Champagne Henri Chauvet, Brut Nature NV

White | France | Champagne | 12.5% | Dry sparkling

Made from 90% Pinot Noir and 10% Pinot Meunier, it has an alluring pink hint to the colour, a nose of white stone fruit and on the palate is all zing, with fresh, racy citrus notes to get the juices flowing – and it acquitted itself so well with smoked salmon that this is our new go-to aperitif.

"A very attractive champagne from a family-run domaine, this is actually a blanc de noirs, made with 90 per cent pinot noir and 10 per cent pinot meunier. Very dry, lovely and toasty and with a hint of black cherries." Victoria Moore, The Telegraph, 21.11.2020.

"We had a tasting of Henri Chauvet’s champagnes at the Spectator a year or so ago and readers positively hoovered them up. The domaine was founded in 1840 and third generation Damien and Mathilde Chauvet today specialise in traditional, artisanal champagne (they still riddle all their bottles by hand) noted for long ageing on the lees. This bone-dry fizz was added to the range last year and is a glorious example of so-called zero dosage or Brut zero champagne, being fresher, fuller and creamier than most. It’s a beauty." Jonathan Ray, Spectator Life, October 2020

Click here to watch Damien Chauvet of Champagne Henri Chauvet taste and discuss this wine in episode two of our online series 'A Glass with our Growers'.

“Henri Chauvet is a top-class grower champagne, making very pure, crisp wines from eight hectares in Rilly la Montagne, a premier cru village near Reims. Today it is owned and run by winemaker Damien Chauvet, the fourth generation of the same family, and his wife Mathilde. Serious, mineral, bright, so pure, linear and refreshing. Plum, apple, apple pips and perfume. Great energy. This is 70% pinot noir and 30% pinot meunier, and the fruit definitely didn’t need any added sugar. A blend of 2020 and 2021. Just so enjoyable.” Will Smale @willsmale1

Pink O’Clock, Château Sainte Croix, IGP Var - Organic (Screwcap closure) 2025

Rosé | France | Var | 12.5% | Dry rosé

A blend of Merlot, Grenache, Cinsault and Muscat with a screwcap closure. Château Sainte Croix is newly certified as an organic producer this year – congratulations to them! They decided it was time to make things easier when relaxing by the pool (or, indeed, by the fire …) so they added a screwcap to their new line, Pink O’Clock. Deliciously pale with lovely bright red fruit, fresh and leafy with bags of flavour behind, this is destined to be drunk young, in company and all year round.

Chardonnay, Domaine de Montmarin, Côtes de Thongue (Screwcap closure) - Organic  2025

White | France | Côtes de Thongue | 13% | Dry, crisp white

10% new oak in the blend, with the rest vinified in stainless steel tanks. Bright with a golden glint with a nose of leafy, buttery Chardonnay fruit with a fresh green twist; on the palate floral and fresh, perfect juicy Chardonnay with a lovely green lift behind the juicy finish, with lovely bite and poise.

Aristea Sauvignon / Semillon, Elgin 2019

White | South Africa | Stellenbosch | 13.5% | Dry, crisp white

Whilst Stellenbosch luxuriates under blue skies and hot sun, Elgin will frequently be in low
cloud or even mizzle, making it perfect for Sauvignon and Semillon and giving the wines a zip of freshness. Aristea’s fresh, grassy Sauvignon allies beautifully with the juicy waxy Semillon making it satisfyingly complete on the palate.

Suitable for Vegans.

"A Sauvignon Blanc blend with 25% Semillon in the style of Pessac-Leognan. Green herbal and smokey with wet stone, grapefruit and mange tout flavours and expressive 25% new wood." Tim Atkin MW, South Africa Review 2020

"The 2019 Aristea Semillon/Sauvignon, made by Matt Krone (host of a memorable Spectator Winemaker Lunch) from carefully sourced cool-climate Elgin fruit, is another beauty. Sauvignon-dominant, it’s fresh, lively and enticingly concentrated with a deliciously complex mix of honey, greengage and quince on the finish." - Jonathan Ray, The Spectator, 22nd April, 2024.

Horizon, Domaine de Montmarin, Côtes de Thongue (Screwcap closure) - Organic 2024

Red | France | Regional France | 13% | Lighter, fruitier red

Cabernet – Merlot blend. Pale red to the rim with a nose of juicy, brambly red fruits, a light crunch on the palate which is full of juicy, racy red berry fruit, lifted and pure, just a delight.

Domaine de Laguille Merlot, Côtes de Gascogne 2024

Red | France | Regional France | 12.5% | Lighter, fruitier red

We have long been fans of Laguille’s succulently juicy Merlot, now in its new Burgundy shaped bottle with a smart new label and a cork rather than screwcap. There is no denying its deliciously brambly bright fruit with a lovely herby bite – a real triumph.

Parcelles Pinot Noir, Domaine Réthoré Davy 2024

Red | France | Loire | 12% | Lighter, fruitier red

With juicy red berry fruit, a hint of strawberries, succulent with a herbal twist, and a very light touch of tannin. Perfection

Beaujolais Villages Elégance, Domaine des Combiers, Laurent Savoye 2023

Red | France | Beaujolais | 13% | Lighter, fruitier red

Deliciously juicy and primary with vibrant, soft red fruits, a light leafy note with a refreshing, freshly-crushed fruit finish. With intensely pure fruit, and silky tannins, this is beautifully easy-going and so deliciously quaffable. Try it lightly chilled for a refreshing change.

Pinot Noir Neudegg, Weingut Mehofer - Organic 2022

Red | Austria | Wagram | 14% | Lighter, fruitier red

All juicy red berry fruit, with hints of strawberry and even raspberry, with lovely supple tannins behind.

Take a trip to the beautiful vineyards and cellars of Neudeggerhof with the Mehofer family by watching this video.

“Another Pinot Noir but from an organic Austrian producer: very fragrant yet also with more weight than the Pinot above; pure, fragrant black cherry fruit – lovely (Private Cellar, £20.85.)” - Andy Neather, aviewfrommytable.