WINE REVIEW
GBW Wine of the Month: September 2019
It’s no secret that I’m (just a bit of) a Bacchus champion. England’s adopted still white grape variety has its critics, but this wine, in my opinion, absolutely justifies why Bacchus is the fourth most planted grape variety in England.
Orpheus is Woodchester’s flagship Bacchus made from the best parcels of fruit; the 2018 vintage was made from the oldest vines on the original Amberley site.
If the Woodchester Sauvignon Blanc is crisp and aromatic, this Bacchus is like a supercharged version of that wine. The nose is packed full of lime zest, nettle, pungent tropical fruits and elegant minerality.
It’s absolutely delicious too, combining that classic grassy, elderflower Bacchus character with plentiful tropical fruit richness thanks to the fantastic 2018 vintage fruit. The finish is where this wine really sings though, with its Pouilly-Fumé-esque smoky minerality that lingers pleasingly and effortlessly.
