Perlezza Prosecco Brut NV, Veneto, Italy (£9 Spar)
Simple quaffer, slightly nutty, slightly creamy, maybe lacks fruit, but perfectly OK. C

Harvey Nichols Prosecco Valdobbiadene Superiore NV, Veneto, Italy (£15 Harvey Nichols)
A huge step up in quality, combining the apple foam and fleshy/sherbetty appeal with pumice-like minerality. S-

The Society’s Saumur Brut (Gratien & Meyer), Loire, France (£9.50 The Wine Society)
Slightly nutty cooked apple flavours set against fresh citrus acidity and a tense flinty mineral character. B(+)

The Society’s Celebration Crémant de Loire 2010 (Gratien & Meyer), France (£11.50 The Wine Society)
Hmmm. Something’s gone awry on the sulphur front, there’s that penicillin (think children’s pink medicine) character here… C-

Domaine des Haut Perrays Crémant de Loire NV, France (£12.95 Lea & Sandeman)
Strikes a lovely balance between perky lemon and slightly bruised green apple flavours and richer, honeyed nuttiness, with and a very light sprinkling of sugar to round out the finish. S(-)

The Society’s Saumur Rosé Brut (Gratien & Meyer), Loire, France (£10.95 The Wine Society)
A little strawberry character, some nutty sherbet notes and a dab of honey, but feels slightly underflavoured. C+