The Marasby take on 5 of the best English red wines to try this autumn.
I love this time of year: long sun down walks, the first fires of the season and candle lit suppers. And right through to November there’s a fantastic choice of world class British seasonal produce such as wild game and woodland mushrooms. These flavour profiles are the perfect food pairing for English red wine, especially English Pinot Noir. This internationally acclaimed red wine grape seems to love our clay soils and our selection features stunning examples. But there are also some great English reds being made from blends. They tend to be a little fuller in flavour with notes of oak. They are also the most affordable English reds.
Pick yourself up a few bottles from this brilliant selection of 5 English red wines to try this autumn, grab a glass, and enjoy the season.
1. Oxney Organic Pinot Noir 2020
This English Pinot Noir is one of East Sussex’s best examples, and with its natural/organic flavour profile, it really stands out from the crowd. 2020 was a fantastic year for English red wines, yet many smaller producers make so little Pinot Noir it sells out in months. Lucky for us that (at the time of writing), Oxney has given us a small allocation. So grab yours, before they go.
Taste: Medium bodied, with complex flavours of red berries, spices, dark chocolate, and well-integrated oak character. A distinct aroma of rose petals, and an appealingly natural earthy/farmyard note in the finish.
Although Lyme Bay Winery is based in Devon, it sources grapes for its Pinot Noir from Crouch Valley, Essex. If you’re not up to speed with Essex, it has some of the best soil and climate in England for growing Pinot Noir. As a result most of the country’s highest-rated examples come from this small region. This wine is made by one of the country’s most exciting young, female winemakers, Sarah Massey. Her 2020 vintage won multiple awards and the 2021 is shaping up nicely.
Taste: Elegant, refined, and complex, with aromas of black cherries, cigar box, and a hint of vanilla. In the mouth it’s rounded and silky, with juicy red berry fruit and a long finish.
This single vineyard Pinot Noir is why people are starting to talk about Suffolk as a great region for English still wine.
The hot summer of 2022 allowed Shotley to achieve a high level of ripeness, giving the wine sufficient body and richness to age a proportion in oak barrels. The blend added complexity and hints of vanilla tones on the palate.
This wine pairs well with cured meats, cheese and game, which makes it a great English red wine for autumn seasonly food and wine pairing.
Taste:This single vineyard Pinot Noir is bursting with aromas of ripe cherries and blackcurrant, with a smooth earthy finish. Best served very lightly chilled at 16ºC.
Quite simply one of the best value and most versatile English red wines being made in the UK today. Meophams Union Red is a full-flavoured, velvety-smooth red, made from grape varieties ideal for the English climate.
Pairs well with rich autumn dishes and roasts.
Taste: Deep in colour, with aromas of blackberries, cigar box and ground coffee.
Artelium is pure elegance from thought to finish. All their wines are excepitonal and the 2022 vintage Pinot Noir is no exception. Naturally fresh cold-climate acidity gives fine structure which is balanced with well-integrated, quality oak to give complexity throughout.
Taste: Red and black cherry forms a concentrated core. With layers of gingr and spice. Best served at room temperature or slightly chilled. Wonderful with autumn seasonal dishes such as mushroom rich dishes and game.
At the time of writing all our English red wines to try this autumn are available to buy direct from the winemaker at Marsasby Market, but with the increasing interest in English still wines, many sell out quickly – so don’t delay!
England is the world’s most exciting cool-climate wine region, yet 99% of the wine we drink is still imported. Join our mailing list and be the first to know about the latest releases.
