Wines of France: Burgundy, Champagne and the Loire Valley
190 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.
Château La Nerthe - Les Cassagnes de La Nerthe Rouge 2022
A Côtes-du-Rhône Villages from 40-year-old vines, crunchy and spicy, with hints of Provençal garrigue.
Château La Nerthe - Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc 2023
The great white of Château La Nerthe: a Roussanne aged in barrels, vibrant, floral and with a long finish.
Château La Nerthe - Les Cassagnes de La Nerthe Blanc 2023
A white Côtes-du-Rhône by La Nerthe, indulgent and fresh, between orchard fruit and honeysuckle.
Domaine de Longue-Toque - Cairanne 2020
A generous Cairanne from the Garrigues sector, between Burlat cherry, vanilla and white pepper.
Domaine de Longue-Toque - Gigondas Les Vignes Blanches 2023
One of the very first white Gigondas, born in 2023 in the heart of the Dentelles de Montmirail, fresh and satiny.
Domaine Les Sibu - Gigondas 2023
An organic Gigondas from old vines, ample and firmly structured, between ripe fruit, black olive and liquorice.
Domaine Les Sibu - Vacqueyras 2024
An organic Vacqueyras with hints of garrigue and pepper, full and structured, with surprising freshness.
Domaine Bernard Baudry - Chinon Les Granges 2024
An organic Chinon from the gravels along the Vienne, crunchy and juicy, a pure reflection of Cabernet Franc.
Domaine Chéreau Carré - Comte Leloup de Chasseloir Cuvée des Ceps Centenaires 2019
A Muscadet from vines over a hundred years old on schist, matured on the lees then patiently aged in bottle.
Domaine Quenard & Fils - Sansoufrir Rouge
A Savoie red with no added sulphites, light and easy to drink, with lovely aromas of redcurrant and blueberry.
Domaine Quenard & Fils - Chignin-Bergeron 2023
Biodynamic Chignin Roussanne: peach, apricot and fig, for a great Savoie white built for ageing.
Domaine de Sainte Marie - Côtes du Jura Pinot Noir 2022
A Jura Pinot Noir from long maceration: Burgundian fruit marked by the freshness of the Jura.
Domaine de Sainte Marie - L'Étoile Ensemblage 2022
The estate's signature cuvée: a rare Jura blend, aged in foudres, round, saline and generous.
Domaine de Sainte Marie - Côtes du Jura Savagnin Ouillé 2022
Jura Savagnin in an ouillé (topped-up) style: vine fruit, delicate salinity and good length.
Domaine Anita - Fleurie Les Moriers 2024
A floral, spicy Fleurie from the Les Moriers lieu-dit, with tannins of remarkable flavour and finesse.
Domaine Anita - Morgon Cuvée Château-Gaillard 2023
70-year-old vines on the Château-Gaillard plateau, for a powerful, structured and velvety Morgon.
Domaine Anita - Chénas Cuvée P'tit Co Les Brureaux 2024
An indulgent Chénas from the Les Brureaux lieu-dit, with a bouquet of violet and well-rounded tannins.
Vignerons des Terres Secrètes - Saint-Véran Croix de Montceau 2023
A south-facing lieu-dit in Prissé, for a brioche-scented, straightforward Saint-Véran with fine persistence.
Vignerons des Terres Secrètes - Saint-Véran Les Préludes 2023
A creamy yet fresh Saint-Véran, born at the foot of the Roche de Solutré, between peach, pear and acacia.
Domaine Gaillard - Pouilly-Fuissé 1er Cru Les Crays 2023
A Pouilly-Fuissé premier cru born beneath the Roche de Vergisson, generous, spicy and already mineral.
Domaine Gaillard - Pouilly-Fuissé 2023
An airy, floral Pouilly-Fuissé, with notes of caramelised apple and a buttery finish.
Domaine Gaillard - Saint-Véran La Grand Bruyère 2023
A Saint-Véran from old vines, made without sulphur, with generous fruit and honeyed notes.
Domaine Gaillard - Saint-Véran La Côte 2024
A lively, mineral Saint-Véran born on the limestone of Chasselas, between pear, acacia honey and gingerbread.
Domaine Gaillard - Mâcon Charnay-lès-Mâcon 2024
An indulgent and delicate Mâcon, between white-fleshed fruit, jasmine and orange blossom.
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.