British Superwine Selection

'Crisis? What crisis?'

If you wanted to find a group of people who might be able to ask that question with a straight face then I dare say the attendees at the 'World Superyacht Awards' would get a long way up your list. (This makes the assumption that the list of attendees at a notional 'Ex-Superyacht Owners Self-Help Group' is, by now, fairly well
established.) Be that as it may, the former foregathered at the Guildhall last Saturday night to decide, well, whose yacht is the supermost I should think.

Given the venue, and the fact it was the first time the event has been held in the UK - adding a bit of general flag-waving and Last Night of the Proms spirit - the bold decision was made to serve English wines to the super-rich. I was asked to help choose and we decided, unsurprisingly, to kick off with Nyetimber for the bubbles.
I've been a fan of their 'Champagne Blend' (i.e. of pinot noir, pinot meunier and chardonnay) since I was first given it to taste 'blind'? by one Jonathan Ray six or seven years ago. (I guessed it must be vintage grand marque Champagne, like everybody else). This time it was their blanc de blancs (i.e. 100% chardonnay) and, while maybe it's not quite as good, it's still a grown-up wine that can compete with anything in its grown-up price range (of £20-25).

Last week Camel Valley Bacchus picked up a gold medal at the International Wine Challenge, underscoring that this is probably the grape variety best suited for making crisp, aromatic whites here. The rich were given the wine that Chapel Down make from that grape and they loved it. It's all about that sauvignon-style green thing - nettles and cut grass aromas and gooseberries and apples on the palate.

Reds haven't caught up yet (and may never do, given our chilly climate) but English white wine really has come of age and no excuses or apologies need be made for it, nor any trepidation be felt in approaching it. If growers can pull their socks up on the business side of things (and somehow squeeze prices), we'll have another thing to wave those flags about.