Cremant de Loire, Domaine Baumard

Fiona and Niall Shiner had been living in Hong Kong for 18 years when they returned to Britain to take on Niall's parents' property at Amberley. Niall continued with his career, but mother-of-three Fiona decided to plant some vines at the property following a comment by her mother-in-law that the Romans could have grown vines there. The first acre was planted in 2007, with the acquisition of an old cattle farm on the (really quite steep) hill opposite and converting an old barn into a winery in 2016. A third vineyard side since been acquired taking the current area under vine (but not all producing grapes yet) to 58 acres (23ish hectares), still firmly in the ‘tiny’ bracket.

This non-vintage Reserve Cuvée has a minimum of 30 months lees ageing in bottle which is expressed by the toasted autolytic characters of this Pinot dominant blend. The wine shows great complexity both aromatically and on the palate, expressing ripe red fruit and subtle red apple with great balance, a fine mousse and an excellent lingering finish.

Produced by natural fermentation of Lambrusco Salamino grapes, sourced in the zone north of Modena where the vines grow in clay soils.

Ruby red in colour, this is a lightly sparkling, semi-dry Lambrusco (around 25g/l residual sugar) with bright aromas of redcurrant and strawberry, and floral hints. Ripe cherry and berry fruit on the palate with a refreshing spritz..

The wine on which Domaine J.Laurens built it’s reputation and a delicious and serious alternative to Champagne. In the glass, this Crémant is brilliant with a pleasantly gentle fizz. Bright and citrusy, with just a hint of yeasty savouriness overlaying the lovely sweet fruit.