Flavors of France: Premium Red Wine Selection

Indulge in the elegance of French winemaking with this curated selection of premium red wines. Each bottle embodies the rich heritage and terroir of France’s most celebrated wine regions, from the velvety textures of Bordeaux to the vibrant fruit notes of Burgundy. Perfectly balanced and expertly crafted, this collection is ideal for connoisseurs and those new to French wines alike. Elevate your gatherings or savor a moment of luxury with these exceptional reds.

1 x Lavau Gigondas Red 2018 - Rhone, France

92/100 James Suckling 
91/100 Wine Enthusiast 
16/20 Jancis Robinson

4 Stars, Decante 
Silver - Concours Mondial de Bruxelles (2014 vintage)
Top 100 #72 - Wine Spectator (2013 vintage)


50% Grenache, 10% Mourvèdre, 40% Syrah

James Suckling "This has very attractive dried flowers and stones on offer with a rich array of red plums and nectarines that flow to the palate. The depth and drive here is really stunning. Great balance and juicy allure now; there’s more to come later."

Jancis Robinson "Savoury oak spice on the nose: clove, allspice, anise. Succulent black fruit and a touch of garrigue herbiness too. Fine, floury tannic texture with unobtrusive but refreshing acidic frame."

Wine Enthusiast "Prominent veins of char, vanilla and clove extend from nose to finish in this sultry, sun-drenched red. A blend of old-vine Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre sourced from calcareous-marl soils and aged partially in oak, it's a creamy expression of Gigondas. Enjoy now–2027."

The Winemaker "Deep nose dominated by spices (pepper, nutmeg) typical of its appellation, which highlights the aromas of blackcurrant and raspberry jam.The mouth has a solid but well-coated structure, volume and a very nice length."

Originally from Bordeaux, the Lavau family has been involved with winemaking for generations, and have had vineyards ranging from Bordeaux to Tunisia. In 1964 they were seduced by the richness and quality of the Provencal soil, and settled down to make wine in the Rhone Valley.

The cellars of Lavau are currently managed by Benoit and Frederic Lavau, who work in partnership with 350 different grape growers. Benoit is a frequent visitor to Singapore and Pop Up Wine events.

Located in France's Southern Rhône, Gigondas produces wines that are rich Grenache-based blends, due in part to the region’s Mediterranean climate and red clay-alluvial soils. Under the AOP regulations, only red and rosé wines may be produced; white wines are simply declassified to Côtes-du-Rhône status. A mandated 50% Grenache is required in the wine, with Mourvèdre and/or Syrah usually accounting for the bulk of the remaining blend—adding structure, savory tones and color intensity to Grenache’s alcoholic power and lush richness. These wines are often compared to the great wines of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, but can even offer better value.

Grenache – Syrah – Mourvedre blended wines – commonly known by the acronym GSM – are the particular specialty of the southern Rhone Valley in France. Grenache and Syrah are key in this part of the world, and are complemented in this instance by the addition of Mourvedre: an important but slightly less famous inclusion to the blend. GSM wines, which have been readily adopted by the New World, are rich, full bodied and leathery, and are characterized by flavors of dark fruit and spice.

1 x Lavau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red 2020 ~ Rhône, France

92/100 James Suckling (2019 vintage)
92/100 Robert Parker (2019 vintage)
91/100 Decanter (2019 vintage)
90/100 Jeb Dunnuck (2019 vintage)
91/100 Wine Enthusiast (2018 vintage)
90/100 Wine Enthusiast (2017 vintage)
Bronze - Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider (2017 vintage)
92/100 Wine Spectator (2016 vintage)
90/100 Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider (2016 vintage)
92/100 Wine Spectator (2015 vintage)
91/100 Wine Magazine (2015 vintage)
91/100 Wine Enthusiast (2015 vintage)
Bronze - Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider (2015 vintage)

James Suckling "Vibrant, fruity nose of red plums, cherries, raspberries, pomegranates, olives and red tea. It’s full-bodied with firm, creamy tannins. Round and supple. Some chocolate notes on the finish. Fresh and elegant for the appellation. Drink or hold." (2019 vintage)

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate "A solid négoce wine, Lavau's 2019 Chateauneuf du Pape—a blend of 50% Grenache, 40% Syrah and 10% Mourvèdre, all said to be from sandy soils and aged in new barriques and stainless steel tanks—offers up ripe cherries on the nose, plus hints of vanilla and maple syrup. Full-bodied, ripe and supple, with a creamy, plush feel, this is easy to drink, while showing ample depth and charm." (2019 vintage)

Decanter "Holds the new oak remarkably well (50% new), it's not excessive in aroma or texture from this sample. Well balanced with fine tannins and a little salty note - pretty smart stuff. Should be good when it's ready, no excesses here. Best yet from Lavau." (2019 vintage)

Jeb Dunnuck "An outstanding wine, the 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape offers lots of ripe black and blue fruits as well as plenty of pepper, cedar, and sappy, green garrigue-like aromas and flavors. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it’s nicely textured and has terrific balance along with a great finish. A blend of 50% Grenache, 40% Syrah, and 10% Mourvèdre, it was aged in 50% new oak, although you wouldn’t know that by tasting it." (2019 vintage)

Wine Enthusiast "Ripe, velvety swathes of blackberry and black-plum preserves abound in this full-bodied, softly tannic red. A blend of Grenache (50%), Syrah (40%) and Mourvèdre (10%) matured partially in oak, it is ripe in fruit but elegantly subdued by tones of freshly tilled earth, charred clove and graphite. Ready to drink now, it should hold well through 2028." (2018 vintage)

Wine Enthusiast "Intensely spicy, almost charry notes of roasted black cherry and plum abound on the nose. A blend of Grenache (50%), Syrah (40%) and Mourvèdre (10%) sourced entirely from sandy soils, it's a supple, profoundly fleshy wine framed by soft, feathery tannins. Its forward, youthful black fruit flavors will show best now–2027." (2017 vintage)

Wine Enthusiast "It's an easygoing, accessible red with soft acidity and ripe tannins, but maintains an alluring whisper of earthiness through the finish. Hints of fur, bramble and moss lend elegance to forward, fruity tones of black plum and mulberry in this wine." (2015 vintage)

Jeff Leve "Medium-bodied, easy-drinking wine with a forward, red berry core of fruit. Best to enjoy this young." (2015 vintage)

A blend of Grenache (50%), Syrah (40%) and Mourvèdre (10%).

Originally from Bordeaux, the Lavau family has been involved with winemaking for generations, and have had vineyards ranging from Bordeaux to Tunisia. In 1964 they were seduced by the richness and quality of the Provencal soil and settled down to make wine in the Rhone Valley. The cellars of Lavau are currently managed by Benoit and Frederic Lavau, who work in partnership with 350 different grape growers.

Châteauneuf-du-Pape is the most famous Southern Rhône appellation and the finest expression of the Grenache grape and Grenache based blends. The name Châteauneuf-du-Pape means ""new castle of the Pope"" and harks back to the early 14th Century when Avignon was chosen as the new home for the Pope's court. It is one of the most renowned appellations in France, famous for a layer of stones called galets (""pebbles"") that surround the vines. The galets soak up heat during the day, and release it during the night, thereby regulating the temperature of the vines.

1 x Lacroix Martillac Blanc 2015 ~ Bordeaux, France

Second label of the famous Grand Cru Château Latour-Martillac

The winemaker "A wine with very nice length and great finesse. A bright gold colour, with lively and explosive notes of fresh citrus and exotic fruits on the nose. On the palate, the richness of the white grapes and the acid tension supply a superb sophistication. Pure and authentic mineral notes." (translated from French)

Vinous "Bordeaux enjoyed its strongest vintage in a number of years in 2015. The warm, dry summer yielded opulent wines built on intense fruit and voluptuous textures. At their best, the 2015s are spectacularly rich, racy wines loaded with personality."

This wine comes from the vineyards of the well-known Grand Cru Bordeaux property of Château Latour-Martillac, owned by the Kressman family. The wines of Château Latour-Martillac gained widespread attention in 1934, when the red vintage was selected by the Wine and Spirit Benevolent Society of London for the celebration of the coronation of His Majesty King George the VI, King of England in December 1936.

The 6 children of the original owner, Jean Kressmann own the domain and continue with the family tradition of wine-making, assisted by the leading wine consultants in Bordeaux. In the 1980’s, they increased the area planted in Sauvignon Blanc to compliment the Semillon, the historical grape variety of the property.

Pessac-Leognan is a prestigious appellation for wines produced in a particular area of the Bordeaux region of south-western France. A relatively new appellation, it was carved out of the Graves sub-region in 1987 – recognized in its own right on the merits of its high-quality red and white wines. This was a significant change, as many of the chateaux in what is now Pessac-Leognan were the best performers in the Graves Classification of 1959.

Pessac-Leognan’s white wines are made predominantly from Sauvignon Blanc (a required minimum of 25%) and Semillon grapes, and are often matured in oak for greater complexity. These white varieties thrive on the sandier soils of the appellation and produce more age-worthy wines than any other part of the world.

Elsewhere, blends of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon are best consumed within two years of harvest; in contrast, the best white wines of Pessac-Leognan can develop in bottle for well over a decade.

1 x Chateau Marjosse Pierre Lurton Cuvee Charmille Rouge 2018 - Bordeaux, France

92/100 James Suckling 
90/100 Decanter
91/100 James Suckling (2020 vintage)

Owned by one of the world's most famous winemakers, Pierre Lurton - president of two of Bordeaux's best-known chateaux, the Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton (LVMH) owned Château Cheval Blanc and Château d’Yquem.

James Suckling "Good tension and structure here with pretty spice notes. ....Attractive nose of blackberry, blueberry, plum, walnut and graphite. It’s medium-to full-bodied with firm, polished tannins. Try from 2022."

Decanter "Here you get black chocolate, chewy tannins, cherry and bright acidities on the finish...Vines for this cuvée are grown on a seam of limestone that passes through the Marjosse vineyard, and it stands out next to the 100% Cabernet Franc in terms of its power and deep black cherry fruit expression, offering width rather than lift. "

James Suckling "This shows aromas of ripe dark fruit, cocoa, sweet spices and toasted walnuts. Some wet earth, too. Medium-bodied with fine-grained tannins and a round, creamy mouth-feel. Refined and chalky with a lingering finish." (2020 vintage)

Château Marjosse is owned by French 'wine royalty', Pierre Lurton - president of two of Bordeaux’s best-known châteaux; the Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton (LVMH) owned, Château Cheval Blanc and Château d’Yquem, Château Marjosse. Pierre Lurton comes from two of the great Bordeaux families. His father Dominique was the youngest son of the paterfamilias François Lurton; his uncle André Lurton who founded the eponymous wine company; his many cousins run châteaux from Pauillac to Pomerol. His mother is from the famous Lafite family.

The influential Club Enologique asserts that Pierre is the most accomplished wine personality of his famous family. Trained as a doctor but swapping his studies for wine making after four years. At 23 he took over Clos Fourtet in St Emilion, one of the fine Lurton properties, and in 1991 he was appointed head of Château Cheval Blanc (it was bought by Bernard Arnault of LVMH in 1998); in 1999 he took on Château d’Yquem, which had just been added to the Arnault portfolio.

Club Enologique describes Pierre Lurton as having the world’s most corporate wine job. "However he divides his time between two of the world’s most exalted wine properties, but comes down to earth in Entre-deux-Mers, the leafy, unpretentious appellation to the east of Bordeaux at Château Marjosse."

The Château Marjosse estate is located in Entre-deux-Mers, on the right bank of Bordeaux. Initially owned by the wine merchant Bernard Chénier, Château Marjosse was acquired by the Deleuze family, who, in 1990, gave some plots to Pierre Lurton to rent. In 1992, Pierre Lurton, who grew up in Château Reynier, neighbour to this magnificent Chartreuse, moved to a second home in Château Marjosse and, over successive years became the owner of the entire vineyard, as well as the Chartreuse in 2013.

Decanter "Since Lurton bought Château Marjosse in 1994, the estate has improved beyond recognition. Pierre's father, Dominique Lurton, also made over a further 30ha so that, under the Château Marjosse label, Lurton now exploits 42ha of vineyard, six hectares of white and 36ha of Bordeaux red – a total of 300,000 bottles a year. Pierre insists his wine is Bordeaux and not Bordeaux Supérieur because ‘my wine is only supérieur in the bottle’. His objectives are ambitious. As the quality of the terroir with clay-limestone soil is similar to some of the better areas in Saint-Emilion, he hopes to prove that wines from this area can rival those from more prestigious regions."

Sommeliers International "At Château Marjosse the land possesses yet another specific feature, known locally as “la Boulbène”, a silty-clayey texture that has developed on ancient alluvions. The fertility of these soils no longer needs to be proved, because, by chance, they are also found in Saint-Emilion, a terroir that is extremely familiar to the man who manages “Cheval Blanc” …. Pierre Lurton. Assisted in this transformation by Consultant-Oenologist Pascal Poussevin, whose recommendations range from vine growing to wine-making, Pierre Lurton’s estate has now reached its cruising speed … Beyond the fabulous adventures he experiences in his role as manager of Châteaux d’Yquem, Cheval Blanc, as well as estates in South Africa, Latin America and in Australia … it is undoubtedly with “the salt of this land here in the Entre-deux-Mers” that his years of quest for perfection will be revealed. It is clear that this region needs winegrowers of such calibre, those who possess a sixth sense and, using techniques that almost resemble intentional alchemy, transform the grapes they touch into wines that exude the unique character of a specific area."

The Entre-deux-Mers region, nicknamed by wine experts as “Little Tuscany”, is unique and jealously protected by its inhabitants. "There are fifteen appellations that constitute the Entre-deux-Mers. The most well-known of them all, reputed for its dry, lively white wines, is certainly the one which bears the name of this region! The Entre-deux-Mers cultivates a certain speciality in producing white wines, due to its basic geological assets, possessing gravelly-limestone soils, upon which Sémillon, Sauvignon, Muscadelle and even Ugni Blanc grape varieties are planted. But the variety of soils and sub-soils associated with such a complex landscape provides a diversity of terroirs … These are favourable for producing red wines, that are regrettably not sufficiently well-known, but highly prized for the complexity of their aromas, their deep, vivid colour, as well as the concentration and elegance of their tannins." Sommeliers International.

Bordeaux, in the southwest of France, needs little introduction as one of the world's most famous, prestigious and prolific wine regions. Its three trump cards are diversity, quality and quantity. The majority of Bordeaux wines (nearly 90 percent of production volume) are the dry, medium- and full-bodied red Bordeaux Blends that established its reputation. The finest (and most expensive) of these come from the great châteaux of the Haut-Médoc and the Right Bank appellations Saint-Émilion and Pomerol. The legendary reds are complemented by high-quality white wines, both dry styles (particularly from Pessac-Léognan) and the sweet, botrytized nectars of Sauternes.

Merlot is a red wine grape variety with strong historic ties to Bordeaux and the southwest of France. It is the second most-planted red wine grape variety in the world, after Cabernet Sauvignon. Merlot is extremely popular in northern Italy, the United States. Chile has built its reputation mainly on its Merlot-based cuvées. Merlot's flavour profile includes plum and black cherry. Often described as producing smooth, rounded and "easy drinking" wines. Merlot is often used to great effect in blends, and is known in his capacity to make some of the most famous wines in the world.

2 x Chateau Maucoil Chateauneuf-du-Pape Tradition Red 2020 - Rhone, France

94/100 Wine Enthusiast
Bronze - Decanter World Wine Awards
15/20 Jancis Robinson
94/100 Wine Enthusiast (2019 vintage)
93/100 Decanter (2019 vintage)
92/100 Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider (2019 vintage)
Bronze - Robert Parker (2019 vintage)
16/20 Jancis Robinson (2019 vintage)
91/100 Wine Enthusiast (2018 vintage)
91/100 CellarTracker (2018 vintage)
90/100 Robert Parker (2018 vintage)
Bronze - Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider (2018 vintage)
15.5/20 Jancis Robinson (2018 vintage)
13.5/20 Bettane et Desseauve (2018 vintage)

Gold - Rioja List in London
Gold - New World List in London
Gold - Chilean List in London

Wine Enthusiast "An outstanding Châteauneuf-du-Pape showing powerful and intense redcurrant and cherry fruit flavours, beautifully structured with smooth tannins, creamy oak and a long, elegant finish."

Wine Enthusiast "Sourced from Maucoil's youngest vines (still an impressive 40 years old) this sun-kissed, fruit-forward red highlights the strawberry and red-cherry buoyancy of Grenache with sharper cassis and blackberry flavors and the brambly herbaceousness of Syrah, Mourvèdre and Cinsualt. It's a penetrating, richly concentrated red but zesty and vibrant too, finishing on fine, tautly composed tannins." (2019 vintage)

Decanter "Open nose showing dusty red fruits aromas with hints of slow cooked meat and hints of oak. Fleshy and quite opulent, round with ripe fruit and firm tannins." (2019 vintage)

Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider "Meaty and peppery, the fruits show a dark tint on the nose and palate. The wine has a solid depth of flavor, richness and tannins that will take a few years to resolve. I like the power and energy here as well as the length and sauvage quality in the finish. " (2019 vintage)

Robert Parker "Cinsault, aged in a mix of demi-muids and older barriques. It kicks off with nicely herbal-floral notes of roses and garrigue, then adds raspberries and cherries on the nose, while the palate is medium to full-bodied and silky, finishing a bit tannic but mouthwatering and fresh." (2019 vintage)

Wine Enthusiast "This organically grown blend of Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre and Cinsault offers ripe but restrained flavors of dried plum and blueberries edged by shavings of peppery spice, baked clay and graphite. Plump in texture and framed by fine-grained, silky tannins, it's enjoyable immediately but should hold well through 2028." (2018 vintage)

Robert Parker "...is earthy and smoky, with notes reminiscent of roasted meat and mocha, set against a backdrop of raspberries that only emerge with a bit of airing. It's medium to full-bodied and creamy in texture, with silky tannins that make only a faint impression on the finish. (2018 vintage)

Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider "Olives, thyme, garrigue and spice come along with the with sweet and sour cherries. Medium-bodied with a distinctive olive edge to the fruits on the palate, the wine finishes with a sharp, peppery edge with a tinge of chocolate in the finale." (2018 vintage)

Bettane et Desseauve "Well built between fruit and breeding. Quite light on the palate, the wine finds a nice volume in the middle of the mouth without great length on the finish." (2018 vintage)

Chateau Maucoil Tradition is produced from 60% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 12% Mourvedre, 10% Cinsault and a variety of other assorted grape varieties. The wine is aged in a combination of foudres and used oak barrels for 12 months. It shows bright berry fruit, subtle savoury spice, ripe tannins and vibrant acidity.

The history of Château Maucoil began several centuries ago. Ancient documents state that its first occupants were Romans who set up a base for Caesar’s legions. Later, Joseph de La Pise, Lord of Maucoil and archivist of the House of Orange-Nassau, the Dutch royal family, inherited the estate and the castle which was built in 1624. From then on, winegrowing became an intrinsic part of the history of Château Maucoil.

The 45 hectares of vines in the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation have been organic agriculture since 2011. Château Maucoil uses ancient methods such as furrowing, forming mounds and ploughing to tend the vineyard.

Originally from Bordeaux, the Lavau family who now own Château Maucoil, have been involved with winemaking for generations, and have had vineyards ranging from Bordeaux to Tunisia. In 1964 they were seduced by the richness and quality of the Provencal soil and settled down to make wine in the Rhone Valley.

Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a historic village between the towns of Orange and Avignon, in France's southern Rhône Valley. It is famous for powerful, full-bodied red wines made predominantly from the classic southern Rhône grape trio: Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre. These three varieties are behind the vast majority of the appellation's red wines, although a total of eighteen are approved for use – a mix of red and white grape varieties.

Southern Rhone Red Blend refers to a wide range of grape varieties often blended together to make wines in the southern reaches of the Rhone Valley in the south of France. While the blend could theoretically consist of any of a wide range of grape varieties, it is usually made up of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre, in varying proportions, typically with Grenache and Syrah as the dominant partners.