France
Wine is being produced throughout France and has been done for over 2,500 years with certain Châteaux dating their history back to Roman times, around 6th Century BC. Ranking second in the world in per-capita consumption and first in total production quantity. More-so than the overall quantity of wine is the quantity of truly great wines coming out of France makes the nation the envy of wine-making nations worldwide.
Two concepts pivotal to the higher end French wines, in particular, are the idea of 'terroir' and the Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC) system. Terroir refers to the way the geography, geology and climate find their way into the glass, telling a story of the origin of the wine. The AOC was set up in 1935 and has the primary goal of protecting the authenticity of the wines and the livelihoods of the producers. Appellation rules strictly define which varieties of grapes and winemaking practices are approved for classification in each of France's several hundred geographically defined appellations, which can cover entire regions, individual villages or in some cases, like in Burgundy even specific vineyards.
Classic wine regions in France include Champagne (home of Champagne), Burgundy (Pinot Noir and Chardonnay), Bordeaux (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot), Alsace (Aromatic varietals), Loire Valley (Chenin Blanc, Crémant) and the Rhône Valley (Syrah, Grenache Mourvedre)
The Bordeaux classification of 1855 is still in use, as is the Sauternes and Barsac Classification of the same year. Wines from certain regions can be bought En Primeur, which is when the wine is sold prior to it being bottled.
Two concepts pivotal to the higher end French wines, in particular, are the idea of 'terroir' and the Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC) system. Terroir refers to the way the geography, geology and climate find their way into the glass, telling a story of the origin of the wine. The AOC was set up in 1935 and has the primary goal of protecting the authenticity of the wines and the livelihoods of the producers. Appellation rules strictly define which varieties of grapes and winemaking practices are approved for classification in each of France's several hundred geographically defined appellations, which can cover entire regions, individual villages or in some cases, like in Burgundy even specific vineyards.
Classic wine regions in France include Champagne (home of Champagne), Burgundy (Pinot Noir and Chardonnay), Bordeaux (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot), Alsace (Aromatic varietals), Loire Valley (Chenin Blanc, Crémant) and the Rhône Valley (Syrah, Grenache Mourvedre)
The Bordeaux classification of 1855 is still in use, as is the Sauternes and Barsac Classification of the same year. Wines from certain regions can be bought En Primeur, which is when the wine is sold prior to it being bottled.
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Checking in as a mix of 85% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon brought up in 50% new oak, the 2018 Château Chauvin is a rich, powerful wine that clearly ranks with the finest wines from this address in the past decade ... Learn More -
This 13-hectare vineyard is situated northwest of the town of Saint-Émilion. The vines are an average of 30 years old and are planted to a mix of sand and clay-based soils. Deep purple-black in color, the 2018 Corbin opens with seductive ... Learn More -
The deep garnet-purple colored 2018 Desmirail comes rolling out of the glass with exuberant blackcurrant cordial, prunes and baked cherries scents plus hints of tobacco, fried herbs and woodsmoke. Medium to full-bodied, it has a firm, chewy texture with just enough ... Learn More -
A blend of Grenache 35%, Cinsaut 35%, Syrah 20%, Vermentino 10% Michel Reybier, owner of Bordeaux château Cos d’Estournel purchased this Certified Organic estate that was once a part of Brad and Angelina’s Chateau Miraval Located in Côtes-de-Provence, La Mascaronne’ ... Learn MoreChateau La Mascaronne Provence Rose 2020 Magnum$94.99 Per item -
An exceptional quality 1er Cru Chablis from an extraordinary producer and site, this is quickly becoming one of the best value Burgundies imported into Australia each year. After airing, this wine presents a perfect balance between fresh minerality and very ... Learn More -
The 2018 Lynch-Moussas is super-expressive and very nicely woven together. Bright red berry fruit, floral notes and silky tannins give the wine striking persistence to match its understated personality. All the elements are impeccably balanced in a wine that is so ... Learn More -
Château Fonroque wines are naturally rich and sophisticated. Clay provides power and depth. Limestone adds a distinct mineral character. Oaking is done minimally, with 30% aged in new large barrels and the remainder in either small barrels that have held ... Learn MoreChateau Fonroque 2021 (En Primeur - Delivery 2024)$97.00 Per item -
Château Phélan-Ségur is a St Estèphe property that produces textbook meaty, solid and long-lived St Estèphe. Founded by Irishman Bernard O’Phelan, the estate was developed by his son, Frank, and renamed Phélan Sé ... Learn MoreChateau Phelan Segur 2017 (En Primeur)$97.00 Per item -
The Château Valandraud 2018 ranks among the elite Grands Crus Classés of Saint-Émilion in a very good vintage for Bordeaux. Deep purple-black in color, the 2018 Virginie de Valandraud opens a little broody with notes of damp soil, truffles ... Learn More -
This good value classed growth Pauillac was formerly known as Mouton Baronne Philippe and is made by the same wine-making team as Mouton Rothschild. The blend here in 2018 was 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot. Medium-deep purple in ... Learn More -
Voted one of the Top 5 Producers by Decanter Magazine in 2018, alongside some of the most well-known producers, Domaine JL Chave and M Chapoutier. Gorgeous intensity of fruit and secondary characters on the nose; rose petal, stone, smoked meat, duck, so ... Learn MoreVignobles Chirat Cote Rotie La Rose Brune 2017$99.00 Per item -
This indulgent pampering gift pack with wine, gourmet chocolates and soothing bath salts is sure to hit the mark with Mum. Mother's Day only comes around once a year, so make it count! That’s why this pack includes ... Learn More
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Rully blanc is one of the secrets in Burgundy. It produces wines that can surprise with their complexity and verve. This year again we have a super nose full of freshness and tension. In 2018 again this has real citric freshness ... Learn More -
Composed of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc and without any new oak, the very deep purple-black colored 2018 Echo de Lynch Bages rolls seductively out of the glass with fragrant notes of candied violets, rose hip tea and fragrant soil ... Learn More -
First made as a single parcel in 2010, La Côte comes from the majestic La Grande Côte vineyard, a south to south-east facing hillside on the outskirts of Chavignol. ... Learn MoreGerard Boulay La Cote Sancerre 2017$101.00 Per item -
This feels closed in and confident but is not giving much away. It has a silky texture with firm and bristling tannins - you can feel the latent power, pretty much in line with 2010 or 2016 in terms of its construction. ... Learn More -
This good value classed growth Pauillac was formerly known as Mouton Baronne Philippe and is made by the same wine-making team as Mouton Rothschild. Medium-deep purple in the glass, with a mixture of sweet red and black fruits on the ... Learn MoreChateau D’Armailhac 2021 (En Primeur - Delivery 2024)$105.00 Per item -
This south-facing walled vineyard is situated in the combe of Nuits-St Georges and was previously known as Clos de la Roche. The Aligoté Doré vines were planted in 1978 and undergo a week-long skin maceration before pressing and fermentation in old ... Learn More -
Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 La Tour Figeac starts off a little shy, giving way to bright, vibrant scents of crushed black and red cherries, warm plums and wild blueberries with hints of violets, licorice, woodsmoke and garrigue. Full-bodied, it has ... Learn More -
Château Sociando-Mallet is a wine estate located in the northern Médoc (the wines are bottled under Haut-Médoc appellation), and generally regarded as the equal of many classed growths. Although not featured in the 1855 Bordeaux classification, the property ... Learn MoreChateau Sociando-Mallet 2015$107.99 Per item -
The upper Médoc did brilliantly in 2018, and that's certainly apparent when tasting the 2018 Château Lafon-Rochet. Sporting a deep purple hue as well as a gorgeous bouquet of ripe black and blue fruits, lead pencil, forest floor, chocolate, and ... Learn More -
Coming from a set of plots located high up in the village of Savennières, on a plateau of aeolian sands and deep black schists, the “Gaudrets” cuvée embodies the typical profile of Savennières wines. This cuvée ... Learn MoreDomaine Belargus Savennières “Gaudrets” 2018$109.99 Per item -
WINNER, Best Buy Wines IMPORTS OVER $35, Gourmet Traveller Magazine August 2021 The history of the Drappier family began in the 13th century, when Saint Bernard built a block of flats in Urville for the Abbey Clairvaux. The all new cuvée ... Learn MoreChampagne Drappier 'Clarevallis' Organic Extra Brut Nv$109.99 Per item -
Jean-Manuel Jacquinot obtained a degree in Oenology at the esteemed University of Reims. After this he became trainee oenologist at the world famous house of Veuve Clicquot. Today, Jean-Manuel has over 20 years of experience in making Champagne, is a Member ... Learn MoreJacquinot & Fils Blanc de Noirs Brut Champagne$109.99 Per item -
Domaine Charvin is a southern Rhône producer based in the famous village of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Its wines are mostly Grenache-dominant blends, with smaller amounts of Syrah, Mourvèdre, Vaccarese, Bourboulenc and Carignan. The domaine was established in 1851 in Châ ... Learn MoreDomaine Charvin Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2011$110.00 Per item -
Located along the path of the Rhone River, the Rhone wine region in southeastern France is beautiful and very productive. It's typically divided into two sub-regions, the Northern Rhone and Southern Rhone, and the wines produced in these sub-regions are ... Learn MoreDomaine De Marcoux Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2011$110.00 Per item -
This is from a very small parcel underneath Meix Caillet. This year it again shows as Chablis-esque with sea spray, iodine, and white flowers framing the aromas along with very gentle (and classy) reduction. The wine is very racy and ... Learn More -
This 2018 is true to the Faugères signature of big, bold and totally confident in its tannic and fruit structure. It's high in alcohol but also high in acidity, with great structure without trying to push its agenda. The big, ... Learn MoreChateau Faugères 2018 (Ex Chateau arrival time 4 months)$110.25 Per item -
Most of the plots that were planted since 2011 have gone into this. This second wine represents 41% of the crop. A blend of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc, the very deep purple-black colored 2018 Reserve de la Comtesse opens ... Learn More -
The Grand Vin of the estate, the Château Dassault 2018 expresses all the typicality of a Grand Cru Classé from Saint-Émilion. Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Dassault has pronounced scents of baked red and black plums, fruitcake and raspberry coulis ... Learn MoreChateau Dassault 2018 (Ex Chateau arrival time 4 months)$112.00 Per item -
Château Chasse-Spleen is a winery in the Moulis-en-Médoc appellation to the west of Margaux. It has long been viewed as the leading estate in that appellation – alongside Château Poujeaux – and is widely regarded, if not of being ... Learn MoreChateau Chasse-Spleen 2016$114.99 Per item -
Domaine Gagnard-Delagrange was created in 1959 with the marriage of Jacques Gagnard to Marie-Josèphe Delagrange. After the death of Jacques Gagnard in 2009, the domaine retained 7.4 acres of vineyards and continues to be run by Jacque’s widow, Marie-Josèphe, and ... Learn More -
Domaine de Cristia is a wine estate located in Courthézon, in the eastern reaches of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The vineyards are dominated by Grenache, alongside Syrah and Mourvèdre, as well as white grape varieties like Grenache Blanc, Clairette, Roussanne ... Learn MoreDomaine de Cristia Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2007$115.01 Per item -
Château Malescot-St-Exupéry, a 3ème Cru Classé Margaux property, can trace its history back to the 18th century. Over the years its reputation slipped and the estate became dilapidated and run-down. In 1955 Malescot-St-Exupéry was purchased by the Zuger ... Learn More -
The Brut Nature Rosé is a cuvée which will delight lovers of freshness, minerality and purity. On the nose, very evocative of strawberry and raspberry with a floral note of rose petals. The palate recalls red fruits and is ... Learn MoreChampagne Drappier Rose Brut Nature Nv$115.01 Per item -
This rivals the 2016 for sure. It's closed in and tight on the nose with slightly reductive notes, but it opens up after a few minutes to reveal another good quality St-Julien. A serious wine, it has well structured walls and ... Learn MoreChateau Lagrange 2018 (Ex Chateau arrival time 4 months)$119.70 Per item -
This good value classed growth Pauillac was formerly known as Mouton Baronne Philippe and is made by the same wine-making team as Mouton Rothschild. The blend here in 2018 was 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot. Medium-deep purple in ... Learn MoreChateau D’Armailhac 2018$119.99 Per item -
Situated on the deep gravel of the Macau and Ludon communes, Cantemerle's vineyard covers 91 hectares; the varied character of the land produces wines that are complex, balanced and refined, a true reflection of its exceptional terroir. Cantemerle soil is a ... Learn MoreChateau Cantemerle 2010$120.00 Per item -
Château Sociando-Mallet is a wine estate located in the northern Médoc (the wines are bottled under Haut-Médoc appellation), and generally regarded as the equal of many classed growths. Although not featured in the 1855 Bordeaux classification, the property ... Learn MoreChateau Sociando-Mallet 2016$120.00 Per item -
A well situated vineyard in Pauillac that can be relied upon to produce a consistent wine of classic Medoc style and breed. Quality has moved up a level in recent vintages whilst prices remain reasonable. The Chateau is now producing ... Learn MoreChateau Batailley 2017$120.00 Per item
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