TN English Still Wines

The topic reminded me of other note that I never got around to sharing:

Congham Vineyard Rosé, 2023
A gift from my dad as its from a vineyard around West Norfolk where I grew up. At £12, with a label that looked like WordArt had returned, neither of us were expecting much. It was hard to find any information, other than that the vineyard generally only has Rondo, Regent, Phoenix and Orion. Even lower expectations. I took it to my local wine group, blind, and it was praised from all corners. A ringer for Provence a Frenchman said...praise indeed. Classic wild strawberry with some citrus and a hint of peach following.
 
Inspired by this thread, and the sunshine, we opened the Leornian Wines Pinot Noir rosé 2023 last night. Made in Marlow (I think this is the side project of the assistant winemaker at Harrow and Hope) with grapes brought in from Clayhill Essex, given 2 days on skins, malo and then bottled unfined and unfiltered. Just shy of 300 bottles made.

Arresting onion skin colour with a complex verging-on-orange nose (my 8 year old wanted a sniff and said it smelt of grape skins and lemon juice, but with just enough strawberry pinot character so the winemaking treatment doesn't obscure varietal character. Long and quite complex on the palate, again that orangey texture with some red fruited notes, really enjoyable as it warmed to room temperature. Good acidity. Unusual and tasty, reminiscent of LdeH rosado though obviously with only a touch of the complexity of that wine... bargain for £16.

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Andrew Bajorek said:
Inspired by this thread, and the sunshine, we opened the Leornian Wines Pinot Noir rosé 2023 last night. Made in Marlow (I think this is the side project of the assistant winemaker at Harrow and Hope) with grapes brought in from Clayhill Essex, given 2 days on skins, malo and then bottled unfined and unfiltered. Just shy of 300 bottles made.

Arresting onion skin colour with a complex verging-on-orange nose (my 8 year old wanted a sniff and said it smelt of grape skins and lemon juice, but with just enough strawberry pinot character so the winemaking treatment doesn't obscure varietal character. Long and quite complex on the palate, again that orangey texture with some red fruited notes, really enjoyable as it warmed to room temperature. Good acidity. Unusual and tasty, reminiscent of LdeH rosado though obviously with only a touch of the complexity of that wine... bargain for £16.

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I’d like to imagine your child’s note on the nose went all the way to the end of ‘varietal character’ - very impressive!
 
Andrew Bajorek said:
Inspired by this thread, and the sunshine, we opened the Leornian Wines Pinot Noir rosé 2023 last night. Made in Marlow (I think this is the side project of the assistant winemaker at Harrow and Hope) with grapes brought in from Clayhill Essex, given 2 days on skins, malo and then bottled unfined and unfiltered. Just shy of 300 bottles made.

Arresting onion skin colour with a complex verging-on-orange nose (my 8 year old wanted a sniff and said it smelt of grape skins and lemon juice, but with just enough strawberry pinot character so the winemaking treatment doesn't obscure varietal character. Long and quite complex on the palate, again that orangey texture with some red fruited notes, really enjoyable as it warmed to room temperature. Good acidity. Unusual and tasty, reminiscent of LdeH rosado though obviously with only a touch of the complexity of that wine... bargain for £16.

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Sounds delicious. I don’t drink much Rosé but did succumb to the Heretic’s version, which I will try and fit in the (busy!) drinking schedule soon…
 
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Two more from yesterday:

  • 2022 Missing Gate Pinot Noir Two Horse Land - United Kingdom, England (02/04/2025)
    Pale ruby. Nose shows raspberries, touch of white pepper and hedgerow. Light/medium bodied, raspberry fruit, touch of white pepper, fine tannins, fresh acidity, medium/good length finish. Good/very good but not exceptional (and quite expensive!) (87 pts.)
  • 2022 Riverview Chardonnay Crouch Valley - United Kingdom, England, Essex (02/04/2025)
    1/1, under DIAM 5.
    Pale/medium straw. White nectarine, florals, touch of citrus - the odd whiff of hand-soap? Medium bodied, quite linear, lemon, touch of mango, vibrant acids, medium length finish. Decent enough but not compelling, prefer the Pinot from here. (86 pts.)
Posted from CellarTracker
 
Following on from the pinot rosé from a couple of nights ago, tonight from Leornian Wines we tackled the Pinot Noir Précoce (aka Frühburgunder) 2023. Grapes hailing from no, not Essex this time, but the family vineyard in North Yorkshire. And very good it is too. Light and fresh nose of pure red cherry, with maybe a hint of oak padding. On the palate this reminds me strongly of the reds from the Ahr that I love (and where précoce is prevalent), with bright and fresh cherry fruit, and a hint of something earthy and herbal with time in the glass. Yes, it is simple, but honestly it is a well made wine, enough to make you look beyond the "but it's from Yorkshire for gods sake' factor. Plus only 16 quid. God's own county eh. Assuming we have a summer I'd stock up, but of course only a barrel made.

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Andrew Bajorek said:
Following on from the pinot rosé from a couple of nights ago, tonight from Leornian Wines we tackled the Pinot Noir Précoce (aka Frühburgunder) 2023. Grapes hailing from no, not Essex this time, but the family vineyard in North Yorkshire. And very good it is too. Light and fresh nose of pure red cherry, with maybe a hint of oak padding. On the palate this reminds me strongly of the reds from the Ahr that I love (and where précoce is prevalent), with bright and fresh cherry fruit, and a hint of something earthy and herbal with time in the glass. Yes, it is simple, but honestly it is a well made wine, enough to make you look beyond the "but it's from Yorkshire for gods sake' factor. Plus only 16 quid. God's own county eh. Assuming we have a summer I'd stock up, but of course only a barrel made.

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Beat wines in t'world...;)
 
Alex Lake said:
Would be great if there was an English Wine Centre that had a wide range available on enomatics.
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There is, just north of Alfriston in Sussex. Been there a good thirty years IIRC. No oenomatics AFAIK but there used to be a reasonable selection in the shop. I 5ink it’s part shop, part education/tasting centre and part wedding venue, so may not pass muster for the average forumite.
 
Simon Grant said:
There is, just north of Alfriston in Sussex. Been there a good thirty years IIRC. No oenomatics AFAIK but there used to be a reasonable selection in the shop. I 5ink it’s part shop, part education/tasting centre and part wedding venue, so may not pass muster for the average forumite.
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Does one have to buy a whole glass? Or are they just open for free self-pour tasting?
I'm not sure such a scheme could really work - at least not for me. I'd want only a very small pour of quite a few different wines. And I'd not want something that had been open several days under normal conditions.
I suppose Coravin would be an option.
 
Paul Dellar said:
Have been on something of an English still wine odyssey! All drunk within the last year, some excellent examples here - particularly from the Crouch Valley - and whilst there is some variability it seems we really can make world class still wines in this country (from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir at least).

Would be really interested to hear about the experiences of others too.

  • 2023 Black Chalk Chardonnay Rumour Has It - United Kingdom, England, Hampshire (28/03/2025)
    100% Chardonnay. From Vining Street Wine Club, Brixton. £53. Attractive nose showing apple, florals, touch of vanilla and asparagus. Medium bodied, quite discreet and restrained, touch of creamy breadth, balanced acidity, medium/good length finish. Very good. (88 pts.)
  • 2023 The Heretics Chardonnay Deluxe Seven - United Kingdom, England, Essex (28/03/2025)
    1 of 2. Bright, aromatic, complex nose showing apple and citrus, vanilla, sesame seed, some chalky mineral. Medium/full bodied, mouthfilling, round, lovely clarity of fruit, touch of chalky mineral and spice, vibrant/crisp acids - this crackles with energy and finishes long. Remarkable, exciting wine. (93 pts.)
  • 2022 Riverview Pinot Noir Crouch Valley - United Kingdom, England, Essex (25/12/2024)
    1/3, under DIAM (10).
    Medium ruby core, pale ruby rim. Fragrant with blue/black fruit - plum, dark cherry - some hedgerow, white pepper and a touch of orange rind. Light/medium bodied, still fine boned despite a riper profile than the 21, darker fruit, white pepper, spice, vibranrt acids, good length lightly firm finish. VGI, may improve with a couple of years. (89 pts.)
  • 2022 Danbury Ridge Pinot Noir - United Kingdom, England, Essex (18/12/2024)
    Tasted at the property - no formal note. As expected much riper than the 2021 - with dark cherry and plum fruit, notes of vanilla and mocha. Medium bodied on the palate, soft tannins, fresh acids, very ripe - quite marked by oak at the moment, good length finish. Needs a year or two for me but potentially excellent.
  • 2022 Danbury Ridge Chardonnay - United Kingdom, England, Essex (13/12/2024)
    1/3, under DIAM (10).
    Bright, pale straw. Stone fruits, florals, just a touch of creamy vanilla, some tropical fruit as it warms a touch. Medium/full bodied, ripe peaches, quite round and layered, vanilla, fresh acids, long finish with a note of sesame. Excellent. (91 pts.)
  • 2021 Danbury Ridge Chardonnay - United Kingdom, England, Essex (04/12/2024)
    Ian’s 2004 Bordeaux (10 Greek Street)    : No formal note but this was on good form - creamy fruit, touch of sesame seed, lovely layered weight on the palate, vibrant acids - finishing long. Served blind (perhaps unfairly) to a group of wine aficionados, obviously no one got anywhere near. Excellent. (91 pts.)
  • 2021 Riverview Pinot Noir Crouch Valley - United Kingdom, England, Essex (17/11/2024)
    2/4, under DIAM (5).
    Pale garnet, wide very pale garnet/mahogany rim. Fragrant nose - lovely pure strawberry fruit, florals, white pepper notes. Light/medium bodied, eleganalmost ethereal, pure red fruit, game, white pepper notes, very fine tannins, vibrant acidity, lingering finish with orange peel notes. Lovely, cool climate pinot noir at it's pared back purest! (91 pts.)
  • 2022 Martin's Lane Vineyard Chardonnay Crouch Valley - United Kingdom, England, Essex (21/08/2024)
    1/1, under DIAM (5).
    Very pale lemon. Floral nose, touch of peach. Odd whiff of something slighaly chemical (hand-soap?). Medium bodied, white peach, touch of creaminess, very clean with decent depth with fresh/vibrant acids carrying a medium-good length finish. Decent (GFE!). (87 pts.)
  • 2021 Blackbook Winery Chardonnay Painter of Light Clayhill Vineyard - United Kingdom, England, Essex (31/07/2024)
    1/1, good cork.
    Pale/medium straw. Clean, fresh nose - apple, touch of sesame and vanilla. Medium bodied, leanish, green apple, citrus, some vanilla and spice, touch of nettle, crisp acids, medium/good length finish. Very good indeed. (88 pts.)
  • 2022 Crouch Ridge Estate - United Kingdom, England, Essex (26/07/2024)
    Chardonnay. At winery, by the glass. Lightly creamy, apple, slightly floral. Medium bodied, well balanced with some lightly creamy weight, fresh acids, medium/good length finish. Very good, well balanced if not overly complex. (86 pts.)
  • 2020 Crouch Ridge Estate - United Kingdom, England, Essex (26/07/2024)
    Pinot Noir. At winery, by the glass. Unfortunately served far too warm. Quite developed, raspberry, white pepper, soil. Medium bodied, a touch gamey on the package, soft tannins, fresh acids, white pepper again on the medium length finish. Decent enough despite the serving temperature. (85 pts.)
  • 2021 Riverview Pinot Noir Crouch Valley - United Kingdom, England, Essex (17/07/2024)
    Under DIAM 5. Very pale garnet core, wide rim. Lovely fragrant nose, strawberries, florals, spice, touch of white pepper and herb. Light/medium bodied, elegant, fine boned with very fine tannins, strawberries, spice, vibrant acids, has good length with some white pepper on the finish. Excellent! (90 pts.)
  • 2021 Riverview Chardonnay Crouch Valley - United Kingdom, England, Essex (23/06/2024)
    1 of 2, under DIAM 5.
    Pale/medium straw. Nose shows lime, green apple, touch of cream and spice. Medium bodied, lime again to the fore, a touch of cream and spice, crisp acids, medium length finish. Attractive if perhaps lacking a little length. (86 pts.)
  • 2020 Blackbook Winery Chardonnay Pygmalion Crouch Valley Vineyard - United Kingdom, England, Surrey (23/06/2024)
    1/1, good cork.
    Medium straw colour, slightly cloudy. Nose shows over-ripe apple, lightly oxidative, creamy vanilla, soil notes. Medium/full on the palate, over ripe apple again, quite creamy, bit of an odd combination, has good length with vibrant avidi5. Not completely sure what to make of this. (83 pts.)
  • 2021 Danbury Ridge Pinot Noir - United Kingdom, England, Essex (15/06/2024)
    1/1, good cork. Served at c14C.
    Pale ruby/garnet core, very pale rim. This is very aromatic, lots of white pepper, underlying raspberry fruit, notes of creamy vanilla and spice. Light / medium bodied, white pepper again but some sweetness too from the raspberry fruit, with a touch of game. This has soft tannins, vibrant acids and a good length, harmonious, spicy, peppery finish. You can sense the struggle for ripeness in what was a difficult vintage (even in sunny Essex ) but this hangs together very well. (88 pts.)
Posted from CellarTracker
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Really heartening to see support for English wines, I've been doing it for 10 years and it's fantastic to see the growing number of fans. I think there are now serious English still wines that are great and not just 'good for England'. Our Chardonnay also showed particularly well in a Puligny/Meursault tasting, in another thread. I feel it's more Chablis in style but very happy with the outcome, considering it's just been released and has plenty of development left to come. We have another version, built around a brand new 500 litre Damy puncheon out later this year, now that could be a very interesting wine to pit against Cote D'Or whites, I just need to be patient and not release it too soon!
 
Richard Ward said:
We had a very good still rosé last night - Dancer In Pink by Black Chalk. A blend of Pinot Noir, Pinot Precoce and Pinot Gris. Very very pale and completely bone dry, but bursting with red apple and fresh strawberry. Perfectly balanced.
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Which vintage Richard? I v much liked the first release (2020 I think) and the 2022 was dangerously drinkable (as evidenced by the then new parents who forgot to decide who was driving and this had to take the 8 week old on a 5 mile late night walk home post winery visit) but the 2023 felt more serious and less fun. Although that might have been because the latter was drunk in the garden w a BBQ and the latter on a cold winter evening at the winery.
 
Nigel Lierop said:
Which vintage Richard? I v much liked the first release (2020 I think) and the 2022 was dangerously drinkable (as evidenced by the then new parents who forgot to decide who was driving and this had to take the 8 week old on a 5 mile late night walk home post winery visit) but the 2023 felt more serious and less fun. Although that might have been because the latter was drunk in the garden w a BBQ and the latter on a cold winter evening at the winery.
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It was the 2023 we had, drunk in a restaurant with some pretty tasty canapes. Lovely stuff.
 
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