We recently had a fabulous trip to France, visiting Reims and Eperney (Champagne region), then south down to Burgundy. We went with the aim of learning more about French wines, so managed to visit a few wineries, as well as doing some sight seeing.

We visited a Champagne House called Gardet. The only down side was the tasting was for 9am in the morning, a bit early for alcohol, but as it was Champagne, you could call it a champagne breakfast!

We had a tour of the factory, which was fascinating. We saw how they remove the sediment in the bottle by freezing the top of it, then letting the pressure of the bubbles blow this frozen sediment out of the bottle. We also visited the more famous Champagne Houses of Pommery and Moet & Chandon.

By the time we reached Burgundy, the car was getting a little overloaded with wine and our bank balance gradually decreasing. The Burgundy region is famous for its red wines, made from the Pinot Noir Grape. Here we visited local wineries and were met with excellent hospitality and very good wine. So I thought I would suggest a Burgundy for you to try this month.

Brand: Marsannay 2004/06 - Louis Latour
Type: Appellation Marsannay Controlle
Region: Burgundy, France
Grape: 100% Pinot Noir
Alcohol Strength: 13%

The colour – A pale, light red.
The bouquet – An intense bouquet of red and black fruits along with soft country and farmyard smells.
Flavour - A silky texture on the palette with dried raspberries, strawberries and understated tannins.
Price: £11.30 available from George Hill Wine Merchants, Loughborough.

Excellent with salads, trout, any river fish or light chicken dishes. Best served at room temperature to allow the full flavours to show through. It could also be served cool, not cold from the fridge, just slightly chilled.

Here’s hoping for a long Indian summer!