
French Wine
Learn about French wine, common tasting notes, where the region is and more ...
French wine is 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 French 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 Leoville Poyferre 2018Bordeaux Red Blends from St-Julien, Bordeaux, France
- JD
- WS
- JS
- RP
- D
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William Fevre Chablis Bougros Cote Bouguerots Grand Cru 2018Chardonnay from Chablis, Burgundy, France
- JM
- D
- WE
- RP
- JS
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Chateau Lafite Rothschild 2018Bordeaux Red Blends from Pauillac, Bordeaux, France
- WE
- RP
- JS
- D
- JD
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Chateau Pontet-Canet 2018Bordeaux Red Blends from Pauillac, Bordeaux, France
- RP
- WE
- JS
- JD
- D
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Maison Roche de Bellene Chassagne-Montrachet Vieilles Vignes 2018Chardonnay from Chassagne-Montrachet, Cote de Beaune, Cote d'Or, Burgundy, France
- D
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Chateau Leoville Poyferre (1.5 Liter Magnum) 2018Bordeaux Red Blends from St-Julien, Bordeaux, France
- JD
- WS
- JS
- WE
- RP
- D
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Chateau Puygueraud 2018Bordeaux Red Blends from Cotes de Francs, Bordeaux, France
- JS
- D
- JD
- WE
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Chateau Montrose 2018Bordeaux Red Blends from St. Estephe, Bordeaux, France
- JD
- JS
- D
- RP
- WE
- WS
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Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte 2018Bordeaux Red Blends from Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France
- D
- JD
- JS
- WS
- WE
- RP
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Nicole Lamarche Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru 2018Pinot Noir from Vougeot, Cote de Nuits, Cote d'Or, Burgundy, France
- D
- BH
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Louis Latour Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru 2018Chardonnay from Aloxe-Corton, Cote de Beaune, Cote d'Or, Burgundy, France
- JS
- WS
- WW
- D
- BH
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Clos du Caillou Chateauneuf-du-Pape Les Quartz 2018Rhone Red Blends from Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone, France
- D
- RP
- JD
- WS
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Joseph Drouhin Beaune Clos des Mouches Premier Cru Rouge 2018Pinot Noir from Beaune, Cote de Beaune, Cote d'Or, Burgundy, France
- JS
- D
- WS
- BH
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Gerard Bertrand Chateau L'Hospitalet Grand Vin Rouge 2018Rhone Red Blends from La Clape, Languedoc, South of France, France
- D
- JS
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Joseph Drouhin Gevrey-Chambertin 2018Pinot Noir from Gevrey-Chambertin, Cote de Nuits, Cote d'Or, Burgundy, France
- D
- RP
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Chateau Arnauld 2018Bordeaux Red Blends from Haut Medoc, Bordeaux, France
- D
- JS
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Domaine de Bellene Savigny-les-Beaune Blanc 2018Chardonnay from Savigny-les-Beaune, Cote de Beaune, Cote d'Or, Burgundy, France
- D
- WW
- W&S
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Chateau Berliquet 2018Bordeaux Red Blends from St. Emilion, Bordeaux, France
- JS
- D
- RP
- WE
- WS
- JD
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Chateau Haut-Brion 2018Bordeaux Red Blends from Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France
- RP
- JS
- D
- WE
- JD
- WS
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Vieux Chateau Certan 2018Bordeaux Red Blends from Pomerol, Bordeaux, France
- WE
- JS
- RP
- JD
- D
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Chateau Doisy Daene (375ML half-bottle) 2018Other Dessert from Barsac, Bordeaux, France
- D
- JS
- WE
- WS
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Domaine Meo-Camuzet Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru 2018Pinot Noir from Vougeot, Cote de Nuits, Cote d'Or, Burgundy, France
- D
- RP
- BH
- WS
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Auguste Clape Cuvee Renaissance Cornas 2018Syrah/Shiraz from Cornas, Rhone, France
- JD
- D
- RP
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William Fevre Chablis Vaulorent Premier Cru 2018Chardonnay from Chablis, Burgundy, France
- D
- RP
- WE
- BH
- JS
- WS
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Maison Roche de Bellene Meursault Vieilles Vignes 2018Chardonnay from Meursault, Cote de Beaune, Cote d'Or, Burgundy, France
- WW
- TP
- D