Le Fou Pinot Noir 2025

'Le Fou' means madman in French, and this carries the name because accepted wisdom says it's inadvisable to try and make decent Pinot Noir in the sun-baked south of France. Happily, this one shows you that's not true. It's an unoaked wine, so the focus is on the purity and charm of the fruit — think warm cherry compote on the nose and a fuller, richer palate than you'd expect from a Burgundy. There's a good savoury streak too, courtesy of ripe, juicy tannins that keep it all perfectly balanced. Let's just say you'd be 'un fou' not to grab one.

Try it very slightly chilled with grilled lamb chops or a platter of cold roast beef, the wine's savoury streak and ripe cherry flavours are spot-on with both.

Boutinot, the guys responsible for this wine, is a big name in the UK's wine scene and are behind many labels seen on shelves up and down the country. Paul Boutinot kicked things off in 1980, starting with importing wines and soon partnering with winemakers around the globe. They've since gone on to produce their own wines from places like the Rhône Valley, Italy, South Africa and many other places. Their secret is in backing passionate winemakers who aren't afraid to push the envelope, always aiming for wines that really capture the essence of their regions. This, along with providing excellent value for money, is something they've really nailed.