France
The vast and diverse wine regions of France, each with its own unique terroirs, grape varieties, and winemaking techniques, are a treasure trove.
In Bordeaux, the birthplace of some of the world's most iconic wines, esteemed vineyards such as Château Lafite Rothschild, Château Margaux, Château Latour, and Château Haut-Brion produce exceptional red wines, showcasing the art of blending Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Malbec. The region is also renowned for its exquisite white wines, with vineyards like Château d'Yquem and Domaine de Chevalier producing legendary sweet wines.
Moving to Burgundy, the vineyards of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Domaine Leroy, and Domaine Armand Rousseau capture the essence of the region's revered terroir, crafting exquisite red wines from the Pinot Noir grape. Meanwhile, Domaine Leflaive and Domaine Coche-Dury are celebrated for their world-class white wines, predominantly made from Chardonnay.
The Champagne region, known for its sparkling wines, boasts illustrious houses such as Krug, Dom Pérignon, and Moët & Chandon, as well as grower-producers like Pierre Péters and Jacques Selosse. These vineyards create exceptional sparkling wines using the traditional method, offering a symphony of delicate bubbles, elegant flavors, and vibrant acidity.
In the Rhône Valley, iconic vineyards like Chapoutier, E. Guigal, and Château de Beaucastel produce remarkable red wines in the northern appellations of Hermitage, Côte-Rôtie, and Cornas, showcasing the elegance and power of Syrah. Further south, Châteauneuf-du-Pape is celebrated for its rich and full-bodied red blends, with Château Rayas and Clos des Papes leading the way.
In Alsace, vineyards such as Domaine Zind-Humbrecht and omaine Trimbach craft exquisite white wines, including Riesling, Gewürztraminer, and Pinot Gris, expressing the region's unique terroir and varietal character.
These are just a few highlights among the diverse array of wines that France offers. From the Loire Valley's crisp whites and elegant reds to the Languedoc-Roussillon's bold and robust wines, each region presents its own vinous treasures.
France
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Inc. GSTSG$547.94
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Wine Advocate (97)
The bottle of Bollinger's 1973 R. D. was utterly pristine, soaring from the glass with a stunning bouquet of candied orange rind, mocha, dried white flowers, iodine and pralines. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, deep and vinous, with a creamily textural attack, striking complexity, a pinpoint mousse and a long, elegantly mordant finish. Any readers who can find a perfectly preserved bottle shouldn't hesitate.Inc. GSTSG$1,856.18 -
Celebrating a milestone in winemaking history, the exceptional Dom Ruinart Blanc Blanc 250th Anniversary 1973 Vintage Released in 1979 1973 encapsulates the essence of exquisite French sophistication. This wine is a creation of Ruinart, a seasoned Maison founded in 1729, famed for crafting vibrant Champagnes solely from white Chardonnay grapes sourced from the prestigious Côte Des Blancs and Montagne De Reims terroirs. This vintage embodies half a century of expertise, echoing the initial prestige of Ruinart's Blanc de Blancs. Its maturation in the crayeuses cellars, a UNESCO World Heritage site, under Reims lends it a unique character, mineral freshness and homogenous quality. Nuanced with elegant citrus and white fruit flavours and a subtly resonating minerality, this effervescent Champagne offers an exceptional gustatory experience. The Dom Ruinart Blanc Blanc 250th Anniversary 1973 Vintage Released in 1979 1973 signals a refined and memorable taste of true French viticulture heritage.
Inc. GSTSG$1,400.54 -
Wine Advocate (72)
One of the charming 1973s, this light, somewhat watery, thin wine has Lafite's classic perfumed bouquet, short, compact, agreeable flavors, and little tannin. That was in 1980, the last time I tasted it. Anticipated maturity: Now-probably in serious decline. Last tasted, 12/80.Inc. GSTSG$2,615.78 -
Vinous - Neal Martin (91)
Winemaker and Pomerol deity Jean-Claude Berrouet has often told me how he considers the 1975 Pétrus as his first success, the preceding vintages more trial and error. (Those who have savored the 1964, 1966, 1970 and 1971 might beg to differ.) Yet the quality of this 1973 was undeniable. I had encountered it once before, a bottle opened for my brother to celebrate his birth-year over a decade ago when such off-vintages, eschewed by all but the reckless, were affordable. But I could not remember it being this fine. “You should not under-estimate the Pomerols in 1973,” Lord Bruce advised. Who am I to argue in such vinous presence? Whether a horizontal of 1973 Pomerol wines will serve the Vinous readership is another question. The salient lesson from this bottle was to never ever dismiss a bottle by dint of birth-year. Humans and wine alike cannot determine the year they are born. It is more a question of having to search harder in some years than others.Inc. GSTSG$3,115.85 -
Inc. GSTSG$1,204.34
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In BondSG$473.00
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Wine Advocate (97)
The bottle of Bollinger's 1973 R. D. was utterly pristine, soaring from the glass with a stunning bouquet of candied orange rind, mocha, dried white flowers, iodine and pralines. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, deep and vinous, with a creamily textural attack, striking complexity, a pinpoint mousse and a long, elegantly mordant finish. Any readers who can find a perfectly preserved bottle shouldn't hesitate.In BondSG$1,695.00 -
Celebrating a milestone in winemaking history, the exceptional Dom Ruinart Blanc Blanc 250th Anniversary 1973 Vintage Released in 1979 1973 encapsulates the essence of exquisite French sophistication. This wine is a creation of Ruinart, a seasoned Maison founded in 1729, famed for crafting vibrant Champagnes solely from white Chardonnay grapes sourced from the prestigious Côte Des Blancs and Montagne De Reims terroirs. This vintage embodies half a century of expertise, echoing the initial prestige of Ruinart's Blanc de Blancs. Its maturation in the crayeuses cellars, a UNESCO World Heritage site, under Reims lends it a unique character, mineral freshness and homogenous quality. Nuanced with elegant citrus and white fruit flavours and a subtly resonating minerality, this effervescent Champagne offers an exceptional gustatory experience. The Dom Ruinart Blanc Blanc 250th Anniversary 1973 Vintage Released in 1979 1973 signals a refined and memorable taste of true French viticulture heritage.
In BondSG$1,275.00 -
Wine Advocate (72)
One of the charming 1973s, this light, somewhat watery, thin wine has Lafite's classic perfumed bouquet, short, compact, agreeable flavors, and little tannin. That was in 1980, the last time I tasted it. Anticipated maturity: Now-probably in serious decline. Last tasted, 12/80.In BondSG$2,380.00 -
Vinous - Neal Martin (91)
Winemaker and Pomerol deity Jean-Claude Berrouet has often told me how he considers the 1975 Pétrus as his first success, the preceding vintages more trial and error. (Those who have savored the 1964, 1966, 1970 and 1971 might beg to differ.) Yet the quality of this 1973 was undeniable. I had encountered it once before, a bottle opened for my brother to celebrate his birth-year over a decade ago when such off-vintages, eschewed by all but the reckless, were affordable. But I could not remember it being this fine. “You should not under-estimate the Pomerols in 1973,” Lord Bruce advised. Who am I to argue in such vinous presence? Whether a horizontal of 1973 Pomerol wines will serve the Vinous readership is another question. The salient lesson from this bottle was to never ever dismiss a bottle by dint of birth-year. Humans and wine alike cannot determine the year they are born. It is more a question of having to search harder in some years than others.In BondSG$2,850.00 -
In BondSG$1,095.00