New releases from Simpsons Wine Estate in Kent

Based on the slopes of the North Downs in Kent, Simpsons Wine Estate is an impressive operation turning out some smart wines. Here are three new releases.

Simpsons Wine Estate Gravel Castle Chardonnay 2020 Kent, England
12.5% alcohol
£17 Seckford, The Wine Society
Estate fruit only. This is fresh, tight and lemony with good acidity, and primary fruity flavours of pear drops and grapefruit. There’s a lovely linear purity to this wine, which shows no oak character. Give it a few months to come together, and it will show its taut, mineral best once some of the primary fruit aromas start to settle down. 90/100

Simpsons Wine Estate Pinot Noir 2020 Kent, England
12.5% alcohol
£15.99 Waitrose
Cherry red in colour, this has bright aromatics of redcurrants, cherries and a hint of bubblegum. The palate is light and juicy, with supple red fruits and a hint of herbiness, with nice acidity and just a touch of tannic grip. Very fruity and easy: a really summery red. 88/100

Simpsons Wine Estate Rosé 2020 Kent, England
12.5% alcohol
£14.99 Waitrose
Attractively packaged and very pale pink in colour, this has a lively nose of cranberries and pear drops. In the mouth it is lively with good acidity, and flavours of strawberries and redcurrants, with lovely crisp, pure fruit. Impressive stuff: primary and delightful. 88/100

And here’s a review of their Gravel Castle and Roman Road Chardonnays from last year:

Simpsons Gravel Castle Chardonnay 2019 Kent, England
From chalk soils on the north downs. 12% alcohol. This is lean and taut with keen acidity, but there’s also a lovely depth here, showing pear, white peach and some crystalline citrus fruit. Lots of dimensions here: it’s pristine, pure and concentrated with an amazing acid line. Quite Chablis-like, actually. 92/100 (£17 direct from www.simpsonswine.com)

Simpsons The Roman Road Chardonnay 2018 Kent, England
13% alcohol
£27 Roberson Wine
This is impressive. It’s concentrated and rich with good acidity and some pineapple and pear richness. There’s nice depth here, a touch of smokiness, some minerality, and some spicy oak. Quite oaky right now, but there’s no doubting the quality of the fruit. 91/100