A great little sparkler here from the Loire Valley which is a blend of 70% Chenin Blanc and the rest Chardonnay. Lots of candied lemon, pear and apricot flavours combine with a bit of toast. The texture is a delight, slightly honeyed, quite rich, but with a fine tuned, slightly saline finish and a hedonistic touch of green bitterness. Excellent value fizz!

France’s wine scene underwent dramatic change and evolution at the beginning of the 20th century, when wineries of excellence and distinction paved the way for the creation of appellations, rules and regulations, and systems by which the reputations of certain regions could be protected and upheld. Domaine du Vieux Pressoir, which dates back to 1892, was a major player in the creation of the superb Saumur appellation in the 1930s as a result of its commitment to the beautiful wines of the region. In more recent years, it played the role again, paving the way for the creation of the smaller (and even more highly regarded) appellation of Saumur Puy-Notre-Dame in 2009. After over a century of peerless quality, the domaine was purchased by talented winemaker Claude Vagnon in 2015, who sought to bring more contemporary flourishes to the traditional winery. Vagnon’s skill was applied brilliantly to the Chenin Blanc, Cabernet Franc, and Chardonnay wines of the estate, and he has managed to instil a thoroughly modern essence of purity and balance to the domaine’s releases, ensuring its reputation - and that of its appellation - for generations to come. A great little sparkler here from the Loire Valley which is a blend of 70% Chenin Blanc and the rest Chardonnay. Lots of candied lemon, pear and apricot flavours combine with a bit of toast. The texture is a delight, slightly honeyed, quite rich, but with a fine tuned, slightly saline finish with a hedonistic touch of green bitterness. Excellent value fizz!