Page 2: The wines
In all, Sharpham produce six different wines, four white and two red. In addition to mail order and cellar door sales, these wines are currently stocked by Thresher and Tesco in the South West, and by larger Tesco stores nationally. The 1996 Estate Selection Dry is made from Madeliene Angevine grapes: this variety used to be grown in the Loire valley, but this area proved too warm (!) to produce good wines from this grape. However, in the even cooler English climate it excels, producing fruity, aromatic wines. This example is incredibly clean and pure, with good balance, a dry finish and and aroma of flowers and citrus. The 1996 Barrel Fermented Dry is also a Madeline Angevine, but it is fermented in new French oak, imparting a tasty vanilla nuttiness and rich texture to the wine. The wine is well balanced, but steer clear if you do not like oak. However, the most interesting of the wines that I tried (and a real paradigm shifter) was a barrel sample of the 1997(?) Beenleigh Red. This wine is made from Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grown outside but under cloches. It is deep purple/red, rich, tannic and has wonderful flavours of pure cassis combining nicely with new oak. This is a cracking, well structured, ripe wine that will age well. Sadly, the wine in the single barrel of this produced is already sold!
Me amid the vines
Sharpham Partnership LTD
Sharpham Estate
Totnes
South Devon
TQ9 7UT
Tel: 01803 732203
Fax: 01803 732122
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