Wines of the week: Henners Brut 2009; Meopham Valley Rosé 2009; Jenkyn Place Brut 2009
Terry Kirby selects the best bottles to buy
The spring Bank Holiday marks the start of English Wine Week, so celebrate with these sparkling wines from three up-and-coming vineyards on our doorsteps…
From Sussex
Henners Brut 2009
Delicate aromas of elderflower and citrus, with fresh flavours of verbena, apples and brioche – this is a wonderfully balanced sparkler from a relatively new vineyard near Herstmonceux in East Sussex. £27, sparklingenglishwine.com; for more stockists: hennersvineyard.co.uk
From Kent
Meopham Valley Rosé 2009
A sharply defined rosé from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes grown a few miles south of the Thames, this is a sophisticated, dry pink comparable to anything mainland Europe can produce; the perfect match for strawberries and cream. £23.49, waitrosedirect.com; for more stockists: meophamvalleyvineyard.co.uk
From Hampshire
Jenkyn Place Brut 2009
Three years' ageing gives the blend of traditional champagne grapes – Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier – grown on the chalky slopes lots of toasty, almost spicy complexity, topped off with a sherberty, spring-flower freshness that is unmistakeably English. £28.50, winepantry.co.uk; for more stockists: jenkynplacevineyard.co.uk
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