England Vs France in the Wine Rivels

This weekend England and France battle out century of war and political dispute. In a 80 mins game of rugby. We will see the French and English reenact the battles of: Agincourt, Trafalgar, Waterloo; I can not not think of a battles France won with my selective memory.

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So in light of this rugby game; which like most 6 nation games have more to do with historic rivalry than on current forum, we have a new 'Wine The Rivals'. It be unfair to put the hole of France wine production against England's s we put up a French region and as I wont England to do well I put up our best tipple, fizzy pop, but is seems that the frogs do fizzy pop as well in a place could Champagne. This puts England on the back leg as Champagne has 33,500 hectares of vineyards around 319 villages that are home to 5,000 growers who make their own wine and 14,000 growers who only sell grapes. Where there are only 362 registered vineyards comprising of 923 hectares in England and Wales.

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Don't write of the English just yet in 2007 the Theale Vineyard Sparkling Chardonnay 2003 beat off stiff competition from fine Champagnes and top sparkling wines to make it into the world’s Top Ten Sparkling Wine at the world’s only dedicated sparkling wine competition, French-based Effervescents du Monde (sparkling wines of the world). The Theale Vineyard it self is a 50 meters by 20miters vine yard in front of a massive warehouse office block on a industrial estate which is surrounded by the M4 motorway, the A4 and a busy train line. I know a lot about this as the office was my old office in fact I helped with the 08 vintage by doing a bit of pruning and I own the last bottle of the amazing 03. So English wine can hold there own.

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So today the challenger is from Champagne, France we have the Bredon Brut NV and the defending champ from West Sussex, England we have the South Ridge Cuvée Merret 2006.

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Top Trumps.
Price: Bredon £14.24 from Waitrose Vs South Ridge £15.99 from Laithwaites. Bredon wines.
Vintage: Bredon NV Vs South Ridge 2006. South Ridge wines.
Alcohol:Bredom 12% Vs South Ridge 12%. Draw.
Awards: Bredom Silver IWC Vs South Ridge Silver IWC, Draw.

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So it all square after the Top Trumps. Now let put them to the taste test. The Bredon Brut NV is a full flavored crisp wine but with a creamy richness with touches of fruit. What you would expect from the guys behind Piper & Charles Heidsieck. A cracker of a wine. A good party or reception tipple. The South Ridge Cuvée Merret 2006 has a fantastic ripe melon and honey taste to it with just a hint of creamy mousse to it. What can I say but it under prised!

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It a close one both are class wines I will have to give it to....... Well I am biased it is England with South Ridge Cuvée Merret 2006! Go out and buy a couple of bottle of both wines and see if you think I am right.

Wales Vs England in the Wine Rivels

To day is one of the longest rivalry in world sport Wales Vs England in rugby this is some thing more than a game for the Walsh it 80 miners worth of rugby to play out 1000 years worth of epression. For the English it is chance to put one over there neighbors and beat the one of the best teams in the world.
So to help celebrate this game of games I dug throw my tasting notes to find the best wine from England and Wales to see who win the in the first Wine rivels- England Vs Wales.
The south east coast of England has perfect terroir for the Champaign grapes Pinot Noir Chardonnay Pinot Meunier with it chorkie rich sole and good distance from the equator. The Fizz come from they parts are making head lines in the winey world. For what they make it well priced and excellent wine. Take the South Ridge Cuvée Merret 2006 from laithwaites.co.uk. Made by the old pro of English wine Mike Roberts it retails at a delightful £16.49 per bottle it has a fantastic ripe melon and honey taste to it and a toast and biscuit nose with just a hint of creamy mousse to it.
Wales has been perdition wine since the time of the Romans and with the rolling hills and rich ground it is a great place for growing grapes found in German or northern France. So from the valleys we have the fantastic Ty-Hafod a lovely drop of a off dry white blend whitch has hints of apple and white stones on the nose with crisp apple fruit and a hint of lemon. You can get your hand on it from Tesco for £5.22.
I think it hard to find a winner here so I leave it up to up and as alway please comment on the wines and tell me which one you think wins.