With the days getting longer and signs of Spring becoming increasingly evident, it is time to dust off the gloom of winter and to look ahead to the more colourful season ahead. Of course, Champagne is the perfect wine to ‘launch’ ourselves into the warmer and hopefully more enjoyable days, weeks and months to come. Whilst we have many excellent Champagnes to offer, we have selected these three beautiful wines as ideal quaffs to suit all palates at this time of year. The Waris-Larmandier Blanc de Blancs, from the Grand Cru village of Avize is a benchmark example of the elegance and finesse of pure Chardonnay and makes a perfect aperitif. Jean Marniquet are based in Avenay Val d'Or and their Carte Blanche cuvée is a sublime blend of 70% pinot noir grapes with 20% chardonnay, giving great depth and elegance. Delightful on its own, but also delicious with fish and light meat dishes. Gaidoz-Forget bring the pinot meunier grape to the party in their extraordinarily fruity cuvée Carte d’Or. Very long in the mouth, this wine is perhaps weightier than the other two and is a dream on its own or with lightly flavoured chicken dishes.