Just as the seasons are changing, so too are a few things on the wine list! Notably, Sharphams has now rebranded to align with the Sandridge Barton name some years after the whole operation moved across the river from Sharpham Estate to Sandridge Barton near Stoke Gabriel. Still the same delicious Dart Valley Reserve on our list though!
Some rather exciting things to highlight on the autumn list now… a really yummy Godello from El Bierzo, Leon, an often overlooked and unfamiliar grape variety from NW Spain which make a fabulous aromatic white wine with a stone fruit and minerally character. A new Soave from Le Preare, zesty, minerally and fresh. A really interesting and unusual Arinto from long-standing family-run winery Stanton & Killeen in Rutherglen, Australia – this grape which originally hails from Portugal, is a little like a Maconnais Chardonnay showing stone fruit, melon and floral notes, but with a citrussy character and a slightly waxy texture. Delicious!
On the reds, don’t miss the fabulous Immortelle from Cotes du Roussillon by British wine maker Liam Stevenson MW. Big bold and spicy – an absolute delight! Also on the premium list, a delicious Valpolicella Ripasso from excellent wine producer Ca’Rugate.
And now to pudding… On the dessert wine list we have something really truly special! Gaia’s ‘8year Vinsanto’ made predominantly from Assyrtiko grapes on Santorini both sun-dried and shade dried to balance acidity and concentrate the juice. This is one of the world’s rarest and best sweet wines, with only 80-100L of grape juice yielded from each acre of vineyard! This undergoes a very slow fermentation in old oak barrels and is then left to mature in those barrels for 8-10 years producing a deep honey colour and complex aromatic character. It’s literally then simply bottled, without treatment or filtration. Unctuously sweet but balanced by the refreshing acidity of the Assyrtiko grape, the resulting wine shows amazingly complex flavours of dried raisin, fig, coffee, caramel, vanilla and cinnamon. This is seriously one of those wines you have to try before you die!
One last thing to mention – we have a new non-alcoholic Sparkling Chardonnay called Noughty! I never thought I’d be saying this but it’s really quite drinkable if you’re trying to celebrate but can’t actually hit the proper fizz! It doesn’t have the nose but could easily pass for a tank method prosecco on the palate.