Vins de France : Bourgogne, Champagne et vallée de la Loire
101 bouteilles, de la Bourgogne à la Champagne, la Loire et 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 - Rully En Varot White 2023
En vit Rully, rund i smaken, som kalkstenen stramar upp i eftersmaken.
Domaine du Four Bassot - Mercurey Vieilles Vignes La Charme Rouge 2022
Gamla stockar i Mercurey – täta mörka bär och tydlig peppar.
Domaine du Four Bassot - Mercurey 1er Cru Les Croichots Red 2022
En silkeslen premier cru från Côte Chalonnaise, med röda vinbär och lakrits i eftersmaken.
Domaine du Four Bassot - Mercurey 1er Cru Le Clos Fourneaux Monopole Red 2022
En monopole från Mercurey, en tät premier cru med tobak och mörka bär.
Domaine du Four Bassot - Givry Red 2023
Rund Givry, svarta körsbär och peppar, utan minsta rustikhet.
Domaine de la Roche Aiguë - Saint-Romain Red 2022
A high-altitude Pinot, light-bodied but precise in its aromas.
Domaine de la Roche Aiguë - Pommard Red 2022
A Pommard true to its reputation: structured, dark and built to last.
Domaine de la Roche Aiguë - Meursault Les Clous White 2024
En klassisk Meursault: vit persika, rostad hasselnöt och krita.
Domaine de la Roche Aiguë - Hautes-Côtes de Beaune Red 2024
Pinot from the hills above Beaune: fruity, with liquorice notes, ready for the table.
Domaine de la Roche Aiguë - Hautes-Côtes de Beaune La Lave White 2022
Lemon and flint in a white from the Hautes-Côtes, cut from pure freshness.
Domaine de la Roche Aiguë - Beaune 1er Cru Les Cras Red 2022
En tät premier cru från Beaune, präglad av svarta vinbär och tryffel.
Domaine de la Roche Aiguë - Auxey-Duresses Red 2023
En delikat Pinot, helt inriktad på friskhet, som aldrig tar över maten.
Domaine de la Roche Aiguë - Auxey-Duresses White 2022
Vit Auxey-Duresses, en rak Chardonnay som vinner på lagring.
Domaine de Bel-Air - Bourgueil Les Vingts Lieux Dits Red 2022
Blackberry, blackcurrant and green pepper: a tank-aged Bourgueil to serve cool with grilled meats.
Domaine Bonnardot - Ladoix Les Vris White 2022
En vit Ladoix som sätter krita och citron före fatkaraktären.
Domaine Bonnardot - Hautes-Côtes de Nuits Love at First Sight Red 2025
En generös Pinot att dricka ung, med fokus på frukt och rundhet.
Domaine Bonnardot - Côtes de Nuits Villages Red 2023
Côte de Nuits-Villages, med svarta körsbär och skogsbotten samt silkiga tanniner.
Bonnardot Estate - Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Nuits White "Les Frangines" 2024
En Chardonnay från hög höjd, med livlig frukt och bara en lätt touch av fat.
Bonnardot Estate - Burgundy Aligoté White 2024
Stram Aligoté, citron och flinta, utan ett gram fett.
Domaine Bonnardot - Beaune 1er Cru Les Béllissants Red 2023
En spetsfin premier cru från Beaune – blommig, lång och utan tyngd.
Château Queyron Pindefleurs - Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2018
Right Bank Merlot: black fruit and leather, with the structure of a Saint-Émilion built for ageing.
Château de Targé - Saumur-Champigny Red 2019
Blackcurrant, blackberry and green pepper: Saumur Cabernet Franc in its structured style.
Château de la Roulerie - Côteaux du Layon Le P'tit Layon Blanc 2022
Persika, honung och kaprifol – en mjuk Coteaux du Layon som syran håller borta från all tyngd.
Domaine Jean-François Bouthenet - Maranges Red 2022
Maranges i silkig tappning: körsbär och viol mot en bakgrund av ljus tobak.
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.
| Région | Ce qu'on y trouve | Cépages | La page dédiée |
|---|---|---|---|
| Côte de Nuits | Structured reds, cherry and undergrowth, made for ageing | Pinot noir | Côte de NuitsGevrey, Morey, Nuits-Saint-Georges, Vosne |
| Côte de Beaune | Blancs de calcaire tendus, rouges plus souples et parfumés | Chardonnay, pinot noir | Côte de BeauneBeaune, Pommard, Volnay, Meursault, Saint-Aubin |
| Côte chalonnaise | Le même duo de cépages, à prix plus doux | Pinot noir, chardonnay | MercureyRully, Givry et Mercurey |
| Champagne | Bruts de vigneron, blanc de noirs, cuvées de réserve | Pinot noir, chardonnay, meunier | ChampagneMontagne de Reims and Côte des Bar |
| Vallée de la Loire | Rouges frais de tuffeau et chenins tendres de schiste | Cabernet franc, chenin blanc | Bourgueil, Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil, Saumur-Champigny, Coteaux du Layon |
| Provence et Méditerranée | Pale aperitif rosés, raised in tank to stay light | Grenache, cinsault, syrah | Vin roséLe rayon rosé, ici et ailleurs |
| Bordeaux, rive droite | Merlot charnu, fruits noirs et cuir, tanin de garde | Merlot, cabernet franc, cabernet sauvignon | Vins de BordeauxUne collection qui s'étoffe |
La Bourgogne occupe la plus grande part du rayon et dispose de ses propres pages : Vins de Bourgogne rassemble l'ensemble, du régional au grand cru, et Domaine Dubois montre ce que donne un seul domaine suivi du Bourgogne Côte d'Or jusqu'au Clos de Vougeot.
Repères de garde et de service
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.
| Le vin | Garde indicative | Service | À table |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rosé de Provence et IGP Méditerranée | Within two years | 8 à 10 degrés | Apéritif, salade de tomates, poisson grillé |
| Cabernet franc de Loire | Trois à huit ans | 14 à 16 degrés | Grillades, volaille, fromage de chèvre |
| Chenin moelleux du Layon | Dix à vingt ans | 8 à 10 degrés | Foie gras, Roquefort, apricot tart |
| Crémant et brut de vigneron | Deux à cinq ans | 10 à 12 degrés | Apéritif, huîtres, friture de la mer |
| Champagne millésimé ou blanc de noirs | Dix ans et davantage | 12 degrés, en verre à vin | Volaille rôtie, poisson en sauce |
| Blanc de village bourguignon | Cinq à dix ans | 11 à 13 degrés | Poisson au beurre blanc, comté jeune |
| Rouge de village bourguignon | Cinq à dix ans | 15 à 16 degrés | Bœuf braisé, canard, époisses |
| Premier cru et grand cru | Dix à vingt-cinq ans | 16 degrés, carafé une heure | Gibier à plume, ris de veau, truffe |
| Saint-émilion grand cru | Huit à quinze ans | 16 à 17 degrés | Côte de bœuf, agneau, magret |
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
Pêche et abricot, vif et prêt à servir. Un rosé méditerranéen élevé en cuve inox, qui garde sa fraîcheur jusqu'à la fin du repas.
Château de l'Escarelle Palm IGP Méditerranée 2024 · 11,20 € la bouteille, à l'unité ou par caisse de 6Un rouge de Loire à servir frais
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 € la bouteille, à l'unitéLe merlot de la rive droite
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 € la bouteille, à l'unitéUne bulle de vigneron
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 € la bouteille, à l'unitéAn off-dry wine for foie gras
Pêche, miel et chèvrefeuille, un layon tendre que son acidité garde léger. Chenin de schiste angevin, à servir bien frais.
Château de la Roulerie Coteaux du Layon Le P'tit Layon 2022 · 29,50 € la bouteille, à l'unitéEntrer en Bourgogne
From affordable Hautes-Côtes to the grands crus, village by village and estate by estate: the main door into the French range.
Page du rayon · Vins de BourgogneSuivre la craie
Grower bruts from the Montagne de Reims and the Côte des Bar, blancs de noirs and reserve cuvées gathered on a single page.
Page du rayon · ChampagneGarder un œil sur 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.
Page du rayon · Vins de Bordeaux
Pourquoi le calcaire revient toujours
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.
Comment on choisit
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.
L'équipe du Baroudeur du Vin
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.
Par où commencer en Bourgogne ?
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.
Quelle différence entre Côte de Nuits et 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.
Certaines cuvées partent-elles par caisse ?
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.
Combien de temps garder une bouteille française ?
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.
Quelle bouteille française offrir ?
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.