I got a bit of criticism recently from Stephen Skelton MW regarding my comments on a bundle of samples of English wine that I tried last September. He said that "...if this was your idea of trying to find out what English wines are like, then I am sorry, but you failed - big-time" - despite me putting at the end of the article "I know that these three wines don't mean that every English wine is horrible, but these three... don't fly the flag well at all"
Anyway, I decided to explore more, and will be trying more and more English wine. In fact, to show my support for the category, I am starting an English Wine chart. Every wine from the green and pleasant land will get tried, rated and ranked. I tried four today, and they were quite good.
2006 Balfour Brut Rose from Hush Heath Estate (Kent)
Malty notes, some light fresh berry fruit coming through, a gentle minerality too. The palate is rich, some yeasty notes, sweet prickles of berry fruit. Very well balanced, not too sweet on the palate, a lot of honey and some rhubarb notes with a little ginger. A good wine. 8/10 £38.99
2010 Bolney Estate Bolney Rose (Sussex)
Light aromas of sherbet straws, a little bit of raspberry and then a bit of strawberry coming through. The palate is a little sweet up front, but then lots of Haribo Cherry-tastics come through with a little cream on the finish. 6.5/10 £9.99
2008 Bolney Estate Lychgate Red (Sussex)
A blend of Dornfelder & Rondo that has dark, rustic berries on the nose. A bit of blackcurrant and dried mushrooms and a little bit of tobacco. Oregano on the nose too. The palate is more blueberries, with a touch of cola bottle giving a tartness and a sweet herbal note. It is a little high in the acid stakes, and a little bit of dried leather on the finish. 7/10
2008 Bolney Estate Antares Brut (Sussex)
Light, sweet strawberry and watermelon aromas. Fresh, clean fruit, a lot of bramble, raspberry and a meat aroma too. The palate almost tastes of fruit beer, some rich bramble notes and then a malty element. It has a slight sweetness, a bit too much acid, but it is generally a clean, if slightly strange, wine. 7/10
Anyway, I decided to explore more, and will be trying more and more English wine. In fact, to show my support for the category, I am starting an English Wine chart. Every wine from the green and pleasant land will get tried, rated and ranked. I tried four today, and they were quite good.
2006 Balfour Brut Rose from Hush Heath Estate (Kent)
Malty notes, some light fresh berry fruit coming through, a gentle minerality too. The palate is rich, some yeasty notes, sweet prickles of berry fruit. Very well balanced, not too sweet on the palate, a lot of honey and some rhubarb notes with a little ginger. A good wine. 8/10 £38.99
2010 Bolney Estate Bolney Rose (Sussex)
Light aromas of sherbet straws, a little bit of raspberry and then a bit of strawberry coming through. The palate is a little sweet up front, but then lots of Haribo Cherry-tastics come through with a little cream on the finish. 6.5/10 £9.99
2008 Bolney Estate Lychgate Red (Sussex)
A blend of Dornfelder & Rondo that has dark, rustic berries on the nose. A bit of blackcurrant and dried mushrooms and a little bit of tobacco. Oregano on the nose too. The palate is more blueberries, with a touch of cola bottle giving a tartness and a sweet herbal note. It is a little high in the acid stakes, and a little bit of dried leather on the finish. 7/10
2008 Bolney Estate Antares Brut (Sussex)
Light, sweet strawberry and watermelon aromas. Fresh, clean fruit, a lot of bramble, raspberry and a meat aroma too. The palate almost tastes of fruit beer, some rich bramble notes and then a malty element. It has a slight sweetness, a bit too much acid, but it is generally a clean, if slightly strange, wine. 7/10
Hope you like those reviews Mr Skelton!
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