A couple of English wines worth discovering @WinePantry

I was mooching around Borough Market the other day and seeing as I had a little bit of time to kill before my Roving Sommelier Pop Up Wine tasting at Laithwaites/Vinopolis on Stoney Street, I thought I would stop off at English Wine specialists “The Wine Pantry” and sample a few of their wares. Julia Stafford (Proprietor) was there and she was very enthusiastic to show me a couple of her latest offerings.

First up was 2009 Astley Vineyard “Veritas”. This is a single vineyard wine from a tiny 5 hectare estate located in the Midlands (Stourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire). The wine is made from Kerner (a modern German hybrid grape). I really enjoyed its fresh, green apple and gooseberry fruit, attractive floral nuances and lovely rich, textural mouthfeel on the palate. A perfect aperitif-style wine and ideal for Spring/Summer drinking. The wine certainly packs a punch, yet remarkable at only 12% alcohol. It costs £14.50 per bottle, which is quite pricey, but is definitely worth a try!

Julia then brought out a couple of sample bottles from the Leventhorpe Vineyard, located in Leeds. Yes, I said Leeds in Yorkshire! Being an avid Leeds United supporter for many years and rather fond of the city’s beer and fish and chips, I was very intrigued to taste these wines. They were both produced from aromatic white varietals: Seyval Blanc and the quirky Madeleine Angevine. I must admit, I preferred the latter, with its delicious citrus, lime blossom, floral notes and mouth-watering acidity. I could still taste its freshness on the finish whilst walking down Stoney Street!

Please note: these were sample bottles from the winemaker – hence the scribblings on the wine label. The wines were from 2010 vintage. For further details, please click on their website.

More wine reviews and tasting notes to come very soon. Follow my tweets and updates on Twitter @rovingsommelier

The epicurean odyssey continues…