The 12 Great Wines of France
There’s nothing like a tour of France to broaden your wine horizons!
In this box, we’ve selected twelve wines that showcase the very best!
🍷 Please note: wines or vintages may change depending on availability from our partner winemakers. We’ll update this page accordingly!
Day 1: Château Saint-Roch
- Estate and wine name: Château Saint Roch
- Appellation: Châteauneuf-du-Pape
- Region: Rhône, France
- Grape varieties: Grenache 70%, Syrah 15%, Cinsault 15%
- Vintage: 2020
- Colour: Red - Garnet colour with violet highlights
- Colour intensity: Lovely radiance and plenty of brilliance.
Fragrant and focused, the small red berries mingle with liquorice. A perfect expression of its terroir.
- Body: 4/6 - Full-bodied
- Tannins: 3/6 - Present
- Sweetness: 0/6 - Very dry
- Acidity: 3/6 - Fresh
- Alcohol: 4/6 - Warming (13.5%)
- Length of finish: 6/6 - Very long (>10 sec)
This deep red impresses with its concentration of aromas of ripe Morello cherry and eucalyptus. The same flavours shine through on a delicate palate with an elegant texture and well-softened tannins – a sign of careful winemaking without excessive extraction or any need for oak.
Beef, lamb, game (stag, roe deer)...
Day 2: The Selectors of Wine Moments
- Estate and wine name: The Selectors of Wine Moments - Back from Fishing
- Appellation: IGP Bordeaux
- Region: France, Bordeaux
- Grape varieties: 50% Sauvignon, 50% Sémillon
- Vintage: 2022
- Colour: White - A lovely pale yellow colour.
- Colour intensity: Deep colour.
Aromas of white fruit and blackcurrant, with grassy notes.
- Body: 5/6 - Full-bodied
- Tannins: 0/6 - None
- Sweetness: 0/6 - Very dry
- Acidity: 3/6 - Fresh
- Alcohol: 3/6 - Warming (13.5%)
- Length of finish: 3/6 - Long (~6 sec)
Delicate, fresh and fruity. After a fishing trip, there’s nothing better than a little comfort. You may come home empty-handed, but it’s not the catch that counts. What matters is the time spent together. This organically grown wine is an invitation to chat over a refreshingly crisp glass.
A well-balanced wine to enjoy as an aperitif or with cooked fish, white meat or cheese...
Day 3: Domaine Moulin-Pouzy
- Estate and wine name: Domaine de Moulin-Pouzy
- Appellation: Tradition Bergerac AOC
- Region: South West, France
- Grape varieties: 85% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon
- Vintage: 2019
- Colour: Red - Black cherry colour with ruby highlights.
- Colour intensity: Lovely brightness and clarity.
A warm nose of red fruit and floral notes. Spicy and peppery, with lingering notes of ripe red fruit
- Body: 2/6 - Full-bodied
- Tannins: 5/6 - Tannic
- Sweetness: 0/6 - Very dry
- Acidity: 4/6 - Sharp
- Alcohol: 5/6 - Generous (14%)
- Length of finish: 4/6 - Fairly long (7–8 sec)
Although made predominantly from Merlot, this red shares traits with its older sibling: a warm nose of red fruit and floral notes, and a generous, rounded palate that never feels flabby, lifted by hints of spice.
Charcuterie, red meat, poultry, game, mushrooms, barbecue, world cuisine, cheese
Day 4: Domaine De La Roche Moreau
- Estate and wine name: Domaine De La Roche Moreau
- Appellation: Coteaux du Layon Premier Cru Chaume
- Region: Loire, France
- Grape variety: 100% Chenin Blanc
- Vintage: 2018
- Colour: From light to deep, golden yellow with green highlights, developing into old gold with amber highlights
- Colour intensity: Lovely brightness and intensity
A highly concentrated nose with notes of blackcurrant and cocoa, alongside smoky, toasted aromas of cedar, tobacco and vanilla. A second sniff reveals light mint aromas.
- Body: 5/6 - Full-bodied
- Tannins: 4/6 - Firm
- Sweetness: 6/6 - Medium-sweet
- Acidity: 3/6 - Fresh
- Alcohol: 4/6 - Warming (14.5%)
- Length of finish: 4/6 - Long (>8 sec)
Despite its roundness, the wine has a lively palate. Fruit and well-structured tannins lead to a cocoa finish. The whole is remarkably elegant and refined, with plenty of personality.
Delicious with roast duck, tournedos Rossini or mature Comté...
Day 5: Clos Sadra
- Estate and wine name: Clos Sadra - Cahors
- Appellation: Cahors
- Region: France, South West, Cahors
- Grape varieties: 100% Malbec
- Vintage: 2021
- Colour: Red - An intense, very dark red, almost black.
- Colour intensity: Deep, powerful colour
A nose with subtle notes of dark fruit.
- Body: 5/6 - Full-bodied
- Tannins: 4/6 -
- Sweetness: 0/6 - Very dry
- Acidity: 4/6 - Fresh
- Alcohol: 2/6 - Light (12%)
- Length of finish: 5/6 - Long (>8 sec)
A balance of Malbec’s power and finesse; a fine wine to help you rediscover the appeal of the Cahors appellation.
With red meat, grilled dishes and mature cheeses.
Day 6: Domaine de Cala
- Estate and wine name: Domaine de Cala
- Appellation: Coteaux Varois en Provence
- Region: France, Provence, Coteaux Varois en Provence
- Grape varieties: Cinsault 60%, Grenache Noir 30%, Syrah 8%, Rolle 2%
- Vintage: 2021
- Colour: Rosé - An elegant pale pink
- Colour intensity: Bright colour.
Refined and subtle, the nose is marked by citrus aromas that develop into notes of lemon and fresh apricot.
- Body: 2/6 - Well-structured
- Tannins: 0/6 - None
- Sweetness: 0/6 - Very dry
- Acidity: 5/6 - Very fresh
- Alcohol: 3/6 - Warming (13%)
- Length of finish: 3/6 - (6 sec)
The aromas then develop into notes of lemon and fresh apricot. On the palate, the first impression is elegant, vibrant and delicious, with notes of citrus and fresh apricot followed by a saline, mineral finish. An ideal wine to serve as an aperitif!
An ideal wine for an aperitif or a seafood platter
Day 7: Domaine Saint Thomas
- Estate and wine name: M.A. Alonso Etayo - Viña Ilusion
- Appellation: AOP Collioure
- Region: France, Languedoc-Roussillon, AOP Collioure
- Grape varieties: Grenache Noir – 80%, Mourvèdre – 20%
- Vintage: 2020
- Colour: Red - A lovely intense red colour
- Colour intensity: Bright colour.
Smooth, with notes of fresh and jammy red fruit and cherries in liqueur.
- Body: 5/6 - Full-bodied
- Tannins: 4/6 - Firmly structured
- Sweetness: 1/6 - Very dry
- Acidity: 4/6 - Fresh
- Alcohol: 6/6 - Very warming (15%)
- Length of finish: 6/6 - Very long (>10 sec)
A soft first impression, with silky, supple tannins thanks to harvesting at full ripeness.
Braised or grilled beef, North African couscous, chicken tagine.
Day 8: The Selectors of Wine Moments
- Estate and wine name: The Selectors of Moments - Pétanque in the Shade
- Appellation: Côtes de Provence
- Region: France, Provence, Côtes de Provence
- Grape varieties: Grenache, Mourvèdre, Cinsault
- Vintage: 2022
- Colour: Red - Lovely ruby colour with garnet highlights
- Colour intensity: Bright colour.
The nose opens with notes of citrus and fresh fruit.
- Body: 3/6 - Balanced
- Tannins: 0/6 - None
- Sweetness: 0/6 - Very dry
- Acidity: 5/6 - Very fresh
- Alcohol: 2/6 - Light (12.5%)
- Length of finish: 3/6 - Typical (~5 sec)
The palate is tangy and fruity. Delicate, fresh and mineral
As an aperitif, or with white meat, grilled fish or vegetarian dishes.
Day 9: Revelation by Moulin Pouzy
- Estate and wine name: Moulin Pouzy, Revelation
- Appellation: Pécharmant
- Region: France, Guyenne, South West
- Grape varieties: Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot
- Vintage: 2020
- Colour: Red - A deep, bright red with purple highlights.
- Colour intensity: Deep and fairly intense.
The nose is fresh and elegant, with notes of dark fruit jam and tobacco, as well as spices such as cinnamon and clove.
- Body: 4/6 - Well-structured
- Tannins: 4/6 - Firm
- Sweetness: 0/6 - Very dry
- Acidity: 3/6 - Fresh
- Alcohol: 3/6 - Warming (13.5%)
- Length of finish: 6/6 - Very long (>10 sec)
This wine reveals itself in stages, showcasing the complexity of the blend, with background notes of leather, white pepper and liquorice. Its aromatic power brings balance to the whole, reflecting the elegance of the Lolol Valley.
A well-balanced wine that pairs well with game in a wine sauce or barbecued red meat...
Day 10: Domaine Vincent Denis
- Estate and wine name: Domaine Vincent Denis - White Soils
- Appellation: Montlouis-sur-Loire
- Region: France, Loire Valley, Montlouis-sur-Loire
- Grape variety: 100% Chenin
- Vintage: 2021
- Wine colour: White - A lovely mellow golden-yellow colour
- Colour intensity: The wine has glints of colour.
A pleasant, enticing nose with ripe aromas of pear, quince and wax...
- Body: 2/6 - Balanced
- Tannins: 0/6 - None
- Sweetness: 1/6 - Very dry
- Acidity: 6/6 - Very fresh
- Alcohol: 4/6 - Warming (13.5%)
- Finish: 4/6 - Long (>6 sec)
Rich, ripe apple flavours give it an off-dry character. With rich, pronounced acidity, crispness, nuts and spice, this is a complex wine that will take time to develop.
We recommend enjoying it with a tarte Tatin. Or with a delicious creamy pasta dish.
Day 11: Banton Family Winemakers
- Estate and wine name: Banton Family Winemakers - Château Gory
- Appellation: Côtes de Bordeaux
- Region: France, Bordeaux, Côtes de Bordeaux
- Grape varieties: 50% Merlot, 20% Malbec, 20% Cabernet Franc, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon
- Vintage: 2020
- Colour: Red - This wine has a lovely garnet colour.
- Colour intensity: Deep colour, bright.
The nose offers a remarkable expression of freshly crushed red and dark fruit.
- Body: 5/6 - Well-structured
- Tannins: 5/6 - Present
- Sweetness: 0/6 - Very dry
- Acidity: 4/6 - Fresh
- Alcohol: 3/6 - Warming (13.5%)
- Length of finish: 3/6 - Medium (>4 sec)
The palate reflects these aromas too, with floral notes and red and dark fruit. A balanced, fruit-forward wine that’s easy to drink.
A well-balanced wine that pairs well with grilled red meat such as beef, as well as pork or lamb...
Day 12: Château d’Arche
- Estate and wine name: Château d’Arche, Sauternes
- Appellation: Sauternes Grand Cru Classé
- Region: France, Bordeaux, Sauternes
- Grape varieties: 90% Sémillon, 10% Sauvignon
- Vintage: 2010
- Colour: Gold - Golden-yellow colour with gold highlights.
- Colour intensity: Bright and luminous colour.
The nose opens up beautifully with aromas of white fruit (pear, apple) and floral notes. Hints of honey and candied fruit.
- Body: 5/6 - Full-bodied
- Tannins: 0/6 - None
- Sweetness: 6/6 - Lusciously sweet
- Acidity: 5/6 - Sharp
- Alcohol: 4/6 - Warming (13.5%)
- Length of finish: 6/6 - Long (>10 sec)
The first impression on the palate is fresh and mellow, confirming its lovely balance. Notes of candied orange and apricot jam are accompanied by subtle smoky hints.
Foie gras, strong cheeses (Munster, Maroilles, blue cheese), bitter dark chocolate mousse...
Calculate your score:
You love wine, but wine doesn’t love you back. No matter how hard you sniff the cork to detect a fault, all you can smell is cork. You look but see nothing, sniff but smell nothing, slurp but taste nothing… Is rosé a blend of red and white? There’s a long road ahead, but with practice and plenty of tasting, you’ll get there!
You certainly want to become a true master of wine tasting; what you lack is practice. You aspire to be a sommelier, no doubt about it, but your senses aren’t quite sharp enough yet and all wines taste much the same. But don’t despair: if Bach could become a musical virtuoso while deaf, there’s hope that one day you’ll tell a Chardonnay from a Champagne. Train your nose and your taste buds – that’s the only way!
Perhaps you spend too long deciphering the label and not enough time analysing what’s in your INAO tasting glass. But you have a taste for adventure: you’re curious about everything and fearlessly hack your way through the jungle of vines. You make mistakes, get lost and stumble, but you always get back up. You have all the enthusiasm of a budding wine expert: don’t despair, you’re on the right wine route!
You’re an initiate of the order of fine bottles. You may not yet be a grand master of wine tasting, but you have the discipline and curiosity to get there. You might not yet pick out subtle notes of yuzu lingering on the second sniff of an obscure little wine with pronounced minerality, but you know exactly what you do and don’t like – and that’s already a lot!
Your tasting precision borders on witchcraft. It’s as though you fell into an oak barrel when you were little! You’ve mastered the art of wine tasting, know the most advanced techniques inside out, and your senses are as sharp as a professional sommelier’s. You’ve certainly got plenty of bottle… The path to absolute greatness is just around the corner!
You’re the Mozart of wine tasting, the Picasso of the Pomerol cellars, the Einstein of pairing aged Savagnin with 36-month-matured Comté and a few grains of salt! One glance is all you need to tell Mourvèdre from Tannat. Your senses have reached divine heights: you can pick out the most unexpected aromas in any bottle in seconds. You’ve crossed to the other side: you no longer taste wine, you write its destiny.
The connoisseur’s corner
In wine terminology, Old World wines are produced in traditional wine-growing regions such as Europe and the Middle East.
In the New World, by contrast, winemaking is more recent, as in the Americas and Africa. Can you tell which category each of the four wines in this box belongs to?