrating, saline finish. This is a real success that could age beautifully over the next decade. Part of the La Noue parcel is planted with stakes or échalas, as in Northern Rhône.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 94 RP

Situated just 100 meters from the estate, the 2022 Sancerre Les Denisottes plot spans a modest 1.3 hectares of clay and calcareous soils known as “terres blanches” in Sancerre. Evoking a pure, delicate bouquet of ripe orchard fruits, spices, pear and licorice, it’s medium to full-bodied, satiny and mouth coating with a seamless texture, a fleshy core of fruit and a tense, ethereal, delicate finish enhanced by notes of citrus. Matured for 14 months in large wood barrels, this wine has the potential to gracefully reach its 15th anniversary in fine form.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 94+ RPThe 2022 Les Denisottes offers ripe fruit and tenderness. The clay-chalk soils provide a mouth-filling texture. And yet, it maintains a line of tension and purpose that you might not have anticipated on the first sip. The structured grip on the finish offers assurance and a frame for this wine to mature nicely. It is long and scented with nectarine, honeydew melon and subtle oak-derived nuances.Vinous Media | 93 VM

The 2022 Saumur Blanc from Lena Filliatreau is a lovely wine. The bouquet wafts from the glass in a vibrant blend of sweet quince, lemon, chalky soil tones, limepeel, a touch of lanolin and a topnote of dried flowers. On the palate the wine is bright, full-bodied and complex, with a lovely core of fruit, fine soil signature, zesty acids and excellent focus and grip on the long and very well balanced finish. Fine juice that is already quite easy to drink, but will be even better with a few years’ worth of bottle age. (Drink between 2023 - 2040)John Gilman | 92 JG

"The Chatin family purchased Château de Respide in 2021. Amelie Chatin is originally from the Champagne region and worked as an oenologist for Dom Ruinart for nine years prior to travelling and eventually settling here in Graves. Her regular bottling of Graves Blanc is made from a fifty-fifty blend of sauvignon blanc and sémillon, with the vines generally planted on gravelly or sandy soils, though some plots are on chalk. The wine is fermented and raised in stainless steel tanks. The 2022 version offers up a deep and complex bouquet of fresh fig, gooseberry, a lovely base of soil, gentle notes of fresh-cut grass and a topnote of lime zest. On the palate the wine is vibrant, focused and full-bodied, with lovely depth at the core, fine soil signature and grip, bouncy acids and excellent balance on the long, complex and very serious finish. This is outstanding white Graves."John Gilman | 91 JG