As any wine connoisseur knows, the main wine producing areas in France produce consistently excellent wine and as such, you can’t really go wrong with any French wines to drink in 2023. But as with all markets, trends have emerged this year that will bring certain types of wine and regions to the forefront.
The French wine market faces several challenges in 2023. Rampant inflation has affected production costs and sales, particularly for PGI wines that rely heavily on bulk sales at supermarkets. In addition, structural problems mean some parts of France including Bordeaux are facing vine pulls in the next few year and the sector faces an acute shortage of glass bottles.
But against this background, one thing is for sure – fine wine remains a highly coveted item and France produces some of the best in the world. Sotheby’s Wines believe that demand will “remain strong for the finest and rarest wines in 2023”.
So with this in mind, which French wines should be in your glass in 2023?
Any Burgundy or Bordeaux wines
These premier regions led the way in 2022, according to Sotheby’s Wines, a scenario that they expect 2023 to mirror. And if they’re Burgundy wines from Domaine Leroy, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti or Domaine Auvenay, so much the better. This trio produce some of the most expensive wine in the world, with bottles regularly costing over €25,000 at auction in 2022. The most expensive sold online was a Musigny Gran Cru 2006 from Domaine Leroy, which fetched €34,100.
On the label in 2023 – among the best reds for this year is a Château Corton Grancey from Louis Latour in Burgundy. It combines pinot noir grapes from four Grand Cru vineyards and is described as “a textural masterpiece with mouthwatering acidity and grippy cedar-like tannins”. In Bordeaux, a top pick is Château Talbot 2019 from St.-Julien, rated as the fifth-best wine in the world by Wine Spectator. The publication highlights “the well-built and rather refined for the vintage” in its tasting notes.
Natural wines made in France
Biodynamic and organic both feature as watchwords on the wine scene this year. As environmental awareness increases among consumers so does the number of French vineyards moving into organic or biodynamic production.
Expect to see more organic French wines on the shelves at your local supermarket or wine merchant and on the menus in restaurants. Hotspots for organic or biodynamic French wines to drink in 2023 include Languedoc, the Loire and Jura. Vineyards in some parts of the Rhône and Beaujolais have also joined this trend.
On the label – ‘vegan wine’. Don’t be surprised to see a rise in vegan labelling on bottles this year either as demand soars for wines with zero animal ingredients.
Classic French wines
Some experts point to the classics when it comes to French wines to drink in 2020 and there appears to be a marked trend away from more unusual wines as connoisseurs return to traditional favourites. Expect to see more Burgundy and Bordeaux this year alongside other French classics such as Beaujolais and Alsace. Typically, the best wines to drink in a year include varieties across red wines, white wines and rosé wines, so there’s something for everyone’s palate.
On the label – but on aluminium instead of glass. Wine experts believe we’ll be seeing a lot more of canned wine in the near future because consumers like its lower carbon footprint and it travels well for al fresco dining.
‘Forgotten’ grapes in French wines to drink
Another trend to watch this year comes in the grape variety. In several parts of France, vineyards are rediscovering grapes that form part of the wine growing tradition in their area but have been ‘forgotten’ in favour of better-known varieties.
Look out for wine made from the following grapes:
Bouchalès – a red grape that originates from Bordeaux and Southwest France whose propensity to black rot means it isn’t widely grown. The Château de la Vielle Chapelle on the right bank of Bordeaux produces a Bouchalès Merlot from vines that date back over 100 years.
Carcojolo – this grape that comes as red fruits as well as a white variety is native to Corsica, the king of unusual sounding grape names. Find out more about Corsican wines here in our guide to lesser known French wines.
Castets – one of the most forgotten red wine grapes in France, although planting has been revived in Bordeaux. Originally from the Gironde or Pyrenees, Castets grapes make excellent wines for ageing.
Oeillade – an ancient grape from Languedoc, the red grape is having something of a revival in the region as vineyards realise its potential. It makes a lighter and fruitier wine with a lower alcohol content.
On the label – for Wine Spectator, a white 2020 Chablis from Drouhin Vaudon ranks as one of the best buys in 2023. This wallet-friendly option comes with a “unique, steely profile combined with delicate aromas and flavours”.
Which bottles to dust down and uncork now
If you’re looking for a vintage wine to crack open now, consider getting the following French wines out of your cellar:
- Alsace – wines bottled in 2010 make the best vintage drinking this year.
- Bordeaux – red wines bottled in 2012 and 2013 coming into their own this year include anything from Saint-Émilion, Médoc and Graves. A good vintage year for whites from Graves and Sauternes is 2009.
- Burgundy – any reds dated 2006 and 2007 from Côte de Nuit and Côte de Beaune make particularly good drinking this year. For whites, Côte de Beaune’s best this year are from 2006 and 2007.
- Loire – 2010, 2012 and 2013 turn out to be champion vintages to open this year for both red and white Loire wines.
- Provence – 2007 continues to be the watch year on the label for reds that come into their own in 2023.
- Rhône – red wines with good vintages to uncork this year include 2007 (south Rhône) and 2009 (north). Any white Rhône wines from the south bottled between 2016 and 2018 are worth opening.
On the label – Ferraton Père et Fils Samorens Rosé 2021 is one of Vine Pair’s top wines from under $20 this year. This “big” wine’s secret lies in its refreshing notes and “casualness”.
Bring out the bubbles
Sparkling wine tops the icing on the cake for any celebration so expect bubbles to continue to be part of the list of French wines to drink now. Unlike French wines from many regions, Champagne is enjoying something of boom and has become the darling of bubbly drinkers in the US, now the world’s biggest importer.
But as well as Champagne, wine connoisseurs are broadening their horizons for French sparkling wine and other lesser-known bubbles are entering the radar. One of them is Crémant de Die, made from Clairette, Aligoté and Muscat grapes grown on the scree slopes of the Drôme Valley in the Rhône area.
On the label – drier Champagne as consumers opt for the Extra Brut and Brut Nature versions. Sales have grown by over a third in the last 10 years.
Explore French wines on the water
As and when you’re next able to visit France, by far the best way to find the best French wines to drink is to visit the vineyards themselves and experience the world of vin for yourself.
Our luxury hotel barge cruises cover all the main wine regions and include wine tastings and wine pairings on and off board.
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