Chateau du Trignon is located on the Trignon river which divides Sablet and Gigondas in the southern Rhone.

The Roussanne grapes are planted on clay-limestone alluvial terraces which provide hot, stony, well-drained soils which decrease vigour and push ripeness. The wine is pneumatic pressed, with settling and fermentation in thermo-regulated stainless steel vats at low temperatures to retain freshness.

The Alary family's involvement in viticulture and wine production dates back as far as 1692. The estate now comprises 29 hectares of vines of which 26 hectares are Grenache dominant and 3 are Rousanne dominant - with holdings in Rasteau and Cairanne.

The wine is a deep red colour and opens with a nose of dried fruit, ripe plums and savoury notes. The palate is broad and rich with dark plum fruits and good tannin structure leading to a long mineral finish.

Unfined, unfiltered and organic.

Dom Perignon is one of the world's great prestige champagnes in name and in taste. Made only in single vintage years, this latest one is a blend of 50/50 Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, aged for eight years on lees, which retains freshness while allowing the yeast autolysis process to create complexity and power in this multi layered, intensely richly flavoursome sparkling wine. 

This tastes full bodied, dry, creamy with complex layers of flavour. Serve chilled in a large glass to it its complexity and freshness shine. 

If Chenin has fallen off your fine wine drinking radar, try this fabulous French example, made from grapes grown on soils of flint and limestone. Flavours of fresh green apples, honey and citrus all combine in every beautifully balanced sip of this outstanding Loire Valley Chenin Blanc from top producer, Bernard Fouquet. 

Château du Cèdre is a wine estate in Cahors, France, founded in the 1950s by Belgian immigrant Léon Verhaeghe. The estate is known for its handmade, organic wines, which are made predominantly with Malbec grapes plus a smattering of Merlot and Tannat.

This wine is made with 95% Malbec and 5% Merlot and spends twelve months in oak foudres. The vines are over 30 year old from sites on Les coteaux de Bru and the resulting wine is rich and full bodied with great fruit, fine tannins and fresh acidity.

This Gigondas by Domaine Espiers is deep, rich and fruity. The nose is complex and savoury, with black olive and pepper notes held together by a ripe dark fruit backdrop. The palate reveals a ripe, layered wine with mild tannins and a long finish.

Wild berries and ripe plums combine with complex spicy notes in this super affordable Malbec from the Pays D'Oc in the south of France. Malbec is scarce in the Languedoc region and this wine is made from 30 year old vines, which come from four different vineyards. The vineyards are on the slopes of the Orb Valley for complexity and richness, the foot of Montagne d’Alaric, northern Corbières, lends roundness and complexity and central Corbières for complexity and spice.

This Cremant de Limoux Brut Rosé is made according to the traditional method with Chardonnay, Chenin and Pinot Noir. The wine has a beautiful salmon pink colour with a delicate and lingering sparkle. The bouquet presents a great aromatic richness and notes of red fruits of strawberry and raspberry. The palate is characterised by a nice unctuousness and a well balanced acidity ending with a lingering and refreshing finish. Enjoy with Sashimi, oysters, mussels and cured salmon.

Falmet Brut NV is a bright and lively Champagne from the Cotes des Bar. This is a Pinot dominant blend (80% Pinot Noir, 20% Chardonnay) with great floral characters on the nose. Juicy acidity and brioche notes on the palate are complemented by a fine, energetic bead.

This is wine made from a unique clone of Gamay Noir known as "Saint Romain" from the Côte Roannaise which lies to the north west of Lyon at a latitude comparable to Beaujolais. The wine is very Burgundian with more savouriness than one would encounter in most Beaujolais. La Chapelle is their flagship wine, with masses of concentration and depth.

Produced in the Maconnais region of Burgundy, Macon-Villages is vinified with no oak contact to retain the elegant aromas and clean, fresh character that this region is prized for. The vineyard soils have a high percentage of chalk and limestone which impart nuanced minerality.

GRAPES:
100% Chardonnay

TASTE:
This wine shows floral, apple and citrus aromas with fresh, clean flavours and mineral notes.

PAIRING:
Perfect as an aperitif or with shellfish, crab cakes or goat cheese.

DISTINCTION:
Clean and vibrant unoaked Chardonnay.

All Guiberteau’s whites are pressed as bunches and ferment with indigenous yeasts. Historically, this wine has been vinified entirely in tank, although more recent vintages have been partly aged in tronconique oak and used barrels to broaden the textural range and mitigate reduction. It strikes the palate with laser-guided confit lemon and kaffir lime, with mouth watering acidity cutting through the wine’s sleek texture like a hot knife through butter. Closing with the quivering, chalky length typical of the region’s top whites, it’s a thrilling Saumur blanc; we bought every bottle we could. Lovers of fine Riesling and white Burgundy should jump on this.