Simpsons, Rabbit Hole, Pinot Noir, 2020, UK
English Pinot Noir has in the past been a little lack luster, but this one from Simpsons is rather good. Red fruit flavours with soft well integrated tannins, notes of tobacco and leather with a slight earthiness and oak make this a classy Pinot Noir. At £25 a bottle its fairly priced too for english Pinot Noir. It’s like an old fashion Rolls Royce.
Asquith Gardens, Sparkling Wine, UK
At £16 a bottle from Asda this english sparkling wine is a blend of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier made in the Champagne method and delivers a Champagne taste. Bronze medal at Decanter in 2024 and Silver at the IWC its a quality wine. Dry with toasty notes and flavours of Citrus, red apple and a little floral hint its a good english sparkling at a very good price. Can another supermarket beat this?
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.
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.
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.
New Hall Estate, Single Estate, Pinot Noir, 2021, Essex, UK
New Hall Estate in Essex can produce so excellent Lines but this single Estate Pinot Noir is outstanding. It’s one of the best Rosé wines I’ve tasted in a long time. There is a classiness about it, it’s subtle with redcurrent, strawberry, hint of creaminess and minerality on the finish.
At £16 a bottle it’s not cheap but its fantastic wine.
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.
Tuffon Hall, Beatrice, Rosé, 2022, Essex, UK
We know that Essex is one of the best places in England for why and this Rose from Tuffon Hall really does show some classic English, easy drinking Summer Wine. It’s very much like a Provence which isn’t a bad thing there are hints of strawberry and a touch of red fruit it’s got greater acidity and a firm crispness which is refreshing when sitting at the bottom of the garden watching the sunset. Unfortunately at £16 a bottle it is a little bit on the pricey side, but it is a quality wine.
Made in the traditional, just like Champagne this New Hall, Brut Rose is a classic easy drinking sparkling wine from central Essex. There’s hints of strawberries and raspberry. It’s got a good hit of acidity and pretty dry but very drinkable. At a bit over £20 its decent value.
