If you come to visit us at Château La Clarière in the heat of summer, we’re sure to offer you a well-chilled glass of rosé. It’s a must, even if you’re a red wine drinker. And when the pink is this good, it would be foolish to resist. We don’t usually have enough grapes to make any sizeable quantity (the rest is reserved for our claret), but the wine has such a following that we always ensure we make some.

It’s a 50/50 blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, fermented very slowly and cold in stainless steel tanks. That way we capture the delicate summer berry fruit and zippy citrus freshness. You can breathe in all its lovely aromas, too. It really is as pretty and crisp as its label suggests, and is delicious solo and versatile with food.

Our scout and buyer for the Languedoc-Roussillon is Mark Hoddy. He's always searching the region's vineyards, to check out the vintage and the finest parcels of grapes. This is an ace find Mark discovered first in 2019 via an old friend in Corbières. Close by is Domaine La Lirande, a small estate founded in 1912 by the grandfather, François, in the tiny village of Coulobres. Every year, the Syrah from the domaine's 8 hectares of 40-year-old vines stands out for quality. Just taste the richness of this seductive red. Ripe black fruit, velvety, with smoky liquorice and wild herb notes, it's young, so best with hearty dishes like pasta bake or at a barbecue.

Sauvignon Blanc made exclusively for us by our trusted friend Franck Chatelain at Bougrier’s renowned cellar in the Touraine. The original Abbesse was one Louise de Bourbon of the nearby Abbaye de Fontevraud and a major figure in Loire history. This delicious expression of the region’s reigning grape, Sauvignon Blanc, is a fitting tribute to her. Making wine accessible, sustainable, and convenient for all, the Bougrier family have now captured their crisp white in a can. The new nicely portable size also accentuates the crisp, lemony fruit and zippy freshness of the wine. No longer do you need to remember to pack a corkscrew on a picnic. Just pop a can into your basket and crack it open under the sun, once you've found your perfect spot!

Hervé Sabardeil, our winemaker with limitless talent, has been making Cabalié, the big, ripe Catalan red, for over 15 years. He added the old vine (Vieilles Vignes) edition in 2011, originally as a one off, but it was so popular we insisted he did it again. And again! The magic to this punchy red is really in the vines. At 60 to 100 years old, yields are minute (about half of a Grand Cru claret). As a rule of thumb, the smaller the yield, the more concentrated the fruit, the more flavoursome the wine! That’s why we call it Cabalié’s Big Brother. Still made in the same style that was beloved by the Roman centurions and now our customers too, it packs even more flavour than the original. Ideal with garlic-roasted lamb, rich stews or cheese.