Wine of the Month - January 2021

It's 2021! To start the year off, celebrating everything British, our Wine of the Month for January is a low alcohol savoury and herby English red made in Sussex.

The lowdown: Made mainly with typically English grown varieties, Dornfelder and Rondo Bolney's Lychgate red has a really quite big character. With its dark, earthiness, red berry fruit and smoky tones, you could be forgiven for thinking this was a young burgundy at twice the price. We just loved how the hints of tobacco, dried mushrooms and oregano mixed with a sweet blueberry fruit finish to make it a very interesting wine indeed.

When to drink: Mouthwatering and delectable it'll go brilliantly with casseroles or game pie.

The estate, located in the village of the same name on the edge of the South Downs about 30 minutes north of Brighton is in the heart of England's wine-producing district.

Established back in 1972 it predates the current upsurge in the English wine industry however under Sam Linter, daughter of founders Janet and Rodney, and who now heads up the winemaking operations the estate has kept its finger on the pulse of modern practices and standards. Without doubt, Bolney ranks among the foremost of English wine estates in both quality and ambition and they've done much to raise the reputation of English wine as a whole.

In contrast to many, they don't concentrate on sparkling wines alone and they also produce high quality still red whites and rosés to the same exacting standards many of which are repeat award winners.