Exton Park ‘Britagne’ Rosé NV, Hampshire, England (£29.95 extonparkwines.com – additional stockists on their website) I like the crispness and the apple (fresh and cooked), citrus and red berry flavours, and there’s a smoky bacon note here too, but I’m slightly concerned by the cheesy/lactic that note developed after I’d […]
Pinot Noir
Exton Park ‘Britagne NV Brut, Hampshire, England (£26.95 from the vineyard) Keen, clean young style, with green apple, citrus and slightly stewed rhubarb flavours, a touch of the sweet and sour here. Maybe needs a little more time to calm down as the sour edge is a little prominent at […]
Three English Sparkling Wines
Errázuriz Estate Pinot Noir 2014, Aconcagua Costa, Chile (£10.25 Majestic) I like the gentle plummy red berry flavours, and the lush texture, but – like many Chilean wines – the pleasure is dampened by reduction, which leaves a slightly hard finish. Does improve slightly with time, but could have been […]
Two Pinot Noirs from Chile’s Viña Errázuriz
Christmas morning fodder? Champagne Thiénot Brut Rosé Édition Limitée NV, France (£40.49 Champagne & Châteaux) Quite a rich, yeasty, almost creamy young wine with crisp citrus and apple to the fore, and hints of darker fruit – cherries and raspberries, plus an almost Cab Franc-like blackcurrant leaf character – in […]
Champagne Thiénot Brut Rosé Édition Limitée NV, France
Not the most subtle of Champagnes, but I like the honest rich flavours here Champagne Duménil Amour de Cuvée Blanc de Noirs NV, France (N/A in the UK) A rich, savoury edged Champagne, quite wine-y, with a mature brioche character and rich mouthfilling red fruit flavours. Almost too much to […]
Champagne Duménil Amour de Cuvée Blanc de Noirs NV
La Montina Franciacorta Brut NV, Lombardy, Italy (£22 Buon Vino, Passion e Vino) Ripe pineapple and dried apricot flesh, with some citrus, and notes of bread dough and almonds to add further interest, feels young and not hugely complex but still a nice drink. B Enrico Gatti ‘Erbusco’ Franciacorta Brut […]