6 Monthly Still Wine Subscription
6 Monthly Still Wine 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.
This month’s selection of still wines offer a chance to taste a Bacchus from the Chartham vineyard in Kent, the Stopham Pinot Gris from East Sussex and charming rosé from the Weald from the acclaimed Hush Heath Estate. The still wines all come from the highly rated 2018 vintage and deliver a range of styles.
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.
Hush Heath, Nanette’s Rosé 2018
The Nanette Rosé is a blend of several grapes each of which contribute to the final wine. The varieties used are Regent, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay. The Regent is a useful wine for delivering colour, the Pinot Noir for red fruits, the Meunier gives an apple notes and the Chardonnay some citrus characters. The wine is dry and fresh with a gentle fruitiness. We have managed to secure the last few bottles of the vintage before the winery moves on to the 2019.The benefit of the extra age is that the acidity will have integrated and rounded out so giving a smoother and more food friendly wine. Whilst this will suit as a fine drinking rosé, served at 8C, it will be a good wine for food served a little warmer, 11 to 12C. It is a lovely wine to partner seafood such as prawns, lobster and crab; Nanette’s is a cracker with the iconic and newly revived prawn cocktail. The red fruits partner the sauce and sweetness of the prawn and the lightness of the wine will not overwhelm the dish. Alternatively, if you like a spicy curry, chicken, fish or vegetarian this style of wine is always a winner.
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.
About The Growers
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.
Hush Heath Nanette Rosé 2018
A number of fine vineyards are located in the High Weald of Kent, including Chapel Down, Herbett Hall and Biddenden, and one of the most prestigious is Hush Heath. The estate covers over 400 acres, includes arable farming, orchards, ancient woodlands and a fine vineyard. The estate is owned by the Balfour-Lynns who have grown the vineyard and winery over the last 15 years. The first vineyard was planted in 2001/2 and has been developed to produce an array of sparkling and still wines with additional land planted to vines in 2008, 2011. 2015 and 2018. The consultant winemaker is Owen Elias. Owen is something of a legend in the UK wine industry. He has worked at numerous vineyards and established the wines of Chapel Down as amongst the best in the country before moving on to Hush Heath.
Biddenden Gamay 2018 Red
The red wine, from Kent’s oldest vineyard, is grown on soil which is primarily clay loam in the High Weald and by a family of farmers, who have passed their knowledge down the generations and who also product a range of fruit juices and cider.