
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 Fonroque 2016Bordeaux Red Blends from St. Emilion, Bordeaux, France
- RP
- WS
- D
- WE
- JD
- JS
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Chateau Canon 2016Bordeaux Red Blends from St. Emilion, Bordeaux, France
- WE
- RP
- JS
- D
- JD
- WS
- CG
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Chateau Fombrauge 2016Bordeaux Red Blends from St. Emilion, Bordeaux, France
- JS
- WE
- WS
- RP
- JD
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Louis Latour Chateau Corton Grancey Grand Cru 2016Pinot Noir from Aloxe-Corton, Cote de Beaune, Cote d'Or, Burgundy, France
- JS
- WS
- RP
- BH
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Domaine de Longue Toque Gigondas 2016Rhone Red Blends from Gigondas, Rhone, France
- WS
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Chateau Cheval Blanc 2016Bordeaux Red Blends from St. Emilion, Bordeaux, France
- RP
- JS
- D
- WE
- WS
- JD
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Chateau Marquis d'Alesme 2016Bordeaux Red Blends from Margaux, Bordeaux, France
- RP
- JD
- D
- JS
- WS
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Chateau Marsau 2016Bordeaux Red Blends from Cotes de Francs, Bordeaux, France
- JS
- WS
- WE
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Chateau Puygueraud 2016Bordeaux Red Blends from Cotes de Francs, Bordeaux, France
- JS
- WS
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Chateau Pavie Macquin 2016Bordeaux Red Blends from St. Emilion, Bordeaux, France
- V
- JD
- JS
- WE
- RP
- WS
- D
- CG
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Chateau Saintayme 2016Bordeaux Red Blends from St. Emilion, Bordeaux, France
- JS
- JD
- D
- RP
- WS
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Clos de l'Oratoire 2016Bordeaux Red Blends from St. Emilion, Bordeaux, France
- JS
- V
- WS
- RP
- JD
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Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte 2016Bordeaux Red Blends from Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France
- WS
- RP
- D
- JS
- WE
- JD
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Bouchard Pere & Fils Nuits-St-Georges Les Cailles Premier Cru 2016Pinot Noir from Burgundy, France
- BH
- WS
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Jean-Luc Colombo Cornas Les Terres Brulees 2016Syrah/Shiraz from Cornas, Rhone, France
- WE
- WS
- JS
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M. Chapoutier Chateauneuf-du-Pape La Bernardine 2016Rhone Red Blends from Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone, France
- RP
- WS
- W&S
- JD
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Domaine Blain Cotes de Brouilly Les Jumeaux 2016Gamay from Beaujolais, Burgundy, France
- WS
- WW
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Kuentz-Bas Trois Chateaux Riesling 2016Riesling from Alsace, France
- WE
- WS
- JS
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Chateau Haut-Brion 2016Bordeaux Red Blends from Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France
- JS
- WE
- RP
- D
- WS
- JD
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Chateau Beausejour Duffau-Lagarrosse 2016Bordeaux Red Blends from St. Emilion, Bordeaux, France
- JD
- V
- JS
- RP
- D
- WE
- WS
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Chateau Margaux 2016Bordeaux Red Blends from Margaux, Bordeaux, France
- JS
- WE
- RP
- D
- JD
- WS
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Bila-Haut by Michel Chapoutier Occultum Lapidem 2016Rhone Red Blends from Côtes du Roussillon-Villages, Roussillon, South of France, France
- WS
- WE
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Aurelien Verdet Vosne-Romanee Vieilles Vignes 2016Pinot Noir from Vosne-Romanee, Cote de Nuits, Cote d'Or, Burgundy, France
- WS
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Joseph Drouhin Nuits-St-Georges Proces Premier Cru 2016Pinot Noir from Nuits-St-Georges, Cote de Nuits, Cote d'Or, Burgundy, France
- WS
- V