In March 2026, I attended a tasting for the on-trade (hospitality) and independent retail sectors, hosted by Les Grands Chais de France at Vagabond Urban Winery in London.
Les Grands Chais de France (GCF) is a major French wine and spirits company and one of Europe’s leading wine merchants. Its business spans branded wines, estate wines, sparkling wines and spirits. In the UK, it is perhaps best known in supermarkets for labels such as J.P. Chenet and Calvet, some of which I have previously reviewed.
GCF’s focus is strongly international. Around 80% of its turnover comes from exports, with wines sold in more than 178 countries. As I will show, its expertise across global markets also enables it to also work successfully supplying wines from outside France. The tasting featured 250 wines. The line-up was mainly French, but there were also bottles from Germany, Hungary, Spain, Chile, Argentina, New Zealand, Australia and South Africa.
There was a great proportion of very strong wines on show, but these were the ones I personally enjoyed most. The number of £ symbols gives a rough indication of relative price.
Cuvée Louis Klipfel Gewurtztraminer Alsace 2023 13.5% ££
Typical aromas of rose, lychee and exotic spice lead the way. It is demi-sec and very perfumed. Softer, less acidic and rounder than most examples, it gives an off-dry impression and a medium to full body.
Domaine Marguerite Carillon Savigny-lès-Beaune 1er Cru Les Talmettes 2019 13.5% £££££
This Chardonnay spent 14 months in oak. White flowers, stone fruit and nutty notes sit alongside a gentle buttery touch. The wine is dry and complex, with pear fruit, a round and creamy feel, light woody notes and a mineral edge.
Chartron et Trébuchet Chablis 2024 12% £££
A classic fresh Chablis style from Chardonnay. The aroma is full of green apple and lemon, with an almost floral character. Dry and crisp on the taste, it brings citrus and green apple flavours with pronounced minerality, while coming across very slightly sweeter than expected and finishing long.
Domaine Clavel “Regulus” Rosé Côtes du Rhône 2025 12.5% £
A rosé made from Grenache and Syrah. It is very aromatic, with bright red fruit and citrus from the first moment. Strawberry and white peach come through clearly on the taste, supported by fresh acidity and a lovely long finish.
Domaine Clavel “Regulus” Blanc Côtes du Rhône 2025 12% £
A lovely blend of Viognier, Marsanne, Grenache Blanc and Roussanne. The aromas are intensely expressive, with tropical and white fruit to the fore. Dry in style, it brings pear and ripe white fruit, followed by subtle citrus. Rounded and very fruity, it is easy to enjoy.
Domaine de la Baume Viognier Pays d’Oc 2025 13.5% ££
Peach, apricot, white peach and honeysuckle rise from the glass. The flavours follow with apricot, peach and slight citrus, backed by a gentle honeyed feel. There is a lovely greater-than-normal intensity in every dimension, making it a bold and generous Viognier.
Château de Tholomies “La Livinière” 2021 15% ££££
This Syrah, Grenache and Mourvèdre blend is aromatic, with morello cherry, prune and black tapenade. Full-bodied and rich, it brings blackcurrant, touches of roasted coffee, dried fig, liquorice and toasted wood. Medium tannins and a slight savoury note keep it grounded.
Château des Jaume Syrah/Grenache/Carignan Côtes du Roussillon Villages 2025 15% ££
A wine I have previously reviewed and enjoyed. It is aromatic, with herby notes and cherry fruit. The taste has a cherry liqueur character without the sweetness, once again underscored by a subtle herbal nuance.
Domaine de la Baume “Terres” Syrah IGP Pays d’Oc 2023 14% £££
This Syrah spent 18 months in oak. It is dark in colour, with intense aroma of blackberry and blueberry, with vanilla in the background. Dry and full of fruit, it also brings a little spice. Low to medium tannins and a medium to full body make it fresh and very easy to drink. It was one of the favourites of the tasting.
Alto Huapi Pinot Noir Leyda 2024 13.5% £
For a change, this one is not from France but from Chile. The colour is browning. Smoky, tobacco-led aromas combine with earthy and savoury notes. Dry, light to medium-bodied and with low to medium tannins, it offers red fruit and lots of spice, finishing in a very savoury way.
Peciolo Albariño DO Rias Baixas 2024 13.5% ££
Another non-French wine. Fruity and floral aromas include lime, honeysuckle and saline notes. Lees ageing gives it a full mouthfeel, while the structure is firm and powerful. The finish is persistent, and it comes across as a lovely, more intense version of Albariño.
Chateau Du Cleray Vallet, Muscadet Cru Vallet 2022 12% ££
A new type of Muscadet that has only been around for about three years. It spent a very long 24 months on lees with no time on wood. The aromatic complexity is impressive, with toasted, brioche and buttery notes alongside lemon, green apple and pear. Intense, full-bodied and rounded in the mouth, yet it still keeps its freshness.
The easiest way to find stockists for the wines I have mentioned is through a web search, although some may also appear on hospitality wine lists.
GCF offers a broad range, from mass-market branded French wines to more regional and estate-level bottles. While I have not included specific pricing as it varies across outlets, even the upper end of the range wasn’t excessive, particularly in the context of French wine.
