Chapel Down, Bacchus, 2016, uk
You have to drink Bacchus young was what the experts say, which this Chapel Down Bacchus from 2016 proves is rubbish because at 8 years old is still stonking. Dry, and beautifully rounded with vibrant citrus and pineapple poking through. Excellent.
Hawkers Hill, Solaris, 2022, Norfolk, UK
Solaris is a great understated grape which this white wine from Hawkers Hill in Norfolk, UK shows. Off dry, rounded with a full fat milk thickness this wine coats the mouth with nectar. Well maybe not nectar but there is richness and a concentration of ripe citrus, pineapple, with a hint of sherbet or cream soda that pokes through. It’s a sipping wine, but that’s not bad. A definite silver medal in my view.
Camel Valley, Bacchus, 2013, Cornwall, England
Camel Valley know how to make great wine but this Bacchus from 2013 is something else. Drink Bacchus young has been the saying but at 11 years old thus is still great. Dry, balanced acidity with crisp citrus and a slight hint of grapefruit is a wine to enjoy watching a sunset. At about £15 a bottle for current vintages it’s one to just buy.
Potash Field, Bacchus, 2023, Essex, UK
Potash Field vineyard is not a big player, a local place with a lot of passion and an experienced wine maker. This is an off dry bacchus with a soft feel, good acidity and chunk of gooseberry with hints of lime and lemon. Its a very easy drinking wine that would go well with a zesty salad or fish dish.
Coastal Reach, Bacchus, 2022, England
Made for Grape Passions in Essex this is sold in a Michelin restaurant in London and a big seller all round and I can see why. Madd by an ex Cloudy Bay wine maker it’s hot excellent qualities. Off dry with high acidity there are flavours of citrus, apple, tropical fruits, hints of gooseberry and grapefruit. There’s a creaminess sitting around and a chunk of sweetness, yet light and fresh. At £22 a bottle it’s way over priced though.
New Hall Estate, Barons Lane, 2021, Essex, UK
This white wine made primarily with pinot Blanc grapes, is another classic English White from New Hall in Essex and it’s all the better for it.
It’s a dry fruity wine with flavours of citrus and hints of peach, it’s a great wine for the summer sitting in the garden enjoying life or have with sea food. At £13 its fair value.
Winbirri, Solaris, 2019, Norfolk, UK
A few years ago Winbirri won a Decanter world wine award trophy which is some achievement. That was for their Bacchus but their Solaris is very good, it’s dry and crisp but with a softness that is very palatable. Lemon, blossom and stone fruit flavours with a slight tartness on the end makes this perfect for fish, salad or as an aperitif.
At 13 a bottle it’s what English wine usually costs, it’s a shame as it puts people off trying English wine.
Harrow and Hope, NV Brut, Buckinghamshire, England
Harrow and Hope from Marlow, Buckinghamshire, England produces some fantastic sparking wine but unfortunately this NV falls a little short. It’s not as good as it was when i last tried the NV white in 2019. It’s a shame, it’s not bad but there is a definite fall off on the back palette and this becomes apparent when you try the other sparkling wines
It’s nice and crisp and dry and with decent citrus flavours, the length is OK but it’s outshone by the others in their range. At £30 a bottle you should get more for the money.
Chapel Down, Kits Coty, Chardonnay, 2013, UK
If you think you can’t keep English wine for years before drinking it you’re wrong and this is exactly the bottle to try. Chapel Down make a lot of wine and a million bottles on a year but this kits coty is one of their premier lines.
Even after 8-years it is stunning wine to taste and although it costs over £25 a bottle it’s a must to try anyone that likes white wine. A worthy gold medal winner.
Theres still complexity in this wine with aromas of peach and apple, apricot with flinty under notes and subtle oak and a very long finish.
With summer and sitting out in the garden eating salads and barbecues, talking with friends this is got to be one to put on the menu.
Hencote, Solaris, 2018, Shrewsbury, UK
The UK makes good white wine, excellent sparkling and ok red wine but this Hencote, Solaris from Shrewsbury, that’s up north! Is really good, excellent you could say.
It’s fresh and vibrant with smells and flavours of grapefruit, lemon, lime and a mineral undertone on the taste. There’s acidity there which would pair this well with shellfish.
The fact it come from so far up north is amazing and shows the skill of the wine maker.