Fortieth Rule Chardonnay 2023, Northamptonshire (England)
This recent discovery from an independent family-run winery in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire is a little gem. Produced from grapes grown in Essex, this is Fortieth Rule’s first release and it is a stonkingly good wine.
With a beautiful nose of green apples redolent of a walk through an English orchard, and bright intense flavours of apple, pear and grapefruit, this is a smooth wine with medium acidity and a lengthy finish. A wine with character that is an excellent expression of an English Chardonnay with a nod to its Burgundian roots.
It’s perfect to drink by itself, or as a pairing with grilled fish, a chicken dish, or grilled vegetables.
And if you are wondering about the name, it is based on the Fortieth Rule of St Benedict, which stipulated that monks should ‘know their measure’ when it came to drinking alcohol! As true today as it was in St Benedict’s day!
Available from FORTIETH RULE (www.fortiethrule.com) (£25) NB Free local delivery for orders to CB1-CB5 postcodes with code CBDELIVER