French Summer Drinking Mixed Dozen

Ch Bel Air Perponcher Blanc Reserve Bordeaux 2020

Ch Cap L'Ousteau Haut-Medoc 2016

This beautiful château can trace its history back to 1750. Fleshy, ripe and fresh, this is a lovely example of the open, inviting Beaujolais style, full of uncomplicated charm. Perfect for summer enjoyment with charcuterie or cheese.

Three generations of the Jaume family farm some 200 acres of vineyard in the southern Rhône village of Vinsobres. The climate here is influenced by Alpine foothills so that cooling breezes play on the vines, preserving fresh fruit flavours in the wines. Easy-drinking, yet full-flavoured and food friendly.

Full of deliciously ripe and brambly fruit, this Languedoc blend of grenache, carignan and a little merlot consistently hits the sweet spots for flavour, price and quality. No wonder this great-value southern French red has been a fixture in members’ wine racks for many years.

With more of a prickle than a sparkle, this is a refreshing dry white from north-east of Toulouse in the south-west of France. Made from loin de l'oeuil, mauzac and a little sauvignon, it is perfect served chilled as an aperitif or with a simple dish of grilled prawns.

Tantalising blend bringing together Alsace (pinot gris, riesling) and Languedoc (vermentino). Fruity, savoury and long-flavoured southern French white with citrus, yellow plum with the body and spice of pinot gris, finished with a sprinkling of spice.

A lovely, ripe, fruity blend of cabernet and merlot to bring the two Bordeaux varieties together in the south of France. Soft, round and well balanced, Equilibre is aptly named.

The perfect all-rounder. Uncork the fresh, dry stone-fruit charm of this Vinet family benchmark with seafood feasts or enjoy its racy refreshing fruit solo as a warm-weather thirst-quencher.

Gamay with a little cabernet franc and malbec in support, fuller, riper and darker in colour in this ripe Loire vintage, but still best served on the cooler side, with tasty charcuterie or a steak and chips.

From the tiny Loire vineyard area of the Mauges, to the east of Nantes, this rare example of viognier shows the apricot and peach aromas typical of the grape.

Grown on sandstone in the southern Ardèche, this is a full-bodied, ripe-tasting Rhône viognier, full of character and weight, perfect for crayfish dishes or a chicken or vegetable korma.