English Wines at Harrogate Food show

Julia Trustram Eve of the English Wine Producers conducted a tasting of seven English wines at the Harrogate Speciality Food Show on Monday 27th June 2011.

Jenkyn Place Brut 2007: Predominantly Chardonnay (60%) with the rest made up of the two Pinots. Too acidic, short with no consistency or flavour. Difficult to imagine paying £24.99 for it.

Leventhorpe madeline Angevine 2009: Pale yellow. Lovely aromatic nose. Thin, short and acidity surprisingly low for a wine from the north of England (has it been deacidified?). Bitter finish. £8.00

Chappel Down Flint Dry 2009: Chardonnay and Bacchus. Aromatic. Crisp and mineral but lacks enough fruit to be balanced. £8.50

Biddebden Ortego 2009: Pale yellow. Nose of tinned asparagus like a Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. Good mouthfeel and fruit but has a hint of oxidation. £8.80

Three Choirs Estate Reserve Rose 2009: Pleasing colour and nose. High acidity but has good fruit. Probably past its best. £7.30

Danbies Redlands 2004: Pinot Noir and Dornfelder. Light, without fruit, short and unattractive. £9.50

Astley Late Harvest 2009: Sheurebe. Sweet but not enough balancing acidity. Would be pleasant sipping on its own but pretty ordinary. £10 (half bottle)

Julia’s enthusiasm for English wine is infectious and her presentations, as always, are superb. The wines however failed to click. It may just be the samples tasted did not show the real quality of English wine. High acidity and poor fruit stood out. I think some residual sugar would have helped. In fact, the off-dry Biddenden Ortega had the best mouthfeel.