BONKERS CHARDONNAY MV

CEPAGE: 100% Chardonnay

VINEYARD: Mount Harry & Coldharbour Vineyard, West Sussex

SOIL TYPE: Chalk and flint soil

YIELD: Average yield 6,000kg/ha, 5,000 bottles produced

VINIFICATION: 2022 in small new barriques for 18 months, 2023 in large, older barrels for 6 months

MATURATION: Bottled in October 2024.

ANALYSIS: 12.5% abv, pH 3.24

Bonkers is a multi-dimensional, solera-aged Chardonnay: rich, creamy and savoury with
a nutty, honeyed complexity from its elevage in large and small barrels, old and new.

A touch of carefully controlled oxidation is balanced by a freshness and fine structure,
offering delicious drinking now, as well as potential for ageing.

"Lots of acidity and depth with a kiss of oak and massive grip on the palate. Sui generis. Not trying to be a white Burgundy, but an excellent wine that should appeal to the natural crowd. Impressive persistence and a freshness [...] that suggests it should have quite a long life. A new chapter in English winemaking? Hugely distinctive! 16.5+/20 points, 2024-2030." Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com

"The aroma is layered with a light impression of oak spice, mealy lees and still some cedary yet deliciously ripe citrus fruit, a touch of clementine. Lightly toasty and nutty. It tastes a bit like a mature, non-bubbly traditional-method sparkling wine with all that toasty and creamy richness balanced and sliced through by vibrant but not excessive acidity. A great basis for a longer-term solera with weight in the mouth and terrific freshness biting in at the end. I am sure this will age but it is delicious now. Hard to believe these grapes ripened in England.
17/20 points." Julia Harding MW, JancisRobinson.com

"It has the rich, slow aroma of lemon-zested, sour-cream panna cotta turning New York cheesecake as it warms. But the acidity is marked on the palate – the intensity of lemon, the lemon intensity, pushing you back half a step in shock. Like stepping into a cold midnight at full moon when the light and sharpness of air cut your breath from your body. Dramatic, cut like a diamond. I'd cellar this for a couple of years. 17+/20 points." Tamlyn Currin, JancisRobinson.com

“93/100. It displays a flinty, herbal character but elegantly smoothed by almond and creamy ripe, honeyed apple. The palate shimmers with vibrant sherbet lemon and ripe grapefruity vivaciousness. It has a flinty drive and freshness, a bittersweet ripple of citrus, the finish long and intense like a blood orange straight from the freezer. It joins the small group of seriously world class English still Chardonnays for me.” Tom Cannavan, wine-pages.com

“Totally bonkers, but brilliant Chardonnay by the extremely talented Dermot Sugrue. A wine which you go on a journey with. Baked apple, salted butter, toasted almond nuance and tastes even better the next day. Chablis fans, check this English Chardonnay out!” Amelia Singer, presenter 'The Wine Show'

“Hard to explain exactly what it tastes like – almost like clotted cream but lush and lemony with incredible acidity. Even better the second day. Like a mature Grand Cru Chablis.” Fiona Beckett, matchingfoodandwine.com

"This is a genuinely civilised, sensual, and hypnotic Chardonnay with the character of a plush Mâconnais beauty, with green-gold filigree and an indulgent creamy core.  It is luxurious and keen in equal measure, and I love that it has eaten my brain." Matthew Jukes, Vineyard Magazine, matthewjukes.com