6 Monthly Mixed Case Subscription
6 Monthly Mixed Case Subscription
Give yourself a wonderful surprise every 6 months of a selection of superb still and sparkling wines from the wine producing country that has changed most dramatically in the past 5 years. English wine has truly grown up, recognised worldwide for its quality. Sparkling wines for sometime now have established their reputation, conformed by the number of awards they have won and verified by the fact that French champagne houses are buying up land in the South East. English still wines are beginning to make their mark, with fabulous examples of Bacchus, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay and many more. All our wines are selected by our Master of Wine, Clive Barlow.
Our subscriptions have been designed for the curious and embrace the element of surprise, opening a new selection every month. All subscriptions can be cancelled at anytime so if you ever tire of receiving a new collection of wines you can do so.
3 Bottles: 2 Still & 1 Sparkling
6 Bottles: 4 Still & 2 Sparkling
12 Bottles: 8 Still & 4 Sparkling
If you would prefer to choose your own selection, all wines in the shop have been curated by our Master of Wine.
Notes From The Expert
Chartham Bacchus 2018
We have selected the Bacchus due to its high quality, the expressive aromatics and bright freshness of the palate. The Bacchus grape will always deliver acidity and aromatics and we felt that this was at the more floral end of the aromatic spectrum. It is a superb aperitif but it will partner a range of lighter dishes. One of the best combinations is pairing Bacchus with a light goat’s cheese of curd. Find a youthful goat’s cheese, creamy and smooth, add to a green salad with a little walnut oil dressing, some fresh crusty bread or toast and enjoy the fresh wine cutting through cheese and enriching the flavours. A great springtime wine.The 2018 vintage at Chartham was a vintage of abundance with lovely ripeness throughout the vines. For the Bacchus the long hang tie meant a greater development of the aroma compounds which, combined with a cool fermentation in steel tanks, has delivered an array of floral and herbaceous aromas. Part of the secret of the success of the wine is that the delivery from vineyard to winery takes a few hours which actually means more of the flavours from the skins get into the juice and wine.
Stopham Pinot Gris 2018
The Stopham Pinot Gris had a lovely bright feel to it and has an aromatic quality. Most Pinot Gris will deliver a muted nose of pear, apple and light spice. This Pinot Gris however has some lifted floral notes and a grapefruit zing. The palate is well balanced and has a zing. It is an atypical Pinot Gris but a wonderful one. The reason for the unique nature of the Stopham Point Gris is that a small percentage of Bacchus has been blended in. This has added complexity and structure. The marked acidity of the wine is balanced by a small amount of residual sugar (7g). The hint of sweetness and aromatics make this a super wine to match Thai or lightly spiced oriental fish or chicken dishes.
Redfold Vineyard, Ambriel Rosé 2014
The most common method of producing a sparkling rosé is to blend a red and white wine to produce a base rosé for the second fermentation. At Redfold, Charles and Wendy decided to produce their rosé as 100% Pinot Noir made as a still rose by fermented on the skins for a short time. It is also their very first rosé and comes from a block of a low- yielding Burgundian clone. It was vinified with skin contact, turning it every 3 hours to create the delicate pink colour. The wine is one of Wendy’s favourites because it was their first adventure in producing rosé and they took the risk to produce the wine in a different method; and it paid off. The wine has a depth and succulence with a firm core of acidity which balances the nuanced red berry fruit and spice of the Pinot Noir. This is a serious wine, a sipping glass of bubbles, and one that will partner foods very well. The depth and structure will allow this to go with tuna, chicken, and salmon dishes. It can also work with cheeses. So, take the plunge and create a supper of Chicken and morels followed by an epoisse and enjoy the Redfold Ambriel rosé.
About The Grower
Chartham Bacchus 2018
The family-owned and managed Chartham Vineyard lies three miles to the south west of Canterbury in the beautiful Stour Valley. The vineyard covers 2 ha on a gently sloping south facing scarp which offers good drainage and plenty of light. The soil is, as in the North Downs, made up of a shallow top soil and then pure chalk. The recently planted Tattinger-owned estate, Domaine Evremond, is a couple of miles along the same ridge and was chosen by the Champagne house due to the fine soils so similar to those found in their home region.The vineyard was planted in 2013 to Bacchus, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Both still and sparkling wines are produced and the wines have received critical acclaim upon release. The wines are made by Mathieu Elzinga and John Worontschak of the Dorking based Litmus wines. They have a great experience in making wine internationally and in the UK.
Stopham Pinot Gris 2018
Stopham Estate is the brainchild of Simon Woodhead, who began his career as an engineer designing parts for Formula 1 cars. Simon established Stopham Estate in 2007, when he planted six hectares of predominantly Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc on the estate, near Pulborough in West Sussex. The vineyard is a single block on a gently sloping, south facing slope and the soil type is sandy loam. The main challenges in the vineyard are the deer that roam the parkland (Simon’s first job was to fence the vineyard to protect the vines from damage) and unsurprisingly, the weather. Simon practises sustainable farming and is aided by the south-facing vineyards, which maximise sun exposure and ripening, as well as the proximity of the Stopham farm animals, which provide copious amounts of organic fertiliser to boost the sandy soils. The manure helps to create a better soil structure and retain some moisture on the free draining soils.The wines are all vinified on the estate by Simon and Tom Bartlett. They aim to produce wines of interest, structure and balance. The still wines deliver a wonderful purity and freshness when young and develop a more savoury note as they age.
Redfold Vineyard, Ambriel Rosé 2014
Another producer from the Pulborough area but this time on a vineyard overlooking the South Downs and on Greensand. The owners, Wendy and Charles Outhwaite, took five years to find the site, which was purchased and planted to vines in 2006, and now produce a range of fine, award-winning sparkling wine. The 9.5 ha site is quite special in that it sits atop a scarp face overlooking the Downs, and whilst it offers a spectacular view, there are a couple of benefits from the slope and height. Firstly, the south facing slope gives better sunlight, for both warmth and heat, and secondly, the slope reduces the risk of frost. In fact, in the past whilst neighbouring vineyards have suffered from a severe loss of crops due to Spring frost, Redfold has been relatively unscathed. The vineyard is planted to the three main Champagne varieties and the focus is purely on sparkling wines produced in the Traditional method. The wines are made using only estate grown fruit. Both Charles and Wendy are believers in the wine expressing the terroir of the site. All the wines undergo a long ageing on the lees, at least 24 months, so as to develop the autolytic notes and allow the wine to evolve its character.