France - All White Wines
France is revered for its exceptional white wines, which showcase the country's rich winemaking heritage, diverse terroirs, and unwavering commitment to quality. Today, let us embark on a journey through the best white wines that France has to offer, exploring renowned vineyards and the regions that give birth to these extraordinary expressions.
In Burgundy, the appellations of Chablis, Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet and Chassagne-Montrachet stand tall as the epitome of excellence in white wine production. Wineries such as Domaine Raveneau, Domaine Dauvissat, and Domaine Leflaive craft mesmerizing Chardonnays that capture the essence of the region's unique Kimmeridgian limestone soils. These wines exhibit precision, purity, and a remarkable balance of mineral notes, citrus flavors, and vibrant acidity.
Moving to the Loire Valley, the vineyards of Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé are celebrated for their exceptional Sauvignon Blancs. Domaine Vacheron, Domaine Didier Dagueneau, and Domaine Pascal Jolivet create expressive and terroir-driven wines that showcase the region's distinct flinty minerality, zesty citrus, and herbaceous undertones.
Further northeast in France, in the region of Alsace, vineyards such as Domaine Zind-Humbrecht, Domaine Trimbach, and Domaine Weinbach produce stunning white wines from varietals like Riesling, Gewürztraminer, and Pinot Gris. These wines display remarkable depth, aromatic complexity, and a balance between sweetness and acidity, reflecting the region's unique microclimates and granite-rich soils.
In Bordeaux, the region of Graves is renowned for its white wines, particularly those crafted from the classic grape varieties of Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon. Château Haut-Brion, Château Pape Clément, and Domaine de Chevalier are esteemed vineyards that produce rich and age-worthy white Bordeaux wines. These wines exhibit a beautiful interplay of tropical fruit flavors, vibrant acidity, and a touch of toasty oak.
Finally, in the Rhône Valley, the appellation of Condrieu shines as a beacon of excellence in Viognier production. Renowned vineyards such as Domaine Georges Vernay and Domaine Yves Cuilleron create remarkable Viognier wines that seduce the senses with their exotic aromas of apricot, peach, and delicate floral notes. These wines showcase richness, elegance, and a silky texture that lingers on the palate.
France - All White Wines
-
Vinous (93)
(about 50% frost; made from very old, low-yielding vines): Bright, light yellow-green. Pungently mineral scents of lime zest, white flowers, crushed rock, anise, caraway seed and mint. At once vibrant and thick, with flavors of underripe pineapple and grapefruit pith displaying terrific energy and lift. This beauty expanded with air to reveal a silkier texture, outstanding purity and a captivating crushed-chalk dustiness. Incidentally, Pierre-Yves Colin told me that he's currently enjoying white wines from his 2003 through 2006 vintages at home--but nothing younger than that.Inc. GSTSG$1,394.98 -
Inc. GSTSG$2,973.32
-
Burghound (95)
Here the nose is firmly reduced so in the unlikely event you're interested in opening a bottle right away, be sure to give it 30 minutes or so of air and decanting it would be better still. Otherwise, there is slightly better underlying energy to the rich yet nicely detailed, even precise, middleweight plus flavors that also deliver impressive length on the bitter lemon-inflected finale. While this isn't as structured as it usually is, it's still going to need close to a decade if you wish to see the '19 Bâtard at its peak.Inc. GSTSG$3,693.44 -
Inc. GSTSG$1,318.68
-
Inc. GSTSG$928.48
-
Inc. GSTSG$1,236.93
-
Inc. GSTSG$1,251.12
-
Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (92-94)
(in tank) Lemon and honeysuckle on the nose. At once rich and taut, with firm flavors of crystallized lemon peel and stone kept in check by strong acidity. This very tight, firmly constructed wine finishes with terrific grip. From vines averaging nearly 35 years of age.Inc. GSTSG$2,116.95 -
Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (95)
(5 Star Wine) Pale colour I instantly fall in love with this nose. An explosion of fresh white peaches on the nose, really gorgeous, with a massive concentration without heat or being clumsy. What else to say?Inc. GSTSG$1,659.15 -
Wine Advocate (90)
The 2013 Chablis 1er Cru Fôrets has a very attractive, pine needle-tinged bouquet with a subtle mineral element (wet limestone) in the background. The palate is fresh on the entry with crisp acidity, clearly a level up from the village cru, with hints of shaved ginger flourishing toward the finish. This is showing nicely. There is something nonchalant about this Fôrets, although it needs perhaps just another year in bottle.Inc. GSTSG$1,389.53 -
Vinous (92+)
The 2016 Chablis Forêt 1er Cru is a little more tight-lipped on the nose compared to the Les Montmains, requiring more coaxing from the glass. That could be a sign of bottle shock. The palate is very promising with a crisp line of acidity, gentle grip and a live-wire, spicy finish that matches the exotic style of the vintage. This warms up in the glass and shows great potential, but may require your patience.Inc. GSTSG$1,304.90 -
Burghound (92)
(Outstanding) Along with the Blanchots this is the most floral wine in the range with its elegant nose of pear, apple, spice and soft apricot nuances that exhibit just enough Chablis typicity to be persuasive. There is a lovely sense of vibrancy to the delicious and very rounded medium-bodied flavors that possess fine depth and excellent length on the mouth coating and powerful finish. While not quite at its usual level this is certainly a fine effort in the context of the vintage.Inc. GSTSG$1,512.00 -
Vinous (95)
The 2017 Chablis Montée de Tonnerre 1er Cru is one of the classiest and most refined wines in this range. Light, gracious and impossibly refined, the Montée de Tonnerre shows why this premier cru is so highly regarded. All the elements are perfectly in place. Silky, pliant and wonderfully expressive, with terrific energy, the Montée de Tonnerre hits all the right notes. In a word: sublime.Inc. GSTSG$1,888.05 -
Burghound (95)
This is perhaps the most elegant and floral-infused wine in the range with its array of various white flower scents, especially acacia that are nuanced by wisps of ocean breeze, iodine and algae. The restrained and well-detailed flavors possess a sophisticated and refined mouthfeel while the stony and chiseled finish exhibiting excellent persistence on the bone-dry finish. This is class in a glass and a stunning rendition of the appellation though note well that at least moderate patience is strongly advised.Inc. GSTSG$1,473.85 -
Vinous (93-95)
The 2018 Chablis Vaillons 1er Cru offers striking precision in its combination of density, richness and energy. Absolutely nothing stands out in a wine that truly dazzles from the very first taste. Citrus, slate, white pepper, mint and crushed rocks all race out of the glass as the aromatics come alive with a bit of air. The Vaillons is one of the more complete wines among the 1er Crus in this range.Inc. GSTSG$1,533.80 -
Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (91)
(5-Star Wine) One plot is in Valvent opposite 1er cru Epinottes, the other opposite Forêts. There is more yellow in the colour here than the Petit Chablis, with an exceptional intensity that makes it almost hard to taste. Immaculate youthful bitterness and great length.Inc. GSTSG$1,090.17 -
Wine Advocate (97)
The 2014 Chablis Grand Cru Blanchots is a contender for Domaine Raveneau's finest release in this great year for Chablis. It has an extremely well defined, marine-influenced bouquet that delivers captivating intensity. This is a Chablis that looks you straight between the eyes. The palate displays exquisite balance with razor-sharp acidity. It feels so lively and vivacious, with a wonderful sense of harmony and poise towards the finish. This is sophisticated and classy, but it will need 4-6 years to really settle into its groove. You cannot bestow too many superlatives here.Inc. GSTSG$2,923.55 -
Regnard Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru 1999 is an exquisite, mature Burgundian Chardonnay produced in the celebrated Premier Cru vineyards of the Côte de Beaune. This grand vin owes its elegance to Maison Regnard, one of Chablis' oldest houses, whose production is steeped in tradition yet underpinned by modern winemaking techniques. Harvested by hand and aged in oak for a minimum of 18 months, the richly flavoured green-gold vintage embodies eloquence in a bottle.
Its full-bodied palate reveals balanced acidity and a complexity that only comes from well-aged wine, intermingling flavours of ripe pears, honey, almonds and earthy undertones. The finish lingers, soft and buttery yet with a hint of minerality typical of Chardonnay's of this calibre. Experts laud Regnard Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru 1999 as a testament to Regnard's exceptional traditional winemaking practices, a true masterpiece that is testament to one of Burgundy's proudest heritages.
Inc. GSTSG$4,703.13 -
Radiating beauty, elegance, and balance, the Richard Leroy Les Noels Montbenault 2018 is a resplendent Chenin Blanc that sets the benchmark for French wine. Produced in the Loire Valley, the fertile heartland for French viticulture, this product hails from a seven-hectare vineyard lovingly tended by Richard Leroy himself. This innovative vintner shuns modern techniques, favouring minimal intervention and low yields, resulting in a wine of exceptional depth and complexity.
The 2018 vintage is a masterpiece of balance, blending invigorating acidity with heady aromas of ripe pear, baked apple, honey, and gentle hints of vanilla. Blessed with tremendous aging potential, it delivers a fruit-driven palate supported by an enduring mineral streak from the Montbenault's renowned limestone-rich soil. Nerudite wine enthusiasts and novices alike will delight in the elegant structure and tantalising finish of the Richard Leroy Les Noels Montbenault 2018, a wine synonymous with excellence and harmony.
Inc. GSTSG$1,236.93 -
Wine Advocate (95+)
A striking young wine, Dauvissat's brilliant 2020 Chablis 1er Cru La Forest unfurls in the glass with aromas of crisp orchard fruit, orange oil, pear, oyster shell, freshly baked bread and smoke, framed by a deft touch of reduction. Medium to full-bodied, deep and multidimensional, it's taut and concentrated, with racy acids, chalky structuring and a long, searingly mineral finish. Recent years have delivered so many brilliant renditions of La Forest that it's hard to pick a favorite between the likes of 2008, 2014, 2017 and 2019, but the 2020 is certainly a worthy entrant into the competition, and it's worth a special effort to seek out.Inc. GSTSG$829.66 -
Inc. GSTSG$494.64
-
Vinous (93)
(about 50% frost; made from very old, low-yielding vines): Bright, light yellow-green. Pungently mineral scents of lime zest, white flowers, crushed rock, anise, caraway seed and mint. At once vibrant and thick, with flavors of underripe pineapple and grapefruit pith displaying terrific energy and lift. This beauty expanded with air to reveal a silkier texture, outstanding purity and a captivating crushed-chalk dustiness. Incidentally, Pierre-Yves Colin told me that he's currently enjoying white wines from his 2003 through 2006 vintages at home--but nothing younger than that.In BondSG$1,260.00 -
In BondSG$2,710.00
-
Burghound (95)
Here the nose is firmly reduced so in the unlikely event you're interested in opening a bottle right away, be sure to give it 30 minutes or so of air and decanting it would be better still. Otherwise, there is slightly better underlying energy to the rich yet nicely detailed, even precise, middleweight plus flavors that also deliver impressive length on the bitter lemon-inflected finale. While this isn't as structured as it usually is, it's still going to need close to a decade if you wish to see the '19 Bâtard at its peak.In BondSG$3,370.00 -
In BondSG$1,190.00
-
In BondSG$834.00
-
In BondSG$1,115.00
-
In BondSG$1,130.00
-
Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (92-94)
(in tank) Lemon and honeysuckle on the nose. At once rich and taut, with firm flavors of crystallized lemon peel and stone kept in check by strong acidity. This very tight, firmly constructed wine finishes with terrific grip. From vines averaging nearly 35 years of age.In BondSG$1,925.00 -
Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (95)
(5 Star Wine) Pale colour I instantly fall in love with this nose. An explosion of fresh white peaches on the nose, really gorgeous, with a massive concentration without heat or being clumsy. What else to say?In BondSG$1,505.00 -
Wine Advocate (90)
The 2013 Chablis 1er Cru Fôrets has a very attractive, pine needle-tinged bouquet with a subtle mineral element (wet limestone) in the background. The palate is fresh on the entry with crisp acidity, clearly a level up from the village cru, with hints of shaved ginger flourishing toward the finish. This is showing nicely. There is something nonchalant about this Fôrets, although it needs perhaps just another year in bottle.In BondSG$1,255.00 -
Vinous (92+)
The 2016 Chablis Forêt 1er Cru is a little more tight-lipped on the nose compared to the Les Montmains, requiring more coaxing from the glass. That could be a sign of bottle shock. The palate is very promising with a crisp line of acidity, gentle grip and a live-wire, spicy finish that matches the exotic style of the vintage. This warms up in the glass and shows great potential, but may require your patience.In BondSG$1,180.00 -
Burghound (92)
(Outstanding) Along with the Blanchots this is the most floral wine in the range with its elegant nose of pear, apple, spice and soft apricot nuances that exhibit just enough Chablis typicity to be persuasive. There is a lovely sense of vibrancy to the delicious and very rounded medium-bodied flavors that possess fine depth and excellent length on the mouth coating and powerful finish. While not quite at its usual level this is certainly a fine effort in the context of the vintage.In BondSG$1,370.00 -
Vinous (95)
The 2017 Chablis Montée de Tonnerre 1er Cru is one of the classiest and most refined wines in this range. Light, gracious and impossibly refined, the Montée de Tonnerre shows why this premier cru is so highly regarded. All the elements are perfectly in place. Silky, pliant and wonderfully expressive, with terrific energy, the Montée de Tonnerre hits all the right notes. In a word: sublime.In BondSG$1,715.00 -
Burghound (95)
This is perhaps the most elegant and floral-infused wine in the range with its array of various white flower scents, especially acacia that are nuanced by wisps of ocean breeze, iodine and algae. The restrained and well-detailed flavors possess a sophisticated and refined mouthfeel while the stony and chiseled finish exhibiting excellent persistence on the bone-dry finish. This is class in a glass and a stunning rendition of the appellation though note well that at least moderate patience is strongly advised.In BondSG$1,335.00 -
Vinous (93-95)
The 2018 Chablis Vaillons 1er Cru offers striking precision in its combination of density, richness and energy. Absolutely nothing stands out in a wine that truly dazzles from the very first taste. Citrus, slate, white pepper, mint and crushed rocks all race out of the glass as the aromatics come alive with a bit of air. The Vaillons is one of the more complete wines among the 1er Crus in this range.In BondSG$1,390.00 -
Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (91)
(5-Star Wine) One plot is in Valvent opposite 1er cru Epinottes, the other opposite Forêts. There is more yellow in the colour here than the Petit Chablis, with an exceptional intensity that makes it almost hard to taste. Immaculate youthful bitterness and great length.In BondSG$983.00 -
Wine Advocate (97)
The 2014 Chablis Grand Cru Blanchots is a contender for Domaine Raveneau's finest release in this great year for Chablis. It has an extremely well defined, marine-influenced bouquet that delivers captivating intensity. This is a Chablis that looks you straight between the eyes. The palate displays exquisite balance with razor-sharp acidity. It feels so lively and vivacious, with a wonderful sense of harmony and poise towards the finish. This is sophisticated and classy, but it will need 4-6 years to really settle into its groove. You cannot bestow too many superlatives here.In BondSG$2,665.00 -
Regnard Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru 1999 is an exquisite, mature Burgundian Chardonnay produced in the celebrated Premier Cru vineyards of the Côte de Beaune. This grand vin owes its elegance to Maison Regnard, one of Chablis' oldest houses, whose production is steeped in tradition yet underpinned by modern winemaking techniques. Harvested by hand and aged in oak for a minimum of 18 months, the richly flavoured green-gold vintage embodies eloquence in a bottle.
Its full-bodied palate reveals balanced acidity and a complexity that only comes from well-aged wine, intermingling flavours of ripe pears, honey, almonds and earthy undertones. The finish lingers, soft and buttery yet with a hint of minerality typical of Chardonnay's of this calibre. Experts laud Regnard Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru 1999 as a testament to Regnard's exceptional traditional winemaking practices, a true masterpiece that is testament to one of Burgundy's proudest heritages.
In BondSG$4,295.00 -
Radiating beauty, elegance, and balance, the Richard Leroy Les Noels Montbenault 2018 is a resplendent Chenin Blanc that sets the benchmark for French wine. Produced in the Loire Valley, the fertile heartland for French viticulture, this product hails from a seven-hectare vineyard lovingly tended by Richard Leroy himself. This innovative vintner shuns modern techniques, favouring minimal intervention and low yields, resulting in a wine of exceptional depth and complexity.
The 2018 vintage is a masterpiece of balance, blending invigorating acidity with heady aromas of ripe pear, baked apple, honey, and gentle hints of vanilla. Blessed with tremendous aging potential, it delivers a fruit-driven palate supported by an enduring mineral streak from the Montbenault's renowned limestone-rich soil. Nerudite wine enthusiasts and novices alike will delight in the elegant structure and tantalising finish of the Richard Leroy Les Noels Montbenault 2018, a wine synonymous with excellence and harmony.
In BondSG$1,115.00 -
Wine Advocate (95+)
A striking young wine, Dauvissat's brilliant 2020 Chablis 1er Cru La Forest unfurls in the glass with aromas of crisp orchard fruit, orange oil, pear, oyster shell, freshly baked bread and smoke, framed by a deft touch of reduction. Medium to full-bodied, deep and multidimensional, it's taut and concentrated, with racy acids, chalky structuring and a long, searingly mineral finish. Recent years have delivered so many brilliant renditions of La Forest that it's hard to pick a favorite between the likes of 2008, 2014, 2017 and 2019, but the 2020 is certainly a worthy entrant into the competition, and it's worth a special effort to seek out.In BondSG$744.00 -
In BondSG$434.00