Thursday Club with talk RADIO: Crémant

Today’s Thursday Club is all about Crémant: the French fizz made in the same way (the traditional method) as Champagne, but from other regions in France, using their local grape varieties. You can get Crémant from many regions around France, the most famous being Crémant de Bourgogne (Burgundy) Crémant de Loire, Crémant de Bordeaux, Crémant de Limoux and Crémant d’Alsace. 

Only French wines can be called Crémants and they offer fantastic value, considering they are made in the same time consuming method as Champagne, where wine needs to be aged on the lees (dead yeast cells) albeit for a shorter amount of time. Lees is what gives fizz its biscuity, brioche notes. 

Today, we’re looking at Bordeaux and Burgundy.

Calvet Crémant de Bordeaux, Brut NV

Fizz from the world’s most famous wine region has existed for centuries but it was only officially recognised as a style in 1990. They are often more aromatic and fruity than Champagne thanks partly to the grape varieties used and less time on lees. 

Grape varieties: Sémillon and Cabernet Franc

£10 from Tesco

Calvet Crémant de Bordeaux, Brut Rosé NV

This rosé is made with the famous red grapes of Bordeaux, so offers a structured, savoury pink style that’s ideal for food like cold cuts. Cracking value and on offer at the moment. 

Grape varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot

Find it for £10.39 from Ocado (down from £12.99)

Crémant de Bourgogne, Blanc de Blancs, Brut NV

The famous white grape of France’s Burgundy region (Bourgogne in French) is Chardonnay and in this case, ‘blanc de blanc’ means 100% Chardonnay, though other local grapes such as Gamay and Pinot Noir can be used. While Chardonnay is also the grape used in Champagne, the region of Burgundy is a bit warmer and so Crémant de Bourgogne is often a bit rounder with more fruit. Very easy going. 

Grape variety: Chardonnay

Find it for £10.49 Waitrosecellar on offer (down from £13)

Crémant de Bourgogne Brut Rosé, Simonnet-Febvre, NV

The red wines of Burgundy are famously made with Pinot Noir and this Crémant is made purely with this grape. Pinot Noir is also one of the main grapes of Champagne but from here in Burgundy, the pinks are much more fruity with notes of cherry and spice. 

Grape Variety: 100% Pinot Noir

Find it for £15.75 from Vinatis

See what else we have tasted on the Thursday club here, here and here!

One Minute Wine Ace: Sauvignon Blanc

Words by Helena Nicklin

Sauvignon Blanc. Arguably the most recognisable white grape variety around and the ‘Marmite’ of wines; you either love it or you hate it. This zesty grape is all about cut grass, nettles, gooseberry and wet stone flavours with distinctive aromas that fans describe as elderflower, dissenters as cat pee. It’s an English Country Garden on a crisp, spring morning with its wet stone pathways and damp fern aromas!

Sauvignon Blanc Tasting Tour

Get to know this grape by trying versions from the locations most famous for it:

The Loire Valley, France

France’s Loire Valley is Sauvignon Blanc’s original home, and the villages of Sancerre and Pouilly Fumé are two of the most famous names. This is where you’ll find the classic, more reserved style with nettley notes and a mineral tang. Wines from Pouilly Fumé also often have a flinty, smokiness to them thanks to the soil (‘fumé’ means ‘smoked’ in French). Try also wines from Touraine and Menetou-Salon for inexpensive, refreshing versions. 

Marlborough, New Zealand

Sauvignon Blanc has a permanent holiday home in Marlborough, which is now now arguably even more famous than Sancerre. Equally happy here as it is in France, the flavour volume is turned right up and someone has brought out the tinned asparagus and tropical fruit! You can’t do Sauvignon Blanc without trying one from Marlborough.

Casablanca Valley & Leyda Valley, Chile 

For amazing value, with more savoury, smoked grapefruit notes (and sometimes, a little bit of farmer’s armpit), head to cool-climate Chile. Casablanca Valley and Leyda Valley are two regions to look out for, the former offering inexpensive, fruity Sauvignon and the latter, more of a step up in style.

Bordeaux, France

Sauvignon Blanc is one of the two key white grapes of Bordeaux. Here it’s usually blended with Sémillon and oaked a bit to make gorgeously weighty, tropical dry whites as well as sweet whites: enter, Sauternes!

Napa Valley, California

Napa Valley, California - for dry, Sauvignon /Sémillon blends, just like in Bordeaux.

Want some suggestions? These are tried and tested!

• Sancerre, ‘Le Fort’, Fouassier, 2018. £24.99 (£19.99 mix 6 price), Majestic

• Menetou-Salon, Le Clos du Pressoir Vignobles Joseph Mellot 2018. £18.75 Corney & Barrow 

• Pouilly Fumé, ‘Les Chaumiennes’, A&E Figeat, 2018. £18.25 Corney & Barrow

• Olivier Dubois, cuvée prestige Sauvignon Blanc, Touraine, 2018. £9.99 (£8.99 mix 6) Majestic

• Yealands Sauvignon Blanc, £7 on offer at Sainsburys

• Yealands Sauvignon Blanc Reserve, £11.59 Waitrose

• Dourthe, La Grand Cuvée Sauvignon Blanc, Bordeaux, £9.49, Ocado

• Co-op Irresistible Sauvignon Blanc, Leyda Valley, £7, Co-op.

• Coyote Mint Sauvignon-Semillon, Napa valley, £13.99 on offer at Laithwaites