English Wine Week

Flint’s 2018 Bacchus is different in style to its predecessor, with a definite mineral focus. Ben at Flint attributes this to the diverse characteristics that their various sites bring to the blend, as well as the exceptional vintage conditions. Notes of lime peel and wet stone characterise the nose and palate. The mid-palate has a refreshing salinity and textural mouth-feel, buffering England’s trademark acidity. Excellent as a light apéritif or with fresh seafood and salads. Ready to drink now
Daisy Gatt, Buying Assistant (spring 2019)

Silex, French for Flint, is a unique blend of white Pinot Noir and Solaris aged in old Burgundian oak barrels. Pinot Noir lends both structure and texture to the blend, while the Solaris provides an aromatic lift and riper fruit profile. Aromas of honeysuckle, lemon and peach stone lead to a palate of more tropical fruit, with hints of almond and spice emerging, all tempered by racy acidity. Ready to drink now, but will develop in bottle over the next four to five years.
Daisy Gatt, Buying Assistant (spring 2019)

Pinot Noir Précoce is an early-ripening mutation of Pinot Noir, suited to England’s cooler climate. Made with fruit sourced from the Martin’s Lane vineyard in Essex, with a small amount of Flint’s own estate fruit, this offers aromas of violet, cherry blossom and sour cherry. On the palate, crunchy red fruit mingles with notes of star anise and white pepper. Partially whole-bunch fermented and aged in old Burgundian oak barrels for six months, the tannins are soft and expertly well-integrated, akin to Beaujolais. This is perfect lunchtime drinking, served lightly chilled with cheese and charcuterie.   
Daisy Gatt, Buying Assistant (spring 2019)

This aromatic blend (of Solaris, Bacchus, Reichensteiner and Rondo) is England’s first sparkling wine produced in the Charmat method (the process used for Prosecco). Deep pink, the wine has a fine mousse and aromas of forest fruits and cherry blossom. A proportion of the base wine is barrel-aged for four months, the time on lees adding wonderful texture and depth to the palate that bursts with juicy cassis and wild raspberry. Naturally zippy acidity makes this the perfect apéritif. Ready to drink now.
Daisy Gatt, Buying Assistant (autumn 2018)

Hambledon Vineyard has a long and fascinating history. Not only does the village have the reputation as the cradle of cricket, long before Lord’s it seems, but it is also the location of the first English commercial vineyard, courtesy of the Francophile Sir Guy Salisbury Jones, who developed the vineyards in the early 1950s. After an uneventful hiatus the vineyard was purchased by Ian Kellett in 1999 and his investments of both patience and capital are now yielding fruit, quite literally, in the form of some of the best located Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier grapes in the country.

Fruits of the 2011 harvest, with reserve sines added from 2010, this is a most impressive effort, its lees-ageing imparting gentle biscuity notes and adding weight and structure to the first impressions, which recall English orchard fruit, yellow fruits and quince.

Hambledon Vineyard has a long and fascinating history. Not only does the village have the reputation as the cradle of cricket, long before Lord’s it seems, but it is also the location of the first English commercial vineyard, courtesy of the Francophile Sir Guy Salisbury Jones, who developed the vineyards in the early 1950s. After an uneventful hiatus the vineyard was purchased by Ian Kellett in 1999 and his investments of both patience and capital are now yielding fruit, quite literally, in the form of some of the best located Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier grapes in the country.

A beautiful vivid pink with a bright red berry hue, it displays an array of wild strawberry aromas on the nose that lead to a generous, complex palate of buttered toast, ripe lemon and juicy hedgerow fruit.

Hambledon Vineyard has a long and fascinating history. Not only does the village have the reputation as the cradle of cricket, long before Lord’s it seems, but it is also the location of the first English commercial vineyard, courtesy of the Francophile Sir Guy Salisbury Jones, who developed the vineyards in the early 1950s. After an uneventful hiatus the vineyard was purchased by Ian Kellett in 1999 and his investments of both patience and capital are now yielding fruit, quite literally, in the form of some of the best located Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier grapes in the country.

A standard-bearer for the quality that England can achieve, this is a very assured wine, with a firm acidic spine, but also complexity and detail. Great focus and precision.

This mixed case includes a saving of £10 on the single-bottle price.
 
Comprising three wines – two sparkling and one still, our mixed case shines a light on two of England’s most exciting producers: Hambledon and Flint Vineyard. Hambledon’s Classic Cuvée is a challenger to Champagne’s throne, while Flint’s pink fizz is the first of its type – made in the same way as Prosecco – from our shores. To round thing’s off, Flint’s vibrant Bacchus (guaranteed to please Sauvignon Blanc fans) is a subtle and textured expression of this English grape.
 
Case contains one bottle (75cl) of each of the following:
Hambledon, Classic Cuvée, Brut,  Hampshire, England
2017 Flint Vineyard, Charmat Rosé, Brut, England
2017 Flint Vineyard, Bacchus, England