Top Southern French Picks

A beautifully balanced, unoaked dry white from arguably the most iconic estate in the Languedoc. Just under half of the 2022 blend is viognier, with petit manseng, chenin, chardonnay and other, lesser-known varieties. Aged in stainless steel, this reveals notes of apple, quince and honey. Delicious now, but has the capacity to keep.

La Boda means marriage and this wine is indeed a marriage of two different types of vineyard, one at altitude on volcanic rock on limestone, and the other further down on marl and limestone. Long ageing in oak vats brings the two together. Fabulous fruit, rich and full-bodied.

From a family owned and run Corsican estate located in the granite wilderness of the aptly named Desert des Agriates, this is a fine, full-flavoured vermentino, full-bodied, clean and fruity, with impressive length of flavour. The perfect accompaniment for grilled fish or shellfish.

From a single vineyard planted in 1936, this is a blend of grenache Olivar and gris, and the rare carignan Olivar. Aged in barrel to add texture rather than impart overt oak character, this is a fullflavoured, full-bodied Roussillon white that goes wonderfully with Mediterranean seafood dishes.

Over some 30 vintages Sylvain Fadat has shown the potential that exists with old vines of this sometimes underrated variety, and his very first vintages remain good to drink! This, the 2022 vintage, is dark, inky and full of character

Montpeyroux is a pretty little wine village set just below the Larzac plateau, home of Roquefort cheese. Sylvain Fadat is the leading grower making great, age-worthy reds from carignan, grenache, syrah and mourvèdre. The 2021 is deeply coloured and fruity from a cooler vintage.