This appealing north Italian organic sparkler, produced from 100% Pinot Noir, has layers of honeyed fruit and toasty character.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Aromas of lemon and brioche with lightly toasty notes.

Palate

The palate is fresh and dry, with citrus and apple characters balanced by crisp acidity. The wine has a fine and persistent mousse with honeyed fruit on the long finish.

Production

Produced from a selection of estate-grown grapes in Casteggio and Calvignano - where the Pinot Noir vines are planted on south-westerly facing hillside sites (around 300m altitude), in chalky clay soils. The wine is then produced according to the Charmat method, with second fermentation in tank.

Producer

Castel del Lupo, in the heart of Oltrepò Pavese, dates back centuries - and includes the eighteenth-century Palazzo Pegazzera. In 1974 three entrepreneurs took over this historic estate and began a regeneration process. Giovanni Doglio, whose father and grandfather were both Piemontese winemakers, has over 40 years of experience managing wineries. Recently joined by his daughter Federica, he has worked tirelessly to develop the estate. They have purchased more vineyards (to cover 100ha at around 300m altitude), planted new vines and built a new cellar. The vineyards are now certified organic. The winery's main focus is high-quality bottle-fermented sparkling wine, and much of the vineyard is planted with Pinot Noir for this purpose. However, these vines are also the source of fine still red wines.

A Note on Sustainability

Led by Giovanni Doglio since 1974, the team at Castel del Lupo is very keen to honour the long heritage of its estate which existed even before its inclusion on a map of the region in 1301. All of Castel del Lupos grapes are estate grown and the 100-hectare property is now fully certified organic to maintain the integrity of the environment, the ecosystem and soil fertility without resorting to artificial substances at any stage of the production processes.

Specifications

, Gilles Gaudron produces top quality, traditional Vouvrays with pure a fruit character and a striking expression of terroir

Tasting Notes

Producer

Fourth generation Gilles took over the family domaine in 1993.

Composed of 50 separate small parcels of vineyard, the estate is planted on limestone-clay soils spread over 27ha. Still aided by his father Sylvain, Gilles Gaudron produces top quality, traditional Vouvrays with pure a fruit character and a striking expression of terroir.

Production

Third generation Gilles took over the family Domaine in 1993, which is composed of 50 little parcels of vineyards planted on limestone-clay soils spread over 24 hectares. Produced from a blend of 5 to 25 year old Chenin vines.  Gently pressed pneumatically, the juice is decanted for up to 24 hours. After a month of cool fermentation (peaking at around 16 °C) using indigenous yeasts, the base wine is bottled and undergoes a traditional second fermentation in the bottle. It then matures on the lees for a minimum of 18 months, followed by riddling and disgorgement. The wine is then matured in bottle for a further 3 months before release.

Specifications

A vibrant, elegant sparkling wine which is a delightful aperitif or companion to summer fare!

Tasting Notes

Lemon coloured with a fine and persistent effervescence. Fresh and intense aroma, combining floral and citrus nuances with a slight and soft smoked mineral note. It is fresh in the mouth with a creamy and delicate mousse.

Production

From the grape varieties of Loureiro and Arinto that were gently destemmed and pressed. The extracted juice was decanted statically and fermented in stainless steel vats. Following this, a further fermentation in tank gives the wines its elegant bubbles.

Producer

Founded in 1917 in the Vinho Verde region, Calçada Wines is one of the oldest producers in the region focused especially on the production of still white and rosé wines and sparkling wines and is now the 3rd generation of the family to lead the business. In addition to producing high quality wines, Calçada brand is also synonymous with the art of hospitality - Casa da Calçada is a XVI palace converted into a luxurious hotel - it is a reference in hospitality and within the property we still proudly have what is considered the oldest vineyard in the region.

Specifications

The Drinks Business Gold Medal Winner

'Aged on the lees for 3-to-5 years in cellars dug out of ancient Gallo-Roman chalk pits, this rosé Champagne is serious, and seriously delicious. Displaying a medium ‘vieux rose’ hue and narrow cordon, the wine exudes summer pudding fruits and fresh bread notes. On the palate, the wine shows finesse in its light body, zippy acidity and ‘crackling’ mousse texture. Nicely balanced with good length. Quite vinous, this wine is a lovely aperitif but will also work well with wild salmon or even light desserts.' Patricia Stefanowicz MW

Tasting Notes

This champagne has a special place in the history of the House. It is from a family plot of Pinot Noir in Cumières that this precious red wine comes, giving our blend a unique personality.

Colour

An elegant light pink colour with shards of gold. Extremely delicate, lively and regular bubbles.

Nose

The first aroma reveals gourmet aromas of cherries and red currents, followed by notes of blood orange after aeration.

Palate

Delicately straightforward in the mouth. Flavours of wild strawberries enhanced by notes of mint produce a freshness combined with a very pleasant sweetness.

History

Founded in 1825, Joseph Perrier has been owned and run by the same family since 1888. Current director Benjamin Fourmon represents the 6th generation. Champagne Joseph Perrier owns 21 hectares of vineyards, situated in the heart of the region on the right bank of the River Marne, around Hautvillers and Cumières – two villages classed 93% in the ‘échelle des crus’.

They are mostly planted with Pinot Noir but include 2 hectares of Chardonnay. The cellars stretch over three kilometers and date back to the Gallo-Roman period. The chosen name for these cuvées is no accident, nor any false claim to grandeur - ‘Cuvée Royale’ alludes to the historic relationship between Joseph Perrier and Queen Victoria and King Edward VII, as the royals’ Champagne of choice - probably the highest honour any Champagne House can hope to earn.

All the wines are made with a keen focus on freshness and purity, a theme which runs right through the range and really shows its worth in the vintage cuvées which show impressive energy and poise and remarkable ageing potential. Aside from the royal connection, Joseph Perrier has been associated with some pivotal events, which represent great human achievements, from the celebrations around Concorde’s inauguration in 1976 to, more recently, the Noble Prize in Medicine.

Aged for 3 years, the Cuvée Royale Brut of Maison Joseph Perrier brings together more than 20 different vintages with great terroirs such as Cumières, Damery, Hautvillers and Verneuil.

 Accolades

• Gold Medal - The Drinks Business
• Vinum: 17/20
• The Champagne & Sparkling Wine World Championships: Silver

Specifications

 "A surprising champagne somewhere 
between delicacy and voluptuousness."  Carine Bailleuil, 
Cellar Master

Tasting Notes

A harmonious blend of red and white grapes, derived from mature Pinot Noir and Meunier vines, enriches delicate equilibrium of aromas. The inclusion of grapefruit adds an intriguing touch, imparting a refreshing and delightful finish.

Production

It is the predominance of the Meunier that makes this Rosé so appetising. Pinot Noir and 
Meunier vieilles vignes (old vines) vinified as a red wine result in a subtle and balanced 
cuvée.

Producer

Champagne Castelnau is located in the heart of Reims, and represents the very essence of the region. With 809 hectares of vineyards across 150 crus, a unique grape growers’ collective guarantees exceptional supply and consistently outstanding Champagne.

The House’s flagship champagne, Brut NV, (formally named ‘Brut Réserve’), showcases the prolonged ageing that defines the signature Castelnau style. This deliberate choice was introduced many years ago, in the pursuit of complex, feather-light champagne that would stand apart from the rest.  Aged for a minimum 5 years in the cellars, this champagne is the legacy of decades of skill and passion. It celebrates the rich diversity of terroirs, from which Chardonnay, the majority grape in the blend, is sourced, to impart its full freshness, depth and length.

Our Cellar Master, Carine Bailleul crafts our stylish wines and her talents have been widely acknowledged. In 2021, Carine was shortlisted for the IWC ‘Sparkling Winemaker of the Year’ award, and Champagne Castelnau has for the last two years been recognised within Drinks International’s annual list of the ‘World’s Most Admired Champagne Brands’.

Champagne Castelnau’s stunning new packaging design, with beautiful premium textured labels, provides a strong brand identity with unique features and highest quality Champagne cues.  Luxurious, glamorous, classic and traditional, the new design perfectly reflects the brand’s superior product credentials.

Specifications

Tasting Notes

This has a characteristic straw colour. Its intense bouquet is aromatic and shows golden apple, pineapple and honey aromas. To the palate it is fresh and fragrant, as sweetness and acidity are properly balanced. The fine mousse makes it slightly creamy, with an elegant and persistent finish.

The Production

After being left with skins for a few hours at low temperature, the must is separated. After clarification and a first filtering, the must is left to macerate at low temperature in small stainless steel autoclaves. During fermentation the foam is removed. To stop fermentation, the must is cooled and before bottling it undergoes micro filtering again. Bottling is carried out in November, two months after harvest.

Producer 

Piedmont is almost as famous for truffles as it is wine, those elusive delectable delights that need to be rooted out from the depths of the forest, so scarce but so worth it. Much the same can be said for.....

Olim Bauda, secluded and out of the way, down a long drive off the busy Via Prata, the path gently meanders continuously rising to finally reveal the family home through a grove of trees, or if you arrive in truffle season, more likely through a rolling mist. The estate is run by three siblings, Dino, Diana and Gianni who have devoted themselves to creating fresh, expressive Barbera d’Asti and clean, pure scintillating Gavi in the most delicate low interventionist way and without doubt they are worth all the trouble you might encounter to enjoy them.

Sustainability

Working organically in the vineyards since 2019 with the aim of certified organic wines for the 2022 vintage. Sustainable agricultural practices, following the rules for integrated farming which prohibit the use of herbicides. Rigorous green harvesting and bunch selection in the vineyards ensure that only perfectly ripe fruit is harvested.

Specifications

Tasting Notes

Bright and refreshing, with delicate notes of green apple, pear, and citrus. Crisp acidity balanced by subtle sweetness, leading to a clean and lively finish.

Producer

Casa Vinicola Botter was founded in 1928 by Carlo Botter, a negociant selling to restaurants at the time and, is still a family run winery now in its third generation. During the 1950’s brothers Arnaldo and Enzo transformed the company, increasing its size and shifting to sales of their own bottles. Botter cooperates with the most qualified producers in Veneto, Apulia, Molise, Abruzzo and Sicily. A strong relationship that begins in the vineyards and goes through all the production cycles until the bottling. The focus is very much on innovation through environmentally friendly policies

Production

Grapes come from vines with an average age of 15 years. Both hand and machine harvests are used. Grapes are gently pressed, and the juice is stored in stainless steel tanks. It is then racked and inoculated with selected yeasts, undergoing fermentation at a controlled constant temperature of 18°C for up to 10 days. Second fermentation with Martinotti method) at a controlled temperature of 14-15°C in a pressure tank.

Awards

• International Wine Challenge:  AWC Vienna Gold 2022

Specifications

Austrian finesse, captured in every fine‑boned bubble.

Tasting Notes

Nuances of white bread, brioche and stewed apricot with generous fruit presence - and charm as well; considerable body, firm and open-hearted, very round and 
juicy, smooth yellow fruitiness, tingling and balanced, not too sweet, very 
beautiful filling. 

Production

The grapes are selected in September, when acidity and maturity have reached 
their perfect point for the base wine for our sparkling production. These grapes 
are sourced from different chalky parcels in our vineyards which lends the wine 
freshness and while most of the sites are southeast facing slopes, the wine also 
receives warmth. The harvested grapes are transported in small cases directly into 
the cellar, where they are very gently and carefully pressed. 
Only the heart of the must is used for the sparkling production. It ferments in 
stainless steel where it also undergoes malolactic fermentation before being 
racked into used 300 l (or 2500 l) Austrian oak barrels with about 10% of the 
lees. 
In the following year, the base wine is bottled together with some sugar and yeast 
for the secondary fermentation and gets 18 months yeast contact before the 
process of remuage. During the month-long process of remuage the sediment 
that forms during secondary fermentation is maneuvered into the neck of the 
bottle and up against the cork through riddling from time to time by hand. 

Producer

Willi Bründlmayer attaches great importance to the ecological balance:

When he took over his parents’ winery, he introduced a policy of ecological winegrowing. Synthetic fertilizers are waived since 1979. Our vineyards are cultivated sustainably, following the Austrian Programme of Sustainable Agriculture and since 2015 in a biological-organic way, certified by LACON. The management of natural resources – soil, sun, water and plants – follows simple and sensible procedures. For instance, pheromones are applied throughout all important sites of the winery in order to disrupt the mating habits of the dangerous grape vine moth. This means that no additional plant protection agents need to be used against the insect. When old vineyards are cleared, the fields are left fallow, for several years if necessary, so that the soil can recover fully.

Specifications

Nuanced and Graceful

Tasting Notes

Réserve Exclusive Rosé is a delicately nuanced Champagne literally bursting with red summer fruit flavours. A delicious cavalcade of redcurrant, blueberry and raspberry notes, combined with a hint of Gariguette strawberries.

From within its refined and vibrant structure, its clean flavours are extremely delicate and nuanced.

The Réserve Exclusive Rosé is a refreshing and exuberant Champagne offering fresh, light fragrances, and just perfect for summer drinking.

Elaboration

Aged for 2 - 3 years in the cellars.

The freshness and structure of this Champagne blend combine to perfection with the expressive fruit of the red wine making up 16% of the blend.

The Chief Winemaker adapts dosage levels to each Champagne in order to enhance its flavours and aromas. The choice of reserve wine is crucial and takes into consideration a whole range of factors, including the proportion of cru wines, year of harvest, grape varieties, and vinification and ageing methods, in order to guarantee the intrinsic style of each Champagne.

Blend

A harmonious blend of 10% Chardonnay imparting elegance and finesse, 45% Pinot Noir for roundness and structure and 45% Meunier for fruitiness and soft, supple character.

Medals & Accolades

• Gold Medal - Mundus Vini Spring Tasting 2022

• Silver Medal - Rosé Masters 2022, Champagne Masters 2022, Decanter World Wine Awards 2022
• 92/100- Wine Spectator November 2022, James Suckling Tasting June 2022
• 15.5/20 - Gault & Millau - Guide des Champagnes 2023

Specifications