
French Wine
Learn about French wine, common tasting notes, where the region is and more ...
Nearly synonymous with fine wine and all things epicurean, France has a culture of wine production and consumption that is deeply rooted in tradition. Many of the world’s most beloved grape varieties originated here, as did the concept of “terroir”—soil type, elevation, slope and mesoclimate combine to produce resulting wines that convey a sense of place. Accordingly, most French wine is labeled by geographical location, rather than grape variety. So a general understaning of which grapes correspond to which regions can be helpful in navigating all of the types of French wine. Some of the greatest wine regions in the world are here, including Bordeaux, Burgundy, the Rhône and Champagne, but each part of the country has its own specialties and strengths.
Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are the king and queen of Burgundy, producing elegant red and white wines with great acidity, the finest examples of which can age for decades. The same two grapes, along with Pinot Meunier, are used to make Champagne.
Of comparable renown is Bordeaux, focused on bold, structured red blends of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc including sometimes a small amount of Petit Verdot or Malbec. The primary white varieties of Bordeaux are Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon.
The northern Rhône Valley is responsible for single-varietal Syrah, while the south specializes in Grenache blends; Rhône's main white variety is Viognier.
Most of these grape varieties are planted throughout the country and beyond, extending their influence into other parts of Europe and New World appellations.
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Chateau Cos d'Estournel 1996Bordeaux Red Blends from St. Estephe, Bordeaux, France
- V
- RP
- WS
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Chateau Latour (stained label) 1996Bordeaux Red Blends from Pauillac, Bordeaux, France
- RP
- WS
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Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande 1996Bordeaux Red Blends from Pauillac, Bordeaux, France
- RP
- WS
- D
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Chateau Pichon-Longueville Baron 1996Bordeaux Red Blends from Pauillac, Bordeaux, France
- RP
- WS
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Chateau Leoville Poyferre 1996Bordeaux Red Blends from St-Julien, Bordeaux, France
- RP
- WS
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Chateau Haut-Brion (stained label) 1996Bordeaux Red Blends from Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France
- WS
- RP
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Krug Brut (scuffed label) 1996Vintage Sparkling Wine from Champagne, France
- W&S
- WS
- RP
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Chateau Petrus 1996Bordeaux Red Blends from Pomerol, Bordeaux, France
- WS
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Chateau Climens 1996Other Dessert from Sauternes, Bordeaux, France
- RP
- WS
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Chateau Lafite Rothschild 1996Bordeaux Red Blends from Pauillac, Bordeaux, France
- RP
- JS
- WS
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Guigal La Mouline Cote Rotie 1996Syrah/Shiraz from Cote Rotie, Rhone, France
- RP
- WS
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Chateau Calon-Segur 1996Bordeaux Red Blends from St. Estephe, Bordeaux, France
- RP
- WS
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Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion 1996Bordeaux Red Blends from Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France
- RP
- WS
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Chateau Rauzan-Segla 1996Bordeaux Red Blends from Margaux, Bordeaux, France
- D
- WS
- RP
- JD
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Nicolas Feuillatte Palmes d'Or Grand Cuvee 1996Vintage Sparkling Wine from Champagne, France
- WS
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Chateau Lynch-Bages 1996Bordeaux Red Blends from Pauillac, Bordeaux, France
- RP
- WS
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Bollinger R.D. Extra Brut 1996Vintage Sparkling Wine from Champagne, France
- RP
- WS
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Chateau Grand-Puy-Lacoste 1996Bordeaux Red Blends from Pauillac, Bordeaux, France
- WS
- RP
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Chateau Pontet-Canet 1996Bordeaux Red Blends from Pauillac, Bordeaux, France
- RP
- WS
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Chateau Lynch-Bages (bin soiled labels) 1996Bordeaux Red Blends from Pauillac, Bordeaux, France
- RP
- WS
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Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame 1996Vintage Sparkling Wine from Champagne, France
- RP
- WS
- WE
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Salon Blanc de Blancs Le Mesnil (in Gift Box) 1996Vintage Sparkling Wine from Champagne, France
- D
- RP
- WE
- CG
- W&S
- WS
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Chateau Mouton Rothschild 1996Bordeaux Red Blends from Pauillac, Bordeaux, France
- RP
- WS
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Dom Perignon Vintage 1996Vintage Sparkling Wine from Champagne, France
- RP
- WE
- WS
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Guigal Cote Rotie Brune et Blonde 1996Syrah/Shiraz from Cote Rotie, Rhone, France
- WS