When choosing fine wines, different wine lovers gravitate to various regions. Some choose the mature Bordeaux, while others prefer natural wines, for example.
When looking to collect fine wine that can spend several years, decades even, in the cellar, it needs to have certain qualities to see it through the ages – freshness (enough acidity), alcohol, tannins, etc. Sweet wines are supported by the residual sugar which protects as they age. Generally speaking, all these elements need to be well balanced so that no one characteristic comes out more powerful with time. Several other criteria also play a role such as the vintage (was it hot or cool?) and the way the wine was made (how were the tannins were extracted, were the wines aged in barrels?).
In a wine enthusiast’s collection, you can generally catch a glimpse of treasures from the French wine regions: Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rhône, Champagne, Loire… Join us on our tour of the greatest names from these regions which stops off at the classic domains and iDealwine’s favourite wineries.
12 Grands Crus from Bordeaux
On the left bank of the Garonne, the terroirs have been producing fine wine for centuries. The 1855 classification ranked certain châteaux in terms of the quality of their wine and this classification continues to this day. Aside from the four Premiers Crus Classés from the Médoc – Château Lafite Rothschild, Château Mouton Rothschild, Château Latour, and Château Margaux – here is a selection of our favourites that deserve to feature in any collection:
Continuing with the treasures located in Pessac-Léognan, here are two châteaux who will be of interest to you, especially if you already have bottles from Châteaux Haut-Brion and La Mission Haut-Brion in your cellar:
These two properties were not included in the 1855 classification, but their fantastic wines deserve to be a part of anyone’s collection:
For those who like Bordeaux from the Right Bank, these Saint-Emilion and Pomerol properties are always included in our must-have list, especially if you already have bottles of Petrus or La Conseillante:
10 Grands Crus from Bourgogne
In Burgundy, winemakers and wine merchants rub shoulders with each other. It’s not always easy getting your hands on bottles from the most famous traders, so here is a selection of names to keep in your cellar if you come across their bottles:
It was so difficult narrowing down the list of talented winemakers to include in this selection. Burgundy is overflowing with fantastic winemakers and here are just five of them, one from each of the different main sub-regions:
Five fine wines from the Rhône Valley
Not being able to choose between the northern and southern sections of the Rhône Valley, we have put together this list that includes winemakers from both areas:
Five Champagnes
Great Champagnes call for great food pairings. These bottles, which are adored by Champagne lovers, are to be left for several decades in the cellar:
- Louis Roederer – Cristal 2014
- Bollinger – R-D 2007
- Leclerc Briant – Brut Zéro Abyss 2017
- Philippe Lancelot – Ivresse Brut Nature 2012
- Roger Coulon – Franc de Pied Blanc de Noirs 2013
Eight fine wines from the Loire Valley
A selection of brilliant white Loire wines with Chenin Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc taking centre stage. Delicious when young, these wines will continue to improve as they lay in your cellar for several years.
Our selection of white wines:
- Domaine Huet – Vouvray Clos du Bourg (sweet)
- La Taille aux Loups – Montlouis Clos Michet (dry)
- La Coulée de Serrant – Savennières (dry)
- Arnaud Lambert – Saumur Brézé Bourgenne (dry)
- Alphonse Mellot – cuvée Edmond (dry)
The Loire also honours Cabernet Franc. Our selection of red wines:
- Domaine Charles Joguet – Chinon Clos du Chêne vert
- Terre de l’Elu – Magellan
- Les Roches Neuves – Les Mémoires
If you were to follow this selection, you would create a well-stocked and balanced cellar that included various styles of high-quality wines. Don’t hesitate to refer to this article as you’re making your purchases on iDealwine to build up your collection.
Browse all fine wines from Burgundy
