English wine

Flint Vineyard’s 2022 Pinot Noir Précoce, is made from an early-ripening clone of Pinot Noir that was hand harvested in September and October from their own small parcel and from Martin’s Lane vineyard in Essex. A dry and hot summer provided small bunches with more tannin and flavour concentration than usual. Fifty percent whole-bunch is used here, leading to a light, crunchy and aromatic style – a baby Burgundy if you will, full of rich, cherry aromas. The palate is wonderfully textured, with smooth, fine-grained tannins, packed with gorgeous blackcurrant and cherry fruit and a hint of sweet spice.

Flint Vineyard's 2022 Bacchus has explosive aromatics of sherbet lemon, elderflower and rose petal. The hot and dry summer resulted in smaller yields, but one with incredible concentration. Picked from multiple parcels of Bacchus from their own vineyards and Martin’s Lane in Essex. Each plot was vinified separately in stainless steel at different temperatures and using different yeast strains, with no malolactic fermentation, to preserve the freshness and energy of the wine and keep the harmony of the blend. Wondrous and bright on the palate, with notes of zingy pineapple and a pleasing salinity lingering on the finish.

With only 3,000 bottles made, this brilliantly individual, barrel-aged expression of Bacchus is a rare find. Made using later press fractions to extract more tannin and flavour, Flint ferment and age the wine in 3rd and 4th fill oak barrels for 6 months, with weekly bâtonnage (lees stirring) on half of the wine. Their use of barrels encourages aromatic development and softness rather than oak flavour. The result is pithy lime, almond, elderflower and cut grass aromatics that continue on the wonderfully textural, creamy palate. Flint Vineyards assure it will age well too, with honeyed, petrol-like characters developing over the next 3 to 5 years. One not to miss!

The Silex Blanc demonstrates Ben’s desire to produce a wine that is different to the typical English style. In 2022 the blend comprises Pinot Noir (50%), Pinot Blanc (40%) and Chardonnay (10%), varieties that were previously considered difficult to grow and ripen in the UK’s climate. But modern approaches and knowledge have shown that excellent, high-quality wines can be made and Silex has attracted a reputation for being one of these. The grapes were gently whole bunch pressed, with only the finest portion of juice used, resulting in a very refined fruit expression. The juice was then fermented in old oak barrels sourced from a winemaker friend of Ben in Burgundy, going through full malolactic fermentation to lend softness. It was then matured for 9 months, a third each in amphorae, stainless steel and 3 year old oak. This is a brilliant English dry white with beautiful elegance, balance and complexity. Bright and vibrant on the nose with apricot, lemon peel and honeysuckle notes. The palate has a racy, slightly tropical and stone fruit core, with excellent acidity and texture. Burgundian character with plenty of English charm.

The Classic Cuvée is a multi-vintage blend, coming from the hundreds of hectares of vineyards owned by Nyetimber. This iteration comprises a majority of 2019 base wine but also has a considerable percentage of reserve wines in the blend (dating back to 2007). It’s a brilliant introduction to the range. Creamy and fruit forward, there’s lovely structure, with a long and chalky finish.

The Classic Cuvée is a multi-vintage blend, coming from the hundreds of hectares of vineyards owned by Nyetimber. This iteration comprises a majority of 2019 base wine but also has a considerable percentage of reserve wines in the blend (dating back to 2007). It’s a brilliant introduction to the range. Creamy and fruit forward, there’s lovely structure, with a long and chalky finish.

The 2014 Tillington is just the fourth vintage of this defining single vineyard wine released by Nyetimber. It is now firmly established as the British Isles’ greatest wine. The site is found in West Sussex, and the vines here thrive in the greensand soils. The nose is shy at first, but very pretty, with a delicate floral note, and with some air, a vinous energy. The palate shows, of course, supreme acidity twinned with creamy texture which holds the orchard and hedgerow fruit notes together in perfect harmony. This is a superb release from Nyetimber, with the greatest ageing potential of any English Sparkling Wine we know.

The 1086 is Nyetimber’s prestige cuvée, produced to be the pinnacle of the estate. A careful selection of dozens of separate wines from the 2010 vintage, carefully blended together, it then spent six years on the lees before being disgorged. It’s not cheap, but it’s undoubtedly the most ambitious, and most complex, sparkling wine produced in England today. Notes of biscuit and red fruit, and a very long, focused finish. So impressive.

The 1086 is Nyetimber’s prestige cuvée, produced to be the pinnacle of the estate. A careful selection of dozens of separate wines from the 2010 vintage, carefully blended together, it then spent six years on the lees before being disgorged. It’s not cheap, but it’s undoubtedly the most ambitious, and most complex, sparkling wine produced in England today. Notes of biscuit and red fruit, and a very long, focused finish. So impressive.

Blanc de Blancs was the first style that Nyetimber made, and was a huge success upon its release in 1996. The 2015 has been aged for between 5 and 6 years on the lees, and the result is a deliciously fresh, balanced wine with Chardonnay’s trademark lemony, elegant, toasty character and a richer, fresh pastry note from the ageing. Vineyards for this wine are in both Sussex and Hampshire. This 2015 is decadent, textured and rich with a long, moreish finish. A benchmark Chardonnay from England.

The Classic Cuvée is a multi-vintage blend, coming from the hundreds of hectares of vineyards owned by Nyetimber. This iteration comprises a majority of 2019 base wine but also has a considerable percentage of reserve wines in the blend (dating back to 2007). It’s a brilliant introduction to the range. Creamy and fruit forward, there’s lovely structure, with a long and chalky finish.

An outstanding Nyetimber Classic Cuvée, and the very last iteration of their vintage designated Classic Cuvée styles before they moved to a Multi-Vintage blend from 2011 onwards. It is also the last to be predominantly Pinot Noir. Toasty and complex aromas showing wonderful development after more than 5 years on lees in the cellar. On the palate a bright acidity is beautifully balanced by notes of honey, almond, pastry and baked apple flavours. Very fine and elegant with a great combination of intensity, delicacy and length. Truly special in this format.

An outstanding Nyetimber Classic Cuvée, and the very last iteration of their vintage designated Classic Cuvée styles before they moved to a Multi-Vintage blend from 2011 onwards. It is also the last to be predominantly Pinot Noir. Toasty and complex aromas showing wonderful development after more than 5 years on lees in the cellar. On the palate a bright acidity is beautifully balanced by notes of honey, almond, pastry and baked apple flavours. Very fine and elegant with a great combination of intensity, delicacy and length. Truly special in this format.

Just the fourth vintage of rosé from Rathfinny, this is the finest example of the style that we’ve tasted from the UK. Pale in colour, there’s notes of Seville oranges and plenty of floral notes. This has structure and vibrancy, and there’s a delicious toasty complexity at play on the palate. Wonderfully balanced, and very long: not to be missed.

Owner Mark is a huge believer in the power of Pinot Noir-led sparklings, grown on the pure chalk of the Rathfinny farm. So their Classic Cuvée is Pinot Noir-led, and spends 36 months on the lees. Rathfinny only produce vintage wines, and the 2017 is crisp and fruit forward, with just 5g/l of dosage, and a long, chalky, delicious finish.

The 2017 Rathfinny Blanc de Blancs is a stunning fizz from a remarkably beautiful estate. Striking the perfect balance between juicy and tart, this is packed full of lemony freshness with a lovely creaminess. This is absolutely delicious today, but will also age wonderfully. Don’t miss it.

The 2018 Rathfinny Classic Cuvée is a stunning fizz from a remarkably beautiful estate. There’s a richness on the nose that comes from the perfect growing season: ripe citrus and a hint of redcurrants, while the palate is tense, chalky, and impeccably balanced. This is beautifully delicious today, but will also age wonderfully.

Rathfinny Estate Blanc de Noirs 2018 is a blend of 85% Pinot Noir and 15% Pinot Meunier grapes, hand-harvested from their beautiful estate in East Sussex. This is the fourth vintage of this premium blend and has aged on the lees for 36 months. Floral peony notes on the nose marry with wild strawberries followed by a palate raspberry, red apple and toasted almonds. Wonderfully balanced, and very long: not to be missed.

The Everflyht Brut N/V reflects the current estates planting which combines Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in equal measure with a touch of Meunier. Hand-picked from the single estate vineyard and created in a low intervention method using steel, new and old oak to bring the best from each variety and block. Aged for 20 months on the lees, with around 24% reserve wines going into the blend, and just 6 g/l dosage added, this is a fresh yet generous English fizz, with lots of green and red apple fruit, and a long and elegant finish: the perfect way to discover Everflyht.

The first single estate sparkling wine to be produced at Everflyht, the Rosé de Saignée 2019 is a blend of hand-picked Pinot Noir and Meunier. The Saignée method of rosé production is more complicated than adding red wine into the blend. Instead it extracts colour from a short period of skin contact, in this instance, just 12 hours was enough to get the colour and richness of fruit. It is packed full of summer fruits and a wonderful creamy and fresh brioche note on the nose. The palate is fruit driven with notes of ripe red cherry, sweet wild strawberry and a soft backbone of cream. A light acidity is balanced with a rounded mouthfeel that gives the wine weight and an elegant finish. Fantastic food wine, that you shouldn't be afraid to decant.

Chardonnay-led, with around 20% reserve wines in the blend, it’s got just 4.5g/l of dosage added. This is a taut English fizz, with lots of green apple fruit, and a long and savoury finish: the perfect way to discover Hambledon.