I wanted to try this as it recently won a Gold medal at the International Wine Challenge (IWC), which caught my attention since golds account for less than 1% of all medals awarded. It’s made from Pinot Noir grapes grown in Sancerre and bottled at the source in the Loire by Fournier Père et Fils, rather than being bulk bottled in the UK. This is the 2024 vintage, which comes in at 12.5% ABV.
I noticed a strong aroma of peach straight away. The wine is dry and fruity, with lovely flavours of stone fruit, strawberries and raspberries. In the tongue, it feels rounded and has a long finish. I tried it with food and was impressed by how well it went with a wide range of picnic options. I also tried it alongside the 2023 vintage and found the 2024 to be noticeably more aromatic and rounder which, I guess, are the main reasons for the IWC gold medal.
Available from Tesco for £16, though it can drop to £14 with a Clubcard and sometimes as low as £10.50 during 25% off offers.
