We all know fine red wine now comes from every corner of the earth, but there’s just something special about French wine. From Burgundy’s Pinot Noir to the robust Bordeaux blends, from the spicy Rhône reds to the fruit-forward Mediterranean expressions of Southern France — French red wine is exceptional.

France’s complex appellation system keeps the bar high in terms of quality and consistency, so much that you can choose a bottle of French wine with your eyes closed and be rarely disappointed. Having said that, some bottles are on another level. In no particular order, here is our list of the top ten French red wines - the best French wine in Pierre Hourlier Wines's portfolio. 

1. Domaine Pontifical Châteauneuf du Pape 2021

Châteauneuf du Pape is one of the most prestigious appellations in the Southern Rhône Valley. Here, producers use the many local varieties to make spectacular red and white wine with a reputation going back to the Middle Ages. 
Domaine Pontifical is a family-owned estate founded one hundred years ago.

It shines for its red Châteauneuf du Pape, made with 75% Grenache Noir and a touch of Syrah, Counoise, Cinsault and Mourvedre. The dominance of Grenache brings a sense of fullness and richness in a harmonious example of the historical appellation. 

2. Domaine Coste-Caumartin Beaune Premier Cru Les Chouacheux 2018

Some of the most expensive wines on the planet come from the Côte d’Or, Burgundy’s “Golden Slope.” Still, the region is also home to spectacular value, especially at the Premier Cru level. 

Domaine Coste-Caumartin owns thirteen hectares of vines in the Côte d’Or which can be traced back to the Dukes in Burgundy between 1000 and 1400AD. Les Chouacheux is a Premier Cru with intense red cherry aromas, baking spices and undergrowth over a silky palate with balancing acidity. 

3. Domaine Raspail-Ay Gigondas 2020

Gigondas is a reputable appellation in Southern Rhône and a source of bold, age-worthy reds at unbeatable prices. Producers like Domaine Raspail-Ay have put the region on the map for their traditionalist approach to winemaking in the vineyard and cellar. 

Domaine Raspail-Ay's Gigondas is a Grenache-based blend with Syrah and Mourvedre, fermented in concrete tanks and aged in large oak foudres. The first nose offers strawberries and raspberries, followed by dried herbs and earthbound aromas. The palate is rich and structured, and the finish is endless.

4. Lalande de Pomerol: Chateau Maltus 2019

Bordeaux will always have a place on a top ten list for fine wine. Value however can come from any of the appellations in the area, such as Lalande de Pomerol.

Vignobles Lassagne makes a Merlot and Cabernet Franc blend from its family-owned vineyards. The bouquet is rich and generous; complex with notes of black fruits. On the palate is rounded with a powerful tannic evolution, showing a beautiful balance between fruit and oak from the French barrels.

5. Côtes du Roussillon Villages: Domaine Boudau Cuvée Henri Boudau 2020

Domaine Boudau’s wine is extraordinary. Brother and sister, Pierre and Veronique took over from their parents in 1993 and have carefully maximised the huge potential of their estate. Their wines are superb, and constantly gain more and more recognition from discerning wine lovers and critics. The vineyard has now more than doubled in size without diminishing the quality- quite a rare achievement.

Henri Boudau is a red blend of 70% Grenache Noir and 30% Carignan; a deep ruby colour, with an intense nose and hints of liquorice followed by red fruit aromas. Always a favourite!. Boudau wines can age as well and are worthy of any cellar. 

6. Domaine Matray Saint Amour 2020

Long gone are the days when Beaujolais was just a fruity everyday wine. The region’s Crus produce wine of the highest level. Domaine Matray is one of the few estates in the area making terroir-driven wine in Beaujolais — they’ve been making wine in the appellation for five generations. 

Matray’s Saint Amour is a ruby-red wine with red fruit aromas and floral scents over a Burgundian palate with powdery tannins and a tight acidic backbone. The wine undergoes semi-carbonic maceration, giving it a spirited personality. 

7. Karine Lauverjat Menetou Salon 2022

You might know neighbouring Sancerre for its citrusy, herbal and flinty Sauvignon Blanc, but the appellation is also home to splendid Menetou-Salon. These are light, elegant wines with immense gastronomic potential.

Karine Lauverjat crafts an extraordinary Pinot aged in Tronçais oak for ten months for a refreshing and lively expression of the thin-skinned grape. Black cherries, oaky vanilla and earthy minerality make this wonderful light-bodied red a superb alternative for better-known Burgundian Pinots.

8. La Chapelle Haut Nouchet Pessac-Leognan 2015

Wine lovers are just starting to realise that Pessac-Leognan, a small appellation in Graves, Bordeaux, is as competitive as the region’s northern appellations. Here, La Chapelle Haut Nouchet produces age-worthy red wine from thirty-two hectares of vines planted outside the city of Bordeaux. 

La Chapelle Haut Nouchet combines 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot for a nuanced, garnet-hued wine with ripe black fruit, spice box and dried herb aromas over a round and smooth palate with extraordinary finesse. This wine can age for a few decades and is worthy of the most memorable occasions.

9. Domaine Pierre Cros Minervois Les Costes 2021

Minervois is a prestigious site in Languedoc-Roussillon, and a source of red, white and rosé wines made with local, warm-climate varieties. An authentic gem in Southern France, Minervois is gaining recognition for its charmingly rustic red wines.

Domaine Pierre Cros is a traditionalist estate producing terroir-driven wines with its own dry-farmed grapes. The estate’s Les Costes, a blend of Syrah and Grenache, is one of its most successful undertakings. Blackberries, spices and mint dominate the wine’s nose, while the palate offers integrated tannins and refreshing acidity. 

10. Domaine Aupy Saumur 2018

Let’s round up our top 10 French red wines list for 2022 with an authentic surprise, a beautiful red wine from Saumur in the Loire Valley — Cabernet Franc’s ancestral home. The Aupy family is known for its cheerful sparkling wines, but the estate also shows what Cabernet Franc can do in the region’s calcareous soils.

Domaine Aupy Red shows tart red fruit followed by hints of roasted cacao beans and brown spices over a round but structured palate extending long into the aftertaste, leaving a fruity impression; this is handmade wine of the highest quality. What are your favourite French wines?