French Fine Wines



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FINE WINE LIST - French Wines

This is a list of limited production wines costing more than £12 each. They are mostly wines for current drinking and though not cheap, their quality still gives value for money. Wines we particularly recommend are highlighted in red. Please note that all stocks are limited but where we have less than 12 bottles, the wine is marked Ø.

CHAMPAGNE

FR3220P Champagne Autreau Rosé Brut NV £23.99
The Autréau family have been making wine since 1670 and produce a richer, fuller style of Champagne. Their delicious sparkling rosé has a fresh lively mousse with juicy cherry flavours and notes of strawberry and brioche. Attractive and expressive with a lightly creamy, gently sparkling finish. Drink now to 2011

FR1220S Champagne Deutz Brut NV £25.95
Top quality Grand Marque Champagne from the House's own 150 ha of vineyards. Mainly Pinot Noir, aged for over three years in the limestone cellars to give complexity and finesse. Fruity style with apple and citrus fruits blended with notes of buttered toast and marzipan and persistent finish. To 2011

FR3233S Champagne Autreau Reserve Grand Cru 2003 £28.95
This fine Champagne from Autreau is not only a vintage wine but the grapes are all from Grand Cru vineyards. It is predominantly Chardonnay, with a little Pinot Noir, which results in a powerful opulent style. The lively mousse gives intense aromas of brioche, biscuit and lemon zest. Rich and full to taste with a very long, slightly creamy finish in which the wine's class shows through. Enjoy now to 2012

FRANCE – Red Bordeaux

FR1823R Ch. Beausejour 'Clos l'Eglise' 2003, Montagne St Emilion £13.99
Ch. Beauséjour has 12ha of vineyards at the top of the Montagne St Émilion and 4km from St Émilion. 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc, the 'Clos l'Eglise' is a special blend from century old vines and won a Gold Medal at the Concours General in Paris. Aromas of plum, black fruits with vanilla notes. In the mouth, there is a firm, but ripe tannic structure, rich fruit flavours and gently spicy finish. To 2013

FR2765R Ch. de l'Anglais 2005, Puisseguin St Emilion £14.95
Pierre Troigros runs this small domaine east of St Emilion. His focus is solely on Merlot with Ch. de l’Anglais being his top wine, from 40 year old vines. In the exceptional 2005 vintage the wine was aged 18 months in oak barrels but the fruit power is such that this is hardly noticeable. Dense, powerful cassis, damson and redcurrant flavours, silky tannins and notes of cedar and spice. Impressive. To 2015

FR2775R Ch. Roc de Boisseaux 2005, St Emilion Grand Cru £16.99
Merlot rich Grand Cru from this 8ha estate. Winemaker Francois Brissot had the perfect raw materials in the 2005 vintage though the wine is still rather youthful and backward. Complex aromas of ripe plum, damson and blackcurrant with notes of vanilla spice and cedar show the wine’s potential. There is good weight of berry fruits and significant tannins beneath a smooth vanilla and cedar veneer. Best 2010 to 17

FR2712R Ch. de Valois 2002, Pomerol £20.95
Formed in 1862 after the break-up of Ch. Figeac, Ch. de Valois is still owned by the Leydet family. This is a traditional, age-worthy Pomerol, mostly Merlot with 13% Cabernet Franc, aged 20 months in oak barriques. Vibrant, spicy aromatic nose with ripe cassis and plum. The palate has ripe berry fruits intermingled with spicy new oak. Good length and supple, rounded mouthfeel. Enjoy to 2013+

FR2726R Castelbruck 2006, Margaux £21.95
This tiny 3ha estate produces a classic Margaux with distinctive character, silky smooth with a combination of rich cassis and minerals yet built in a “new wave” style that allows early drinking from its wealth of black cherry fruit through to its finish of eastern spices. A fine, elegant wine to enjoy to 2016.

FR2343R Les Pagodes de Cos 2003, St Estephe £29.95
Second wine of 2nd growth, Cos d’Estournel. In 2003, Cos produced the wine of the vintage and Les Pagodes gives a taste of this at a much lower price. ‘Deeper, richer, and fleshier, but still retaining some of its bigger sibling’s nobility and elegance, the 2003 Les Pagodes de Cos possesses a deep ruby/purple colour as well as a heady, fleshy personality. Drink 2006-16. 88 points’ Robert Parker, Wine Advocate

FRANCE – Red Burgundy

FR2126R Domaine Desvignes Givry 2006, Cotes Chalonnaise £13.99
From the up and coming appellation of Givry. Medium cherry/purple colour with aromas of black cherry, damson and spicy liquorice. Silky crushed berry fruit flavours, notably cherry and cranberry, savoury tannins and a hint of strawberry and cream on the finish. A soft, elegant wine to drink to 2013.

FR0409R Rossignol-Jeanniard 1999, Aloxe Corton Ø £14.99
Nicholas Rossignol runs this impeccable 16 ha estate and with 1999’s ideal weather has crafted a stunning village wine. Spicy cherry fruit aromas with notes of musk and exotic spices. Lovely texture in the mouth with good complexity, integrated tannins, good depth and a long savoury finish. To 2011

FR2407R Chauvenet Chopin 2007, Nuits St. Georges £25.95
Formed in 1996, the Domaine’s style is for elegant wines with rich fruit flavours. Opulent and seductive with intense red fruit aromas with a touch of spice. Lovely concentrated red cherry, damson and raspberry fruit on the palate. There is a real elegance and class to this silky wine. Enjoy now to 2015.

FR0639R Gros Frere et Soeur 1999, Vosne Romanee Ø £26.95
Renowned oenologist Patrick Lesec assists at this small domaine, owned by a branch of the Gros family, and the wines show a real pedigree. ‘The nose is rich with aromas of fruit and savoury characters pointing to quality fruit and origin. The palate confirms this and shows what Burgundy can deliver, fine black fruit, truffle and spice all with a velvet texture of fine tannins.’ Clive Barlow MW Drink to 2012

FRANCE – White Burgundy

FR3215W Louis Latour La Grande Roche Montagny 1er Cru 2005, Cotes Chalonnaise Ø £13.95
Maison Louis Latour is a family producer with vineyards throughout Burgundy. Their premier Cru Montagny is classically styled with vibrant aromas of apple, ripe pear and delicate floral notes. These fruits carry on to the palate with good balance of fresh lemon acidity and a light creaminess. To 2011

FR1197W Domaine du Roure 2007, Pouilly Fuissé £16.49
This small, family domaine produces a pure, age-worthy wine. Complex aromas reminiscent of pear, peach and walnut. Ripe stone fruit and nut flavours underpinned by fresh acidity and mineral notes that develop on the finish. Intense and youthful, this is a wine to enjoy now through to 2015.

FR2841W Laboure-Roi 2001, Meursault Blanc £17.95
The rich honeyed flavours of mature Meursault make it Burgundy’s most opulent appellation. Matured just over a year in oak barrels, Labouré-Roi’s wine shows classic style: Honey and fig aromas, flavours of ripe peach, hazelnut and cut hay. Attractive lemon acidity gives the overall balance to enjoy to 2011+.

FR0570W Domaine Latour-Giraud 2000, Meursault Genevrieres 1er Cru £25.95
'Bursting at the seams with spice and liquid mineral aromas. This delightfully broad wine is medium to full-bodied, crammed with butter, spices, juicy apples, and pears. It is layered, muscular, plush and fruit-forward. 91pts' Pierre Rovani, Wine Advocate. Superb on recent tasting: pure, focused and intense, with a rich, nutty, secondary character coming through. At peak but will certainly keep to at least 2012.

FR2356W Hubert Lamy ‘Les Tremblots’ 2006, Puligny-Montrachet £27.95
‘A nicely complex and layered nose features notes of green apple, pear and subtle dried rose petal nuances that are also picked up by the tangy, spicy and intense flavours that possess good length and punch on the linear, persistent finish where a touch of wood toast also surfaces. 2010+’ Allen Meadows

FRANCE – Loire Valley

FR1594W Baumard 'Clos St Yves' 2004, Savennieres £12.99
'Savennières, the Montrachet of the Loire Valley, produces dry Chenin Blanc that can age 15-20 years and possess an intensity, richness and complexity that one has to taste to believe.’ Robert Parker
‘Tight still, but with piercing intensity to the lime, mineral, quince and pear flavours. Long, stoney finish really reverberates. Drink now through to 2012+. 91 points.’ James Molesworth, The Wine Spectator

FR1615W Baumard 'Clos du Papillon' 2005, Savennieres £17.95

'A superb wine, fresh and ripe, with a characteristic edge of caramel, opulence and bone-dry acidity. This comes from a great vineyard in a great Loire year, so it’s no surprise that, like many great Loire Chenin Blanc, it promises lengthy aging-15-20 years if you can wait. In the meantime, now it has youthful vigour and freshness. Screwcap. 95 points.’ Roger Voss, The Wine Enthusiast Enjoy now to 2020.