
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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Novellum Chardonnay 2020Chardonnay from Vin de France, France
- JD
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Domaine Drouhin Vaudon Chablis 2020Chardonnay from Chablis, Burgundy, France
- WW
- W&S
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Maison Leroy Bourgogne Blanc 2019Chardonnay from Cote d'Or, Burgundy, France
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Chateau Carbonnieux Blanc 2018Bordeaux White Blends from Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France
- WS
- RP
- JS
- D
- JD
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Chateau de Saint Cosme Condrieu 2020Viognier from Condrieu, Rhone, France
- JD
- RP
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Domaine Bouard-Bonnefoy Les Petits Clos Chassagne-Montrachet Premier Cru 2017Chardonnay from Chassagne-Montrachet, Cote de Beaune, Cote d'Or, Burgundy, France
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Louis Latour Pouilly-Fuisse 2020Chardonnay from Pouilly-Fuisse, Maconnais, Burgundy, France
- WW
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Maison Brotte Versant Dore Condrieu 2020Viognier from Condrieu, Rhone, France
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Billaud-Simon Chablis Montee de Tonnerre Premier Cru 2019Chardonnay from Chablis, Burgundy, France
- JM
- WE
- V
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Le Petit Silex Sancerre 2017Sauvignon Blanc from Sancerre, Loire, France
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Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc (Futures Pre-Sale) 2021Bordeaux White Blends from Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France
- WE
- JS
- V
- JD
- RP
- D
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Domaine Roux Pere & Fils Bourgogne Chardonnay 2020Chardonnay from Burgundy, France
- WW
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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 Cos d'Estournel Blanc (Futures Pre-Sale) 2020Bordeaux White Blends from St. Estephe, Bordeaux, France
- JS
- RP
- D
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Vincent Girardin Puligny-Montrachet Les Combettes Premier Cru 2019Chardonnay from Puligny-Montrachet, Cote de Beaune, Cote d'Or, Burgundy, France
- RP
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Domaine Hubert Brochard Sancerre Le Cul de Beaujeu Blanc 2017Sauvignon Blanc from Sancerre, Loire, France
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Domaine des Lambrays Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru Clos du Cailleret 2019Chardonnay from Puligny-Montrachet, Cote de Beaune, Cote d'Or, Burgundy, France
- JM
- D
- BH
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Louis Latour Puligny-Montrachet Sous le Puits Premier Cru 2018Chardonnay from Puligny-Montrachet, Cote de Beaune, Cote d'Or, Burgundy, France
- JS
- RP
- BH
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William Fevre Chablis Vaulorent Premier Cru 2015Chardonnay from Chablis, Burgundy, France
- D
- RP
- WS
- BH
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Brocard Chablis Bougros Grand Cru 2018Chardonnay from Chablis, Burgundy, France
- BH
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Joseph Drouhin Pouilly-Fuisse 2020Chardonnay from Pouilly-Fuisse, Maconnais, Burgundy, France
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Pierre Sparr Pinot Blanc 2020Pinot Blanc from Alsace, France
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Domaine de la Solitude Chateauneuf-du-Pape Blanc 2020Rhone White Blends from Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone, France
- WS
- JS
- JD
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Remoissenet Bourgogne Blanc 2017Chardonnay from Cote d'Or, Burgundy, France
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Joseph Drouhin St. Veran 2020Chardonnay from St-Veran, Maconnais, Burgundy, France