Finding a Bacchus wine in South Africa is challenging, so I started to ask people visiting England to be on the lookout for this wine. They were also not very successful. Luckily I found the London Cru Baker Street wine, as this was on the wish list of one of our club members. I was also curious to taste this variety that makes up about 5% of England’s vineyard plantings.
The grapes for this wine come from two different vineyards: Sandhurst in Kent and Great Whitman’s Essex. About 23% of this wine was matured in Burgundy oak to add to the complexity of this wine, and it spent about 7 months on the lees.
In the glass, this wine has a light yellow to golden colour with a green hue. I must admit, when I first read about this wine and I saw elderflower, I had my doubts. Until I smelled and tasted this wine, and it was an almost overpowering elderflower taste. The apple blossom, elderflower, tropical notes and hints of fresh grass makes an interesting combination on the nose. It has a very fresh entry on the palate, delivering well from the nose, with some grapefruit and white pear coming through on the off-dry wine. It has a chalky mineral finish. I cannot help to wonder if this wine would have been an explosion of freshness if it has not spent 7 months on the lees, has not been partially oaked and if it was a younger vintage. It remained very fresh throughout.
I was very impressed with this wine and the grape variety. It is certainly worth a try. Unfortunately, it is difficult to come by and expensive, but I will highly recommend that you grab a bottle if the opportunity ever arises. It should be served chilled well. It can be enjoyed on its own or with a duck breast, creamy asparagus or a herb pasta.
Producer: London Cru
Variety: Bacchus 100%
Vintage: 2019
Origin: South East England, Great Britain
Winemaker: Alex Hurley
Closure: Screwcap
Alcohol: 11.5%
Average price: R400
Rating: 93/100
Commentaires