(2018) 30 months on the lees for this blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier from the limestone hills of Smith & Evans Somerset vineyards. There’s a lovely golden glow to the colour, and plenty of streaming, tiny bubbles. Yeast and bready, it has fine autolytic notes, salts and nutty apple. In the mouth the balance is very good, a drier style, with some sweet mid-palate ripeness moving through to a lemons and salts acidity. Very attractive.
(2015) Not a wine of course, but a liqueur made in Somerset, England, by fermenting fresh crushed ginger then adding brandy, fortifying the liqueur to 21% alcohol. Pouring a lovely burnished amber colour, the viscosity and richness is immediately obvious, as is the deep and sensual spice of the ginger. In the mouth it is thick and moderately sweet, the pleasant burn of the ginger building slowly in the mouth, with a kick of the alcohol and a little toast in the finish. Unusual, and served after dinner - or poured over good vanilla ice cream - what a treat. Price for 37.5cl.