Wine from France

jamessuckling.com, 94 points: Lots of mineral, crushed stone, iodine and graphite with blackcurrants and blackberries that follow through to a medium body with ultra fine tannins that are ever so polished and give length and energy to the wine...

jamessuckling.com, 99 points: (JS 98-99 points) This is integrated, with superb density and beauty, offering blackcurrant, mineral and some bark. Full-bodied, yet so polished and refined. Crushed stone. Lots of expression and texture to this wine...

Decanter, 94 points: The nose opens with the fresh ripeness of yellow apple and highlights of Granny Smith. It has beautifully subtle autolysis on the palate, deepening into notes of creamy apple crumble, Golden Delicious and Mirabelle plum...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 93 points: (93+points) The 2006 Chablis 1er Cru Côte de Léchet is a superb example of the vintage, offering up aromas of citrus oil, beeswax and oyster shell complemented by subtle hints of clear honey. Medium to full-bodied, satiny...

jamessuckling.com, 98 points: So much floral and dark-fruit character with almonds and walnut shell. Full body and ultra-fine tannins. Powerful. Classic style with a harmony and energy. Goes on for minutes. A superb wine with great fruit. Real...

jebdunnuck.com, 91 points: One of the best values in Bordeaux out there, the 2016 Arbalest comes from a mix of the Right and Left Banks and is 75% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% each of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Ripe, medium to...

Wine Enthusiast, 95 points: (93–95 points) Barrel Sample. This is a perfumed wine, likely thanks to a dollop (7%) of Cabernet Franc. It has ripe fruit characters, pleasant richness and a firm structure. ROGER VOSS

Neal Martin's Wine Journal, 93 points: Tasted blind at the Southwold Bordeaux 2010 tasting. The Haut-Bergey 2010 has a very concentrated bouquet with dense blackberry, briary, crushed stone and tobacco on the nose that unfolds in the glass. The palate is...

Wine Spectator, 94 points: Highly Recommended. A smoky red, infused with notes of autumn woods and herbs, featuring a core of strawberry and wild cherry flavors. Silky in texture and balanced, ending with a long, tightly wound and minerally finish...

Wine Spectator, 97 points: Like a stallion out of the gate, this shows an initial explosion of power, in the form of mouthwatering flavors and fine texture, before quickly settling into an elegant gait. The racy acidity is seamlessly knit, buoying...

jamessuckling.com, 99 points: (JS 98-99 points) Blackcurrants, orange peel, flowers and tar with hints of graphite. Full-bodied with a creamy texture of exquisitely polished tannins. It goes on and on. Intense flavors at the end, too, with lead pencil...

Decanter, 96 points: Decanter World Wine Awards 2020. Citrus-infused, peachy and creamy characters on the nose with some autolytic nuttiness. Rich, savoury and multidimensional palate brimful of raspberry, white chocolate, coffee, and...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 97 points: 97+ Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2017 Smith Haut Lafitte charges out of the gate with bold expressions of warm redcurrants, baked blackberries and crème de cassis with hints of spice cake, dried roses...

jebdunnuck.com, 98 points: Tasted out of bottle, the 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape is a stunning example of this estate as well as the vintage. Gorgeous kirsch, flowery incense, spice box, and garrigue-like notes define the nose, and it hits the palate...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 92 points: The latest release of Palmer's emblematic NV Blanc de Blancs Brut is showing very well, bursting from the glass with gently reductive aromas of crisp orchard fruit, toasted bread, nectarine and iodine. Medium to...

jebdunnuck.com, 97 points: (97+ points) The flagship release is the 2006 Champagne Rare, a 70/30 split of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir that’s a cellar selection from 8 different Grand Cru vineyards. Tight, backward, and straight-up structured, it...

Decanter, 95 points: Enticing candied citrus fruit and spice with an exquisite mineral undertone; super clean and tense with a sumptuous texture and a long, harmonious finish.

Wine Spectator, 97 points: This is so vivid as it brims with pastis-soaked plum, blackberry, black currant and blueberry paste flavors, all carried by a perfectly integrated brambly spine. Tar and ganache notes give the finish an extra kick while...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 100 points: (98 - 100 points) Might this be the next vintage of La Chapelle to crack triple digits? Knockout aromas of crushed stone, violets, blueberries, and cassis mark the nose of the 2019 Hermitage La Chapelle, while the...

jebdunnuck.com, 95 points: The base Condrieu from Guigal always delivers and the 2019 Condrieu is stunning stuff, giving up a beautiful bouquet of ripe nectarines, orange blossom, honeysuckle, and exotic flowers. Just classic Condrieu in every way...

Wine Enthusiast, 96 points: While still young, this Champagne has all the makings of greatness. Produced from grand cru vineyards, it already balances ripe white fruits with a firm structure that will age well. It's relatively dry and has plenty of...

Vinous, 95 points: The 2016 Lafon-Rochet has a very engaging bouquet, a mixture of red and black fruit laced with pencil shavings and loamy scents. In fact, the more you nose this wine, the more its complexity becomes apparent. The palate...

jebdunnuck.com, 99 points: (JD 97-99 points) Ranking with the top wines of the vintage, the dense purple-hued 2020 Château Pape Clement offers a sensational bouquet of pure crème de cassis interwoven with notes of liquid violets and classy oak...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 94 points: Readers will remember that I admired the 2019 Fleurie last year, and that hasn't changed on reacquaintance. Bursting with scents of raspberries, orange rind, rose petals, spices and potpourri, it's medium to full-bodied...

jamessuckling.com, 93 points: Cinnamon and dried nutmeg add to the experience of bread dough and rose petals. Flavorful on the medium-bodied palate and finely poised with bright acidity. Medium-long on the finish. Drink now.

jamessuckling.com, 95 points: Impressive richness and clarity of red and dark berries. Lightly spiced-pastry aromas, too. The palate has a very crisp, polished and groomed tannin texture, as well as super fresh flavors that carry long. Great wine. Try...

Wine Spectator, 94 points: Delivers fabulous aromas of crushed red fruits, with leather, tar, tobacco and mint. Full-bodied, offering supersoft and silky tannins, as well as a beautiful polish. Open and luscious, with amazing richness of fruit and...

jamessuckling.com, 98 points: Beautiful aromas of lime curd, dried pear, grilled white peach and flint on the nose. So exotic on the nose. Some cream and honey, too. It’s medium-bodied with bright, tangy acidity. Creamy and focused with lingering...

Wine Enthusiast, 96 points: Very much in the ripe Pol Roger style, this Champagne is just approaching maturity. With its balance of crisp minerality and richness, it is a great wine from a medium-quality vintage. Although the wine is ready to drink...

Wine Enthusiast, 97 points: A classic in development, a wine that will last for decades. It is certainly powerful, but already the shape is finalized, with its plums and berries settling down with perfumes, acidity, just enough tannins and a warm...