Wines of France: Burgundy, Champagne and the Loire Valley
203 bottles, from Burgundy to Champagne, the Loire and BordeauxThe journey sometimes starts two hours' drive away: a limestone slope, a Pinot Noir with a pale colour, a white that smells of hazelnut and wet stone. That is what the shop keeps from France, a handful of terroirs that stand comparison with the wines of the whole world.
The range follows two threads. Burgundy first, from the family estates of the Côte de Nuits to the Côte Chalonnaise, up to a few grands crus. Then what else France has to offer: the chalk of Champagne, Cabernet Franc from the Loire Valley, Chenin from the Layon, a rosé from the Var and a right-bank Saint-Émilion.
Domaine du Four Bassot - Coteaux Bourguignons Pinot Noir 2024
A crunchy, indulgent Coteaux Bourguignons, bursting with red fruit: a true wine for sharing with friends.
Domaine du Four Bassot - Bouzeron 2024
A very fruity Bouzeron with marked citrus character, from the only village appellation dedicated to Aligoté.
Domaine du Four Bassot - Bourgogne Chardonnay 2025
A Bourgogne Chardonnay from the Côte Chalonnaise, lively and fresh, opening on citrus.
Domaine Jeannin-Naltet - Mercurey Vieilles Vignes 2024
An expressive, supple Mercurey, with smooth raspberry and cherry fruit, from old vines.
Domaine Simon Gaudet - Corton Grand Cru Les Grandes Lolières 2020
A dense, precise Corton Grand Cru from sixty-year-old vines, between liquorice, aniseed and mocha.
Domaine Simon Gaudet - Santenay Les Bras 2023
An elegant red Santenay, where violet, raspberry and gingerbread rest on silky tannins.
Domaine Simon Gaudet - Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Beaune Au Paradis 2023
A fresh, dynamic red Hautes-Côtes de Beaune, with tangy, crunchy small red berries.
Domaine Simon Gaudet - Bourgogne Pinot Noir Altis 2023
A crunchy, indulgent Bourgogne Pinot Noir from high-trained vines, all raspberry and cherry.
Domaine Simon Gaudet - Beaune 1er Cru Les Champimonts 2022
A crystalline white Beaune premier cru, with yellow fruit, white flowers and a touch of star anise.
Domaine Simon Gaudet - Santenay En Foulot 2023
A precise and deep white Santenay, between fresh citrus, toasty notes and hazelnut.
Domaine Parent - Corton Grand Cru Les Renardes 2023
A powerful, fleshy Corton Grand Cru, with black fruit and wild mushrooms, of great persistence.
Domaine Parent - Pommard 1er Cru Les Épenots 2022
A great Pommard premier cru, dense and fine, where violet meets cherry and raspberry.
Domaine Parent - Pommard 1er Cru Les Chaponnières 2022
A generous Pommard premier cru, with fleshy raspberry and cherry fruit underlined by liquorice.
Domaine Parent - Pommard 1er Cru Les Argillières 2022
A delicate, seductive Pommard premier cru, with notes of spice and stone fruit.
Domaine Parent - Pommard 1er Cru Les Chanlins 2022
A sensual, racy Pommard premier cru, with black fruit lifted by a floral and mineral touch.
Domaine Parent - Pommard Croix Blanche 2022
A lieu-dit Pommard with a ruby colour, where wild cherry and blackcurrant combine power and finesse.
Domaine Parent - Monthélie 1er Cru Les Champs Fulliot 2022
An indulgent, fresh Monthélie premier cru, with vibrant fruit and round tannins.
Domaine Parent - Corton Grand Cru Blanc 2023
An energetic and precise white Corton Grand Cru, between ripe fruit, toasted hazelnut and minerality.
Domaine Jacques Cacheux & Fils - Échézeaux Grand Cru 2022
An Échézeaux grand cru from the Orveaux and Cruots climats, aged in new barrels, deep, silky and mineral.
Domaine Jacques Cacheux & Fils - Nuits-Saint-Georges Au Bas de Combe 2022
A Nuits-Saint-Georges from the border with Vosne-Romanée, floral and fresh, with round, silky tannins.
Domaine Julien Brocard - Les 7 Lieux Chablis Grand Cru Les Preuses 2023
A biodynamic Les Preuses grand cru, precise and velvety, between brioche, orange, cinnamon and a saline finish.
Domaine Julien Brocard - Les 7 Lieux Chablis 1er Cru Montée de Tonnerre 2023
A biodynamic Montée de Tonnerre premier cru, dense and structured, with notes of white peach and spice.
Domaine Julien Brocard - Les 7 Lieux Chablis 1er Cru Vaudevey 2022
A biodynamic Vaudevey premier cru, precise and seductive, with a long, refreshing finish.
Domaine Julien Brocard - Les 7 Lieux Chablis La Boissonneuse 2023
A biodynamic Chablis from the Boissonneuse vineyard, sunny, round, fruity and mineral.
The French terroirs in the cellar
France here comes down to a few areas, kept for what they do better than anywhere else: Pinot Noir and Chardonnay on Burgundian limestone, sparkling wine on chalk, Cabernet Franc on Loire tuffeau, rosé on the hills of the Var.
| Region | What you will find | Grape varieties | The dedicated page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Côte de Nuits | Structured reds, cherry and undergrowth, made for ageing | Pinot Noir | Côte de NuitsGevrey, Morey, Nuits-Saint-Georges, Vosne |
| Côte de Beaune | Taut limestone whites, suppler and more fragrant reds | Chardonnay, Pinot Noir | Côte de BeauneBeaune, Pommard, Volnay, Meursault, Saint-Aubin |
| Côte Chalonnaise | The same pair of grape varieties, at gentler prices | Pinot Noir, Chardonnay | MercureyRully, Givry and Mercurey |
| Champagne | Grower bruts, blanc de noirs, reserve cuvées | Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Meunier | ChampagneMontagne de Reims and Côte des Bar |
| Loire Valley | Fresh reds from tuffeau and tender Chenins from schist | Cabernet Franc, Chenin Blanc | Bourgueil, Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil, Saumur-Champigny, Coteaux du Layon |
| Provence and the Mediterranean | Pale aperitif rosés, raised in tank to stay light | Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah | Rosé wineThe rosé section, here and elsewhere |
| Bordeaux, Right Bank | Fleshy Merlot, black fruit and leather, tannins built for ageing | Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon | Bordeaux winesA collection that is growing |
Burgundy takes up the largest share of the section and has its own pages: Burgundy wines brings the whole range together, from regional to grand cru, and Domaine Dubois shows what a single estate gives, followed from Bourgogne Côte d'Or up to Clos de Vougeot.
Ageing and serving guide
French wine falls quickly into two families: those that give everything in their youth and those that gain from waiting. The ranges below start from the vintage and apply to a cool, dark cellar.
| The wine | Suggested ageing | Serving | Dinner's ready |
|---|---|---|---|
| Provence rosé and IGP Méditerranée | Within two years | 8–10 °C | Aperitif, tomato salad, grilled fish |
| Loire Cabernet Franc | Three to eight years | 14–16 °C | Grilled meats, poultry, goat's cheese |
| Sweet Chenin from the Layon | Ten to twenty years | 8–10 °C | Foie gras, Roquefort, apricot tart |
| Crémant and grower brut | Two to five years | 10–12 °C | Aperitif, oysters, fried seafood |
| Vintage Champagne or blanc de noirs | Ten years and more | 12 °C, in a wine glass | Roast poultry, fish in sauce |
| Burgundy village white | Five to ten years | 11–13 °C | Fish in beurre blanc, young Comté |
| Burgundy village red | Five to ten years | 15–16 °C | Braised beef, duck, Époisses |
| Premier cru and grand cru | Ten to twenty-five years | 16 °C, decanted for an hour | Game birds, veal sweetbreads, truffle |
| Saint-Émilion grand cru | Eight to fifteen years | 16–17 °C | Rib of beef, lamb, duck breast |
These guidelines apply to bottles lying down at around 12 °C. A red from the Côte de Nuits almost always gains from waiting, while a Mercurey is drunk earlier and gives the same pleasure at table.
The ways into the French range
Five bottles to get into the range, and three pages to carry the visit further.
A rosé for the aperitif
Peach and apricot, lively and ready to serve. A Mediterranean rosé aged in stainless-steel tank, which keeps its freshness until the end of the meal.
Château de l'Escarelle Palm IGP Méditerranée 2024 · €11.20 per bottle, individually or by the case of 6A Loire red to serve cool
Blackcurrant, raspberry and violet, an organic Cabernet Franc whose tannins stay supple. Give it a quarter of an hour in the fridge before the barbecue.
Laurent Mabileau Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil 2022 · €17.00 per bottle, individuallyRight Bank Merlot
Black fruit and leather, with the structure of a Saint-Émilion Grand Cru built for ageing. To be decanted half an hour before a rib of beef.
Château Queyron Pindefleurs Saint-Émilion Grand Cru 2018 · €33.40 per bottle, individuallyA grower's sparkling wine
A reserve brut with a fine bead, which holds its own as an aperitif and with a fish course. The bottle to keep chilled for the unexpected.
Bernard Robert Champagne Brut Réserve · €34.80 per bottle, individuallyAn off-dry wine for foie gras
Peach, honey and honeysuckle, a tender Layon kept light by its acidity. Chenin from Anjou schist, to serve well chilled.
Château de la Roulerie Coteaux du Layon Le P'tit Layon 2022 · €29.50 per bottle, individuallyGetting into Burgundy
From affordable Hautes-Côtes to the grands crus, village by village and estate by estate: the main door into the French range.
Section page · Burgundy winesFollow the chalk
Grower bruts from the Montagne de Reims and the Côte des Bar, blancs de noirs and reserve cuvées gathered on a single page.
Section page · ChampagneKeep an eye on Bordeaux
This page brings together the Bordeaux wines in the cellar, right-bank Merlot first, and will fill out as the spring arrivals come in.
Section page · Bordeaux wines
Why limestone always comes back
Look at a map of French soils and the same ribbon reappears: the Jurassic limestones that carry the Burgundian slope run up towards the chalk of Champagne and outcrop as far as the hills of the Berry. They are what give a Meursault Chardonnay its tension, a grower brut its straightness and a village Pinot Noir its fine tannins.
That is the thread we follow in France, rather than the map of the appellations. It explains the cellar's leaning towards northern terroirs, and why the excursions in this range, the tuffeau of the Loire, the schists of the Layon, the hills of the Var, keep the same signature: freshness, precise fruit, a light palate.
How do you choose
We taste every cuvée before listing it, and the question stays the same for a bottle from Burgundy or from the Cape: does it bring something more to the glass? We look for clarity of fruit, an acidity that holds the finish and a tannin that leaves the palate free. A heavy wine stays at the door, however fine the label.
The Wine Wanderer Team
What people ask us about the wines of France
How is the French selection put together?
It starts from Burgundy, which takes up the largest part of the range, then opens up to what the other regions do best: sparkling wine in Champagne, Cabernet Franc and Chenin in the Loire Valley, rosé in Provence, Merlot on the right bank of Bordeaux. Every bottle is tasted before it enters the catalogue.
Where should you start in Burgundy?
Take a Hautes-Côtes or a regional Bourgogne to catch the hand of the estate behind it, then a village wine from the Côte Chalonnaise, Rully, Givry or Mercurey, which offers the best ratio between price and pleasure. The Burgundy wines page brings them all together, and Mercurey covers the village in detail.
What is the difference between the Côte de Nuits and the Côte de Beaune?
The Côte de Nuits, to the north, gives more structured Pinot Noirs made for ageing, around Gevrey-Chambertin, Morey-Saint-Denis, Nuits-Saint-Georges and Vosne-Romanée. The Côte de Beaune, to the south, shares both grape varieties and adds leading whites at Meursault or Saint-Aubin. Two pages are devoted to them: Côte de Nuits and Côte de Beaune.
Which Champagne should you choose for a whole meal?
A grower brut with a classic dosage goes with everything, from the aperitif to fish. To carry a whole meal, look for a blanc de noirs or a vintage cuvée, more vinous, served at around 12 °C in a wine glass rather than a flute. The Champagne page gathers the selection, from the houses of the Montagne de Reims to the growers of the Côte des Bar.
Are there any Bordeaux wines in the cellar?
Yes, with the right bank leading the way: a Saint-Émilion Grand Cru dominated by Merlot, black fruit and leather, at €33.40 a bottle. Serve it at around 16 °C, decanted half an hour before the meal. The Bordeaux wines collection will welcome the next arrivals, Saint-Émilion and Pomerol first.
Which French wine for a summer aperitif?
A rosé from Provence or from IGP Méditerranée, served at 8–10 °C, remains the safe bet: peach, citrus, a dry finish. Crémant de Bourgogne plays the same part with bubbles, at €16.85 a bottle. And a Loire red given a quarter of an hour in the fridge works wonders with a charcuterie board.
Are some cuvées sold by the case?
A few, especially among the Provence rosés: the Saint Roch des Vignes Côtes de Provence then works out at €11.90 a bottle, in cases of 6, and the Château Gabriel at €13.90 a bottle, in cases of 6. The price shown on each product page is the price of the bottle, with the sales format right beside it. Burgundy wines remain available as single bottles.
Does Burgundian Pinot Noir stand apart from the others?
It serves as the reference for the whole world: a pale colour, a scent of cherry and undergrowth, fine tannins, an acidity that lifts the palate again. German or New Zealand versions often aim for riper fruit, while Burgundy looks for texture and length. The Pinot Noir page lets you compare the origins side by side.
How long can you keep a French bottle?
It depends on the style far more than on the region. A rosé is drunk within two years, a Loire Cabernet Franc holds for three to eight years, a village Burgundy five to ten years, a premier cru a good deal longer. The reference table gives the range and the serving temperature for each family.
Which French bottle should you give?
Aim for a recognisable signature: a premier cru from the Côte de Beaune, an old-vine Morey-Saint-Denis or a vintage grower Champagne. The cellar's grands crus go up to €199.90 a bottle. For a lighter occasion, a gift box takes whoever receives it travelling beyond France.