Wine from France

Vinous, 97 points: The 2006 Cuvée Nicolas François Billecart is shaping up to be a jewel of a wine, but it needs time to be at its best. I am surprised by how tightly wound it is. But that only makes me think what it might develop into with...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 98 points: Made of 98% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc, the 2017 Belair Monange is medium to deep garnet-purple in color. With a little swirling, this baby comes bounding out of the glass with energetic notes of wild blueberries...

jamessuckling.com, 95 points: A very fine-textured Champagne with lovely density and finesse. The bubbles roll off the palate. Full body. Extremely creamy and flavorful. Shows wonderful finesse and a lovely, chalky, lemon-curd and brioche aftertaste...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 92 points: Tasted from magnum, the latest release of Palmer's NV Blanc de Blancs Brut is showing very well indeed, bursting from the glass with a ripe and expressive bouquet of grapefruit, orange zest, toasted bread, white flowers...

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...

Decanter, 92 points: One of the pioneers of the blanc de blancs style, Charles Heidsieck only relaunched its 100% Chardonnay NV Champagne in 2018. Round but incisive and fresh, this has lovely balance between its creamy, woody mouthfeel and...

jamessuckling.com, 97 points: A gorgeous intensity of plum, spice and grilled meat on the nose. Cloves and hints of dried spices. This is a big, structured La Chappelle. Full and powerful with chewy tannins and a long, long finish. A bit austere and...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 91 points: Solitude's 2018 Chateauneuf du Pape is 50% Grenache, 25% Syrah, 15% Mourvèdre and 10% Cinsault, aged in a combination of barriques, demi-muids, foudres and concrete (only one-fourth went into wood). For the vintage, it...

Wine Spectator, 92 points: Exotically perfumed violet and rose petals burst on your palate accompanied by dried apricot lemon and honey flavors. Gorgeous and subtle glowing on the finish.

jebdunnuck.com, 94 points: (92-94 points) Moving to the Cornas releases, the 2018 Cornas Granit 30 comes from slightly younger vines and vineyards further down on the slope, closer to the village. Completely destemmed and brought up in used...

jebdunnuck.com, 99 points: Reminding me of the 2009 La Chapelle (which is a personal favorite), the brilliant 2017 Hermitage La Chapelle knocks it out of the park with its massive, opulent personality. Notes of smoked black fruits, scorched earth...

jamessuckling.com, 93 points: The brioche and cooked-apple and cream character really comes through here. Full-bodied and round with fine bubbles. Flavorful and intense. Vivid, bread-dough finish. This is four years on lees. 55% chardonnay and the...

jamessuckling.com, 94 points: Very ripe blueberries here, married to delicate, smoky-oak and baking-spice character. Concentrated and succulent with a wonderful, mineral freshness at the long, energetic finish. A very flexible food-wine. Drink or hold.

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 93 points: The best bottle I've ever had, the 2005 Hermitage la Chapelle showed much more density and concentration than I recall. Peppery herbs, currants, dried blood and licorice flow beautifully to a medium to full-bodied wine...

Vinous, 94 points: The 2017 Latour à Pomerol is a gorgeous wine that is at once deep and yet also super-expressive in its bouquet. Sweet tobacco, dried herbs, mint, pepper and spice give the 2017 striking aromatic presence to play off a...