Simpsons Gravel Castle Chardonnay Wine 2020

Simpsons Gravel Castle Chardonnay continues to grow in popularity, changing people’s perceptions of English still wines, and garnering favourable reviews. We feel the 2020 version is a very attractive representation of what is widely considered a great vintage for English wines. The wine has an attractive, pristine nose offering notes of lemon zest, fresh ripe pear and butter-spread, fresh bread with a touch of white peach. There is a youthful freshness here but a harmony of elements, riper than the 2019 but maybe not as generous as the 2018. The palate is bright with crisp acidity delineating the focused structure around which the flavours of citrus, white peach, lees, butter and green apple tumble. This is a youthful, elegant wine with a sense of drive and purpose and promising a great future of vinous pleasure. Definitely a good aperitif but will suit langoustine, prawn and barbecued white fish dishes. Our Master of Wine, Clive Barlow, has already tasted it and had this to say: “Whilst the 2019 was more Chablis-like, the 2020 has a little more weight and could, in Burgundian terms, be more akin to unoaked Savigny les Beaunes/Pernand Vergelesses. I tasted the 2020 with three others who talked me into opening the 2019. The 2020 showed very well with a more savoury complexity, rich with leesy nuttiness and a mineral core. The finish was long and complex. It is integrating very well, still has plenty of life and potential.” This gorgeous English wine is likely to please those that have enjoyed it in the past, and those drinking it for the first time! It has a lovely light gold colour with green tinges. The palate is bright with crisp acidity delineating the focused structure around which the flavours of citrus, white peach, lees, butter and green apple tumble. This is a youthful, elegant wine with a sense of drive and purpose, and promising a great future of vinous pleasure.