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
Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
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|
Rhone | 1 | 99 (WA) |
Inc. GST
SG$859.79 |
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Wine Advocate (99)It is no secret that I adore Chapoutier's luxury cuvee of white Hermitage called Cuvee L'Oree. Made from 90-year old vines and microscopic yields of 10-12 hectoliters per hectare, this wine flirts with perfection. It is a compelling white Hermitage. Made from 100% Marsanne, it is as rich and multidimensional as the fullest, most massive Montrachet money can buy. It is unctuously textured, yet extraordinarily and beautifully balanced. I suspect it will drink well early in life, and then shut down for a few years. It should last for 4-5 decades. The 1996 possesses some of the most amazing glycerin levels I have ever seen in a dry white wine. In short, this wine must be tasted to be believed. Importer: Paterno Imports, Lake Bluff, IL; tel. (847) 604-8900 |
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Burgundy | 1 | - |
Inc. GST
SG$9,335.74 |
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|
Bordeaux | 1 | 96 (WS) |
Inc. GST
SG$2,377.75 |
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Wine Spectator (96)This leans toward the tropical side, with mango and guava notes out front, while maple, date, blood orange and citrus oil flavors fill in behind. The finish kicks into another gear, taking off with honeysuckle, orange blossom and frangipane accents. Has almost unbridled power today, while maintaining serious cut. A very impressive showing in a rather overlooked vintage. |
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|
Bordeaux | 1 | 96 (WS) |
Inc. GST
SG$2,504.66 |
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Wine Spectator (96)This leans toward the tropical side, with mango and guava notes out front, while maple, date, blood orange and citrus oil flavors fill in behind. The finish kicks into another gear, taking off with honeysuckle, orange blossom and frangipane accents. Has almost unbridled power today, while maintaining serious cut. A very impressive showing in a rather overlooked vintage. |
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|
Burgundy | 1 | - |
Inc. GST
SG$1,059.26 |
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|
Loire | 1 | 90 (VN) |
Inc. GST
SG$641.44 |
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Vinous (90)Nineteen nighty six wasn't a legendary vintage unlike the season that would follow. The 1996 Moulin Touchais Coteaux du Layon, a product of a fairly warm season, it is not overtly warm in its fruit profile with some lightly botrytised spice character, plus a rose-like scent, apricots and almonds. With just 76g/L of residual sugar it's not the sweetest interpretation, but its joy is its super smooth, refined texture. Medium length. |
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Bordeaux | 2 | 90 (VN (ST)) |
Inc. GST
SG$926.98 |
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Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (90)Straw-gold. Marzipan, honey and toasted hazelnut on the nose. Moderately viscous and currently rather oaky. Has an impressively chewy texture but is not yet displaying its personality. Finishes with some youthful harshness. The '97 is at once stronger and finer. |
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|
Burgundy | 1 | 93 (VN) |
Inc. GST
SG$15,601.13 |
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Vinous (93)Palish straw-yellow color; less bright than some vintages in this tasting. (I've seen published tasting notes on this wine dating back as far as a decade that described it as distinctly golden in color, but not this bottle!) Rather wild aromas of hawthorn, acacia flower, chalk and cedar, plus a hint of truffle; not about fruit. Powerful, large-scaled and penetrating on the palate; densely packed but a bit disjointed owing to its combination of sweetness and bracing acidity. Conveys a rare impression of solidity for Chablis, suggesting that it will live on in bottle for many more years. But will it ever truly be fun to drink? Dauvissat noted that there was not a lot of juice in the press in '96, and the wine is clearly high in dry extract. This wine actually finished its malolactic fermentation after the '97 Clos did, and it was bottled later than that wine. (Dauvissat described this wine as le monstre--a bit special for its combination of huge alcohol, gras and very high acidity; he picked what he described as a normal crop on September 23 with potential alcohol ranging from 12.5% to 14.5% and the wine finished with between 5 and 5.5 grams per liter acidity) |
Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Rhone | 1 | 99 (WA) |
In Bond
SG$769.00 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (99)It is no secret that I adore Chapoutier's luxury cuvee of white Hermitage called Cuvee L'Oree. Made from 90-year old vines and microscopic yields of 10-12 hectoliters per hectare, this wine flirts with perfection. It is a compelling white Hermitage. Made from 100% Marsanne, it is as rich and multidimensional as the fullest, most massive Montrachet money can buy. It is unctuously textured, yet extraordinarily and beautifully balanced. I suspect it will drink well early in life, and then shut down for a few years. It should last for 4-5 decades. The 1996 possesses some of the most amazing glycerin levels I have ever seen in a dry white wine. In short, this wine must be tasted to be believed. Importer: Paterno Imports, Lake Bluff, IL; tel. (847) 604-8900 |
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|
Burgundy | 1 | - |
In Bond
SG$8,555.00 |
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|
Bordeaux | 1 | 96 (WS) |
In Bond
SG$2,124.00 |
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Wine Spectator (96)This leans toward the tropical side, with mango and guava notes out front, while maple, date, blood orange and citrus oil flavors fill in behind. The finish kicks into another gear, taking off with honeysuckle, orange blossom and frangipane accents. Has almost unbridled power today, while maintaining serious cut. A very impressive showing in a rather overlooked vintage. |
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|
Bordeaux | 1 | 96 (WS) |
In Bond
SG$2,250.00 |
|||||
Wine Spectator (96)This leans toward the tropical side, with mango and guava notes out front, while maple, date, blood orange and citrus oil flavors fill in behind. The finish kicks into another gear, taking off with honeysuckle, orange blossom and frangipane accents. Has almost unbridled power today, while maintaining serious cut. A very impressive showing in a rather overlooked vintage. |
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|
Burgundy | 1 | - |
In Bond
SG$952.00 |
|||||
|
Loire | 1 | 90 (VN) |
In Bond
SG$537.00 |
|||||
Vinous (90)Nineteen nighty six wasn't a legendary vintage unlike the season that would follow. The 1996 Moulin Touchais Coteaux du Layon, a product of a fairly warm season, it is not overtly warm in its fruit profile with some lightly botrytised spice character, plus a rose-like scent, apricots and almonds. With just 76g/L of residual sugar it's not the sweetest interpretation, but its joy is its super smooth, refined texture. Medium length. |
|||||||||
|
Bordeaux | 2 | 90 (VN (ST)) |
In Bond
SG$795.00 |
|||||
Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (90)Straw-gold. Marzipan, honey and toasted hazelnut on the nose. Moderately viscous and currently rather oaky. Has an impressively chewy texture but is not yet displaying its personality. Finishes with some youthful harshness. The '97 is at once stronger and finer. |
|||||||||
|
Burgundy | 1 | 93 (VN) |
In Bond
SG$14,210.00 |
|||||
Vinous (93)Palish straw-yellow color; less bright than some vintages in this tasting. (I've seen published tasting notes on this wine dating back as far as a decade that described it as distinctly golden in color, but not this bottle!) Rather wild aromas of hawthorn, acacia flower, chalk and cedar, plus a hint of truffle; not about fruit. Powerful, large-scaled and penetrating on the palate; densely packed but a bit disjointed owing to its combination of sweetness and bracing acidity. Conveys a rare impression of solidity for Chablis, suggesting that it will live on in bottle for many more years. But will it ever truly be fun to drink? Dauvissat noted that there was not a lot of juice in the press in '96, and the wine is clearly high in dry extract. This wine actually finished its malolactic fermentation after the '97 Clos did, and it was bottled later than that wine. (Dauvissat described this wine as le monstre--a bit special for its combination of huge alcohol, gras and very high acidity; he picked what he described as a normal crop on September 23 with potential alcohol ranging from 12.5% to 14.5% and the wine finished with between 5 and 5.5 grams per liter acidity) |