Chapel Down, Brut, NV, England
Sparkling English wine, it’s really good nowadays and Chapel Down is a big producer in the UK. However, there are some that are better than others. Unfortunately , this one from Chapel Down is a bit lack luster. Fizzy with little flavour and high acidity. At £20 a bottlei can’t recommended it. It’s like an Austin Alegro car. Sorry Chapel Down.
Brightwells, Oxford Regatta, 2013, England
At 11 years old this red wine by Brightwell Vineyard in Oxfordshire is very good. It proves that English wine can last and doesn’t have to be drunk young. Made with Dornfelder grapes it’s dry, light in texture but with flavours of hedgerow red fruit, hints of raspberry and a little earthiness. I’m generally not a fan of a wine just made with Dornfelder but the finish is silky and structure is good. Well done.
Chapel Down, Union Red, 2014, England
English red wine was a standing joke at one stage and it was not undeserved, but this Union Red by Chapel Down proves that a cheap English Wine can be good, even at 10 years old! Made with Pinot Noir, Rondo and Dornfelder, it’s dry, light but with decent flavours of cherry, violets and just a touch of oak poking through. The length is good and its still fresh, although the colour is fading. What do you expect after 10 years.
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.
Camel Valley, red sparkling wine, Cornwall, England
There a number of vineyards in Cornwall with Camel Valley being the best known, even serving their sparkling to the British Royal family. This red sparkling wine is rather good. Its dry, quite light and refreshing. There are subtle flavours of redcurrant and hints of raspberry. For a first try of sparkling red wine it’s excellent as the Australian versions can be rather heavy and off putting for many. The down side is the price at £30 a bottle.
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.
Bolney Estates, NV Brut sparkling wine, England
Bolney Estates make some great wines, this NV Brut sparkling wine isn’t one of them. Its not terrible but more disappointing. The flavours are mute, the acidity is high but not balanced by the other components needed. It’s sparkling and if had with food you wouldn’t necessarily miss the lack of aromas or flavours. At £30 a bottle it’s a miss from me.
Chapel Down, Rosé, 2022, England
It’s summer, the sun is out and Rosé is on the table and this Rosé from Chapel Down is just the one to show what England can produce. Dry with decent acidity and lots of red fruit flavours, it has good length and is easy drinking, perfect for the summer. At £14 a bottle it’s not cheap but its a cut above your usual Provence stuff.
Louis Pommery, Brut, Sparkling Wine, England, UK
The French of started to taking English vineyard seriously and Louis Pommery has started to make wine in Hampshire and it’s pretty good stuff. Its dry, fresh, but classy with more citrus fruit than toasty notes in French Champagne. I’ve you like the new style of sparkling or a good cremant sparkling wine then this is for you.
At £25 a bottle it’s good value for champagne although a cremant is usually much cheaper at £10.
Grape Passions, Coastal Reach, Pinot Noir, Rosé, 2021, England
English Pinot Noir is pretty good but when it’s rose it’s even better. Grape Passions is a wind merchant just douth of Colchester znd this is their own brand wine. It’s fresh and crisp with plenty of flavour and good length. You have strawberry and raspberry with red fruit hints all the way through. At about £15 a bottle is not cheap but its pretty good.