It’s English Wine Week so what better time for Bristol- and Plymouth-based wine bar, Le Vignoble, to celebrate with a tasting from 5 very different local vineyards? A great chance to compare styles, flavours and, of course, quality, each introduced by a representative from the estate itself.
We began with Dunleavy whose grapes are grown just a few miles outside Bristol. We were already familiar with their still rosé, having tasted most vintages since their debut in 2013, but their Sparkling Rosé, a blend of Regent and Seyval Blanc, (£31.75 from Le Vignoble) was new to us. Clean and vibrant with persistent bubbles, this was a most enjoyable beginning.
Into Cornwall for our 2nd tasting from Knightor Vineyard near Portscatho. A still and a sparkler were on show, the latter from the 2014 vintage, having spent more than 8 years on its lees to develop the flavours. On tasting, it was surprisingly fresh and youthful, proving that good English wines do age well. For me, one of the wines of the evening (£42.45).
Over the border into Devon and to Sharpham, an estate we visited on several occasions in its previous location in a beautiful bend of the River Dart. It has now moved across the river and been renamed Sandridge Barton but the wines, particularly a silky smooth Pinot Noir (£27.15) were as good as we remembered. Drink this, slightly chilled, when you might otherwise consider a good Beaujolais.
Greyfriars Vineyard lies on south-facing chalk slopes close to Guildford in Surrey. This chalk seam disappears under the English Channel and reappears in the Champagne region. So, there was never any doubt about the type of wine Greyfriars would make. Their 2015 Vintage Blanc de Blancs (100% Chardonnay, £32.30) has softened nicely with age but remains attractively citrussy with lively, fresh acidity. 2015 was a cold, wet vintage – thought to be a washout by some English producers – but this bottle, another of the wines of the evening, showed that time and skilful winemaking can trump much that the weather can throw at us.
All too soon, we came to our last estate, Langham, near Dorchester in Dorset, this another with vineyards on south-facing chalk slopes. Here the focus, both with their Blanc de Blanc (£33.45) and Rosé (£37.10), is more traditional with less emphasis on fruit and more on texture in the mouth. An interesting contrast and a dramatic demonstration of how diverse the styles of English wine have become.
By the time I publish this, English Wine Week will be into its last few days but I hope I’ve whetted your appetite to taste our local product sometime soon.
Wine talks and tastings 