I don't usually write about wine, because I know I'm not that well educated. But I do enjoy sparkling wines very much and I've been lucky to try some great ones. So this times I'm going to review a wine, because I'd hate anyone to spend money on this when something much better is available for not much more £.
According to their website Three Choirs Vineyard is England's leading and most awarded, single estate vineyard. You can stay there overnight in one of eight rooms or enjoy a wine tasting and lunch for £60.
I won't be going though, because this week I tried their Classic Cuvee sparkling white wine made by the champagne method from a mix of Seyval Blanc (80%) and Pinot Noir (20%). It's nice to see Three Choirs using the French grape Seyval Blanc though maybe Chardonnay and Pinot Blanc would be prefereable, or even a blanc de blanc since red grapes are harder to grow here. Real champagne uses Chardonnay as the white grape.
Three Choirs say it's "Dry and subtle... very similar to a good champagne but at a fraction of the price." It is indeed dry but rather than subtle I'd have to say it's bland. Smells of nothing much; large bubbles of CO2 burst with no flavour at all. Yes, at £9 or so a bottle (bought by the case) it's half the price of an acceptable champagne but it yields a fraction of the pleasure.
A much better choice IMHO would be Chapel Down's Brut NV which costs £15 but offers significantly better value.
It's said that the future of English wine is in sparkling wine - we have similar soils to Champagne and a focus on non vintage wines helps maintain an acceptable standard in poor years - but this wont offering won't convince any of the sceptics.
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