France
Despite its complacency and notable challenges from all-comers, France remains the world’s finest wine-producing nation, and its famous regions – Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, Loire, Rhône, Alsace and increasingly Languedoc-Roussillon – read like a who’s who of all you could want from a wine. Full-bodied or light, still or fizzy, dry or sweet, for drinking now or laying down, infinitesimal variety is one of France’s great attributes.
Despite their own complacency, occasional arrogance and impressive challenges from all-comers, France is still far and away the finest wine-producing nation in the world and its famous regions – Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, Loire, Rhône, Alsace and increasingly Languedoc Roussillon – read like a who’s who of all you could want from a wine. Full-bodied, light-bodied, still or fizzy, dry or sweet, simple or intellectual, weird and wonderful, for drinking now or for laying down, France’s infinitesimal variety of wines is one of its great attributes. And that’s without even mentioning Cognac and Armagnac.
France’s grape varieties are grown, and its wines emulated, throughout the world. It also brandishes with relish its trump card, the untranslatable terroir that shapes a wine’s character beyond the range of human knowledge and intervention. It is this terroir - a combination of soil and microclimate - that makes Vosne-Romanée taste different to Nuits-St Georges, Ch. Langoa Barton different to Ch. Léoville Barton.
France is a nation with over 2,000 years of winemaking, where the finest grapes and parcels of land have been selected through centuries of trial and error rather than market research. Its subtleties are never-ending and endlessly fascinating. Vintage variation is as great here as anywhere – rain, hail, frost and, occasionally, burning heat can ruin a vintage. Yet all this creates interest, giving the wines personality, and generating great excitement when everything does come together.
However, this is not to say that French wine is perfect. Its overall quality remains inconsistent and its intricate system of classification and Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée (AOC) based on geography as opposed to quality is clearly flawed, sometimes serving as a hindrance to experimentation and improvement.
Nevertheless, the future is bright for France: quality is better than ever before – driven by a young, well-travelled and ambitious generation of winemakers – while each year reveals new and exciting wines from this grand old dame.
Prices:
Bottle
£8.75
Bottle 12 x 75cl148cs
Bottle
£8.75
Bottle 12 x 75cl316cs
Simon Field MW - Wine Buyer, June 2017
Bottle
£8.75
Bottle 12 x 75cl121cs
Max Lalondrelle - Wine Buyer
Bottle
£9.25
Bottle 12 x 75cl352cs
H/Bottle
£9.50
H/Bottle 12 x 37.5cl37cs
Bottle
£17.50
Bottle 12 x 75cl413cs
Bottle
£9.65
Bottle 6 x 75cl9cs
Bottle
£9.95
Bottle 6 x 75cl26cs
Bottle
£9.95
Bottle 6 x 75cl35cs
Bottle
£10.42
Bottle 12 x 75cl67cs
Bottle
£10.45
Bottle 12 x 75cl16cs
On the nose, exotic fruits, perhaps even a touch of mango, citrus fruits, and a fantastic florality. A little grassy. Not to underestimate its weight and interest on the palate however, where the time in oak comes into its own. It could be enjoyed on its own or with food. The acidity would complement something rich, like a Mushroom Risotto or a Chicken dish. Drink it over a picnic or in your home. It will evoke images of cornflowers and meadows either way. In a word; summer.
Alice Brandon, Personal Wine Advisor
Bottle
£10.90
Bottle 6 x 75cl18cs
This is quite different from the hugely popular 2014, but just as impressive. Aromas of black fruit rather than red predominate and the alcohol, though worn lightly, is 1.5 percent higher – this due to a summer heat wave which worried even the most experienced vignerons in Beaujolais. Young Alexandre held his nerve, waiting for light rain to bring respite to the vines and therefore harvesting unwizened, juicy grapes which account for the winning freshness and sheer drinkability of his wine. A great candidate to be your “house wine” but consider it for grander occasions too.
Bottle
£10.95
Bottle 12 x 75cl70cs
With its lovely deep salmon colour the wine is immediately attractive, the nose does not disappoint: lots of zest and character and a slight smoky note; reminiscent of wild roses and pata negra. On the palate the wine is fresh and attractive with plenty of depth and body . The spicy end note is the perfect foil to the fruity mid-palate. Chilled well this wine is perfect for summer drinking - as an aperitif or with a summer barbeque!
Bottle
£11.00
Bottle 6 x 75cl52cs
Simon Field MW - Rhône Buyer
Domaines Durban and Bernardins are the two leading producers of Muscat de Beaumes de Venise, but made in completely contrasting styles and both worthy of inclusion here. Durban is located, in every sense, at the top of the village, its guiding principles being elegance and harmony of flavour. Although technically something of a misnomer, the phrase ‘Vin Doux Naturel’ seems most appropriate here.
H/Bottle
£11.25
H/Bottle 24 x 37.5cl2cs
Bottle
£18.95
Bottle 12 x 75cl6cs
This shows a rich, inviting nose of green apple, nettle and a delicate minerality, topped off with a just a hint of sea breeze. Fresh and generously fruity on the palate, the green apple persists with accompanying notes of pear, grass and citrus. Very clean and fresh, the finish is very moreish and would be the perfect accompaniment to a plate of oysters.
Bottle
£11.45
Bottle 12 x 75cl146cs
This is one of the nicest Viogniers we know, away from the variety’s Rhône heartland. It retains Viognier’s apricot and peach stone notes, but adds a cool stone dimension that lifts the wine away from any heaviness. This isn’t complex but is immediately delicious and a little bit different too.
Bottle
£11.70
Bottle 12 x 75cl44cs
From the excellent 2015 vintage, Native is a blend of concrete-aged Grenache and wood-aged Syrah and Mourvèdre. The Grenache’s silky tannins enrobe a pleasing dark-fruit core, with myrtle and red cherry both in evidence on the palate. Drink now to 2023.
Bottle
£11.95
Bottle 12 x 75cl10cs
Bottle 12 x 75cl1cs
A beautifully warm, dry summer enabled Jean-Luc Terrier and Christian Collovray to start picking their 2015 vintage exceptionally early. They have skilfully maintained a fresh approach to the fruit, which is full, vibrant and exciting this year. With white peach and summer flower notes, this classical White Burgundy is a delight to drink on its own or with a wide range of poultry, fish or lighter meat dishes.
A beautifully warm, dry summer enabled Jean-Luc Terrier and Christian Collovray to start picking their 2015 vintage exceptionally early. They have skilfully maintained a fresh approach to the fruit which is full, vibrant and exciting this year. With white peach and summer flower notes, this classical White Burgundy is a delight to drink on its own or with a wide range of poultry, fish or lighter meat dishes.
Jasper Morris M.W. - Wine Buyer
Bottle
£12.25
Bottle 12 x 75cl196cs
Bottle
£12.95
Bottle 12 x 75cl149cs
Bottle
£12.95
Bottle 12 x 75cl5cs
The 2016 vintage enjoyed a benevolent ripening season, even by Provençal standards, and this harmonious backdrop has been expertly captured by our friends at Mascaronne. Cinsault and Grenache are the majority shareholders here, and are perfectly complementary; the first floral and lifted, the second rounded and generous. The wine is a symphony of red fruit and soft spice, its gentle nacreous colour perfectly antithetical to the expressive and joyful fruit basket of the palate.
Bottle
£12.95
Bottle 6 x 75cl263cs
Bottle
£13.00
Bottle 12 x 75cl29cs
H/Bottle
£13.50
H/Bottle 12 x 37.5cl12cs
Bottle
£13.65
Bottle 12 x 75cl4cs
Simon Field MW, Wine Buyer
Bottle
£13.95
Bottle 12 x 75cl19cs
Bottle
£13.95
Bottle 12 x 75cl149cs
Martyn Rolph, Private Account Sales Manager.
Bottle
£14.00
Bottle 6 x 75cl21cs
Bottle
£14.00
Bottle 12 x 75cl2cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl2cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl4cs
Wines at this “petit château” level from the outstanding 2010 vintage are now at their prime. Here there are lovely evolved notes of plum and cedar, and a generous, neatly structured palate is driven by the equilibrium and exceptional conditions of the year.
An over-achieving estate for a number of years now, this dense purple wine exhibits oodles of creme de cassis and licorice, hints of subtle barbecue smoke and toast, terrific texture and a long, succulent, fleshy finish. It is not all that dissimilar from the 2009 in terms of its flamboyance and drinkability, although I suspect that analytically the pH is slightly lower and the tannins a bit higher than those of its older sibling. Drink it over the next 10-15 years.
Robert M. Parker, Jr. - The Wine Advocate# 205 - Feb 2013
Bottle
£14.00
Bottle 6 x 75cl103cs
Oliver Barton - Wine Buyer
Bottle
£14.15
Bottle 12 x 75cl14cs
Simon Field, MW - Wine Buyer
Bottle
£14.95
Bottle 12 x 75cl16cs
Simon Field MW - Wine Buyer, June 2017