M.Chapoutier La Combe Pilate Esteban Brut Nature 2021

This isn't your run-of-the-mill sparkling wine. It's a biodynamic Viognier made by one of the Rhône’s leading names, Michel Chapoutier, using the Méthode Ancestrale - an older, gentler approach to sparkling production. There's no dosage, no added pressure, just a light mousse and a bracingly dry finish. Early-picked fruit brings subtle citrus and floral notes, with a yeasty, savoury edge adding complexity. It’s light-bodied, chalky in texture, and only 9.5% ABV. Sourced entirely from Chapoutier's own estate, it stands apart for its clarity, precision and distinctive style. Not your usual glass of fizz, and all the more interesting for it.

A good match for sashimi, soft cheeses or savoury pastries - lighter dishes that suit its delicacy and brisk dryness.

One of the main players of the Rhône and, these days, further afield, M. Chapoutier’s history goes back to 1808. Still based in the northern Rhône’s nerve centre of Tain-l’Hermitage, the producer's vineyards span the length of the region and far beyond, even to Australia. The arrival of Michel Chapoutier in 1990 marked a turning point. His championing of biodynamic viticulture, coupled with exceptional vineyard sites, re-established the estate among the top Rhône producers. Their commitment to sustainable practices is absolute—no herbicides or pesticides, and a belief in biodiversity within the vineyards. Today, they own Europe's largest biodynamic vineyard and create some of the Rhône's most iconic wines.