From the Loire to Provence, via Burgundy and Corsica: here are twelve labels made in France expressing the excellence of this region rich in extraordinary territories, age-old traditions and stories of passion and love for wine-growing. A wine tour de France to drink well even on a low budget.
Valle della Loira
Chateau de la Mulonniere
Chenin Blanc Rock' M Roll
Born on the hills of Layon, in the southernmost part of Anjou, this pure Chenin Blanc perfectly reflects the lively and charming character of the Loire Valley. Careful selection of the best grapes and slow crushing to preserve all the finesse typical of this grape variety is followed by low-temperature fermentation and a few months of ageing in stainless steel tanks. The result is a wine that reveals notes of acacia, sweet almonds and citrus fruits on the nose. Its freshness and liveliness, together with the fruity notes and its length, give it a unique and rich profile, reinforced by the natural bitterness of the Chenin grapes. It goes well with scallops, leeks, grilled fish and cheeses such as pecorino and caprino.
Retail price: 15 euros
Lambert Béatrice et Pascal
Chenin Le Droit Chinon BIO
Made from Chenin Blanc grapes cultivated according to biodynamic principles on limestone soils in the hilly area of Chinon and Cravant-les-Coteaux, this white wine is characterised by its minerality and freshness. Matured for six months in stainless steel tanks, Le Driot is a very aromatic white, with hints of citrus fruits and lemon peel, and which on the palate reveals itself to be decisive and balanced, with a rich and complex finish in which a mineral-calcareous note emerges in the aftertaste. Ideal as an aperitif and enjoyed with summer salads, grilled fish, seafood, veal blanquette and fresh cheeses
Retail price: 27 euros
Borgogna
Domaine de Nugues
Moulin-à-Vent
In Lancié, in the north of Beaujolais and in the undisputed heart of world Gamay production, Domaine des Nugues produces an elegant Moulin-à-vent made from pure Gamay grapes grown on pink granite soils. After semi-carbonic and malolactic fermentation, the wine matures 13 months in vats and then in the bottle. The result is a deep ruby red that pervades the nose with mineral and smoky notes followed by aromas of black fruit and spice blends. In the mouth the length is good with fine, persistent tannins. Try it with roast guinea fowl, turkey with chanterelles, grilled pork, stuffed aubergines, vegetable tian.
Retail price: 16 euros
Les Gardes
Pinot Noir
Born in the vineyards of the Mâcon area, in the unique and evocative territory of Burgundy, this agile and fragrant Pinot Noir produced by the Paquet brothers' cellar, inspired by the first wine merchants in France. Ruby red in colour, this wine is characterised by an aromatic bouquet in which notes of cherry, strawberry, raspberry and blackberry mingle with fragrances of spices. In the mouth, it is round with fine, elegant tannins and offers a beautiful minerality on the finish. It is ideal with red meats without marinating, Asian dishes with soy sauce, cheeses such as Brie or Camembert, as well as chocolate desserts. Also perfect as an aperitif.
Retail price: 13 euros
Savoia
Grisard Philippe
Crémant Savoie Envol
In the small Savoie village of Cruet, at the foot of the Massif des Bauges Regional Nature Park, Grisard Philippe is pursuing his project to revive indigenous Alpine grape varieties, which tells an important part of the history and future of Savoie winegrowing. Thus the grapes Jacquère (60%), Altesse (30%) and Chardonnay (10%) give life to Crémant Savoie Envol, a light gold coloured Metodo Classico with a delicate perlage, which releases refined aromas and hints of white-fleshed fruit and white flowers. The sip is vibrant and lively and at the same time creamy and fruity: the perfect sparkling wine to drink not only as an aperitif but also in combination with quiches, fresh cheeses, vegetarian dishes as well as white fish, shellfish and crustaceans.
Retail price: 25 euros
Valle del Rodano
Domaine des Pères de l'Eglise Paulette Gradassi
Cotes de Rhone
An artisanal approach and a profound attention to the identity of its wines are the cornerstones of Domaine des Pères de L'Église, a company founded in 1805 in the area of the prestigious Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation. In the 19 hectares of vineyards located at the four cardinal points of the appellation, on sandy, clay and limestone soils, Grenache Noir (85%) Vieux Carignan (10%) and Syrah (5%) grapes grow to produce this wine of great intensity and freshness. With its intense, luminous garnet red colour, it catches the eye, while the nose is intoxicated by complex aromas of ripe cherries and red fruits, combined with notes of cocoa and spices and slight herbaceous hints. In the mouth it is fresh, structured and balanced, with elegant tannins and good acidity, for a pleasant and persistent sip. Try it with grilled meats, braised, roasted and game dishes; mature and semi-mature cheeses, vegetarian dishes, mushroom and legume dishes.
Retail price: 18 euros
Jura
Domaine la Croisée Comtoise
Crémant du Jura Blanc Brut
A blend of Chardonnay (75%), Pinot Noir (20%) and Savagnin (5%) grapes grown in Poligny, in the Jura: this is the Crémant produced by the young Louis and Chloé of Domaine La Croisée Comtoise, capable of surprising with its delicate floral notes and savoury, mineral hints, the fruit of a combination of terroir and sparkling wine-making techniques aimed at enhancing its characteristics. On the nose, the scents of white flowers such as jasmine and acacia stand out, to which are added aromas of white-fleshed fruit and an elegant trace of brioche and bread crust. Fine, elegant and well-balanced, it is fresh on the palate with a good persistence, making it ideal throughout the meal, from aperitifs with platters of cured meats and cheeses to first courses such as seafood risotto, pumpkin tortelli but also vegetable and cheese flans and roast turkey.
Retail price: 25 euros
Provenza
Abbaye Notre Dame de Fidélité
Coteaux d'Aix Rosé Exsulta
In Jouques, north of Aix-en-Provence, 47 Benedictine nuns from the Abbey of Notre Dame de Fidélité take care of their 9-hectare vineyard every day, where the Granache, Caladoc and Clairette grapes are grown, giving life from the 2020 harvest to the rosé Exsulta. With its soft pink colour, its citrus and red stone fruit notes with a hint of spice, its round and silky taste, this rosé has all the charm of a summer lunch under the Provençal sun. A fresh, well-balanced wine to enjoy as an aperitif and with grilled meats, ham and melon, summer salads and light fish dishes.
Retail price: 20 euros
Linguadoca
Cave de l'Ormarine
Picpoul de Pinet Carte Noire
Formed from the merger of six wineries, the Cave de l'Ormarine cooperative works on the edge of the Etang de Thau, a lagoon that stretches along the southern French coast, and with great determination preserves and promotes one of Occitania's oldest varieties: Picpoul. It is from these grapes that Carte Noir was born, a white wine with golden hues, generous on the nose with notes of white fruit and fresh citrus fruits. In the mouth, balance dominates over vivacity and reveals delicate lemon notes and a slight hint of bitterness typical of this grape variety. Its freshness goes perfectly with products with an iodine character such as shellfish, seafood or grilled fish.
Retail price: 15 euros
Herpe Paul
Banyuls Capbeart
Founded in 1919, the Herpe Paul winery is one of the oldest wineries in the Languedoc - Roussillon region. Banyuls Capbeart is a sweet wine made mainly from Grenache noir grapes (50%) that matures for 6-7 years and enchants with its brick red colour and intense aromas of ripe red fruits, chocolate and cherries in spirit. The palate reveals its liveliness and finesse amidst hints of red fruits, toasted notes and spices. Perfect as a dessert wine, it goes very well with chocolate desserts, especially dark chocolate, and foie gras; served chilled it is also an original aperitif. Also excellent as an ageing wine.
Retail price: 22 euros
Herpe Paul
Rosé Gourmand
A blend of Grenache Noir and Syrah grapes, this rosé from the Pays d'Oc is ideal as an aperitif and to uncork at summer barbecues, but also with a pizza or a fresh salad. Its light pink colour, its fine perfume of exotic fruits and its smooth and delicious palate with a soft and silky final note make it the perfect rosé for the summer season.
Retail price: 13 euros
Corsica
Clos Fornelli
La Robe d'Ange Blanc
Situated in the Corsican hinterland, 10 km as the crow flies from the sea, the Clos Fornelli vineyard grows on the alluvial terraces of the Bravone river characterised by a clayey soil, studded with mixed sands and rich in minerals: all elements that contribute to the indelible ‘signature’ of the wines of this winery. An example of this is La Robe D'Ange Blanc, a delicious gourmet white, made from Vermentino grapes, which matures in different containers (cement eggs, steel vats, wooden muid and amphora) where it remains in contact with the native yeasts for several months with continuous battonage. Pale and brilliant yellow in colour, it releases aromatic, floral and buttery aromas on the nose: a full-bodied, round and fresh Vermentino to be enjoyed as an aperitif and with seafood, oysters, poultry and Asian dishes.
Retail price: 20 euros
