WINE REVIEW
Nestled in the pristine and historic heart of rural Berkshire, All Angels Vineyard produces hand-made English Sparkling Wine from a farm that’s been in use for over 300 years. The brand itself is named after the local parish church of St. Michael and All Angels. Dating to at least the twelfth century, and housing one of the oldest bells in the country, the church sits right next to one of their three vineyards.
For me, the attractive green bottle with pink labelling recalls religious iconography, with a tongue-in-cheek neo-gothic style. Unusually this vintage of the All Angels Sparkling Rosé is made entirely from Rondo. With its vigorous yields, this intriguing grape – early ripening and with the potential to give intense colour – is currently the third most planted grape variety in the UK.
With plenty of lees ageing, this sparkling wine is a deep rosé shade, with a red wine feel. Its commanding and juicy nature, and textured layers, could stand up very happily to a culinary pairing of canapés or fish starters. I’d pair it with crab cakes with dill mayonnaise for an opulent entrée – or even alongside a delicately spiced crab and saffron risotto, as a mains option; my point being, this is a foodie fizz.
On the palate the delicious summer berry flavours and expansive fruit palate, with some subtle pastry notes, make this a classy number with decent length to boot. It’s a rich and clearly professionally assembled wine. Its delightful frothy mousse, and superb vivid pink colour (with no sign at all of those odd metallic or baked fruit characteristics which Rondo can produce) may yet charm the angels out of heaven for a fleeting glass.
