OK so the only place that I can put this is under European - Other. What no section for English wines around here? I have to put the great wines of my country in with that no man's land of wine culture, Spain?

Chapel Down is an English wine maker from Kent - the far South East of the country. Now before you all wander off to another tasting note, it must be time to open your minds.

England's wine industry is expanding and the quality improving. It is no longer about 'British Wine' which was imported liquid sewage bolstered by surgical spirit. It is now about growing grapes suitable for its cooler and wetter environment and making good quality wines out of them. The quantity is still small in comparison with most wine-making countries but it sells and sells well. In fact it is damned difficult to get hold of.

Chapel Down makes, amongst others, sparklers and a range of them too. They win lots of medals. I've recently had two different ones and very interesting they were too. All are made Methode Traditionelle

Chapel Down NV Brut - Bottle's gone but this is not Epoch. It was made predominantly with Chardonnay. Light coloured with smallish bubbles - not anywhere near as small as Champagne but small. It was interesting that there weren't dozens of lines of bubbles, just a few. The aroma was pure apple. English apples in the mouth as well (hang on "There were strong flavours of English apples - coxes or russets." - that was my notes for Roederer 1990 Brut Vintage, just a side-issue). There was no getting away from comparisons with cider. The fizz was extremely prominent, almost overwhelming and the finish lingered - the two combined making it a slow-drinking experience rather than a "throw it down your neck" pop. Overall, a very distinctive wine at a fair price (£8) but I think it will get better.

Chapel Down Pinot Reserve 1999 Brut (£11) - This one is Pinot Noir and Pinot Blanc only. Straw colour with slightly larger bubbles (I think - different day) and very few of them. Nose gave off strawberries and biscuits (Rich Tea, I think, no, Thin Arrowroot). In the mouth the strawberries were there again this time with a pinch at the back of the mouth. The fizz was again very strong. Suspect that giving this one a rest on the racks may have done it no end of good. Much the better of the two wines but strangely the NV tasted more like a Vintage sparkler than the Vintage did.

Both of these wines are very individual and not like any other sparkling wine I've tried. Are we talking English Terroir here???

If you can get hold of some - try it, just to be different. I have a bottle of English Pinot Noir to try next