English Wine Guide

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LYME BAY CHARDONNAY 2022 REVIEW: VALUE FOR MONEY & TASTE TEST.

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Ah, Chardonnay. My beloved, my soulmate, my wine-shaped comfort blanket. If there’s an oaked version lurking in the aisles (or the vineyards of England), you can bet your bottom bottle I’ll be there, glass in hand, sniffing out that buttery goodness like a truffle pig in Chanel No. 5.

So, imagine my sheer glee when I finally got my mitts on the Chardonnay – 2022 – Lyme Bay Winery. I’ve had this one on my “must-try” list for a while—partly because I’d heard that it was an award winning drop, and partly because, well, it’s a Chardonnay. And I’m basically obsessed.

In this blog post you’ll find my review of the Lyme Bay Chardonnay 2022. What does it taste like? Is it value for money? And, what should you serve it with?

About Lyme Bay Winery

Lyme Bay Winery is a well known wine producer based down in Devon, but they source much of their fruit from that rather sunny and surprisingly bougie bit of Essex. Yes, Essex. The land that you might associate more with vajazzles has major vine-leaf potential. While some might raise an eyebrow at an Essex Chardonnay, let me assure you—this is classy AF. Think more “Barbour jacket and a vintage decanter” than “TOWIE does wine.”

The region’s low rainfall and sunshine-soaked days help produce fruit of exceptional ripeness, making it a bit of a Chardonnay haven these days. Especially around the crouch valley, where Lyme Bay source their grapes – grown by producers like Martins Lane, Crouch Ridge, Old Mill House, and Riverview.

Lyme Bay are a small, boutique producer doing very big things. They don’t just dabble in wine; they do spirits, meads, ciders, and they’ve racked up a rather intimidating number of awards over the past few years. They’ve become particularly well-known for their still wines, and their Chardonnay is, in my humble opinion, a bit of a show pony.

Lyme Bay Chardonnay 2022: The Low Down

Here’s all the key information you need to know about the Lyme Bay Chardonnay.

Tasting notes for Lyme Bay Chardonnay

So to the taste test, here’s my review of the Lyme Bay Chardonnay:

Appearance – Gloriously golden, like the liquid version of golden hour on a late summer’s day. It looks like a Chardonnay with something to say.

Aroma – Buttery richness curling up from the glass with a swirl of hay and a whisper of fresh apple skin.

Taste – Smooth, buttery caramel melt-in-your-mouth moment, layered with something akin to vanilla and more than a whisper of toasted oak. Then a orchard fruit acidic zing at the end. It’s not backwards in coming forwards, this one. Especially at 13% alcohol.

Mouthfeel – Thick in the mouth, and I mean that in the best possible way. It’s got that syrupy lusciousness that hugs your tongue like a cashmere jumper. Smooth rather than crisp—this isn’t your lean, gym-toned Bacchus. Oh no. This is soft-around-the-edges – it really warms your cockles.

Pairing suggestions for Lyme Bay Chardonnay

Now, I’m not afraid to say I made some pairing errors with this. First up: spicy Perelló olives. I thought I was being bold and Mediterranean. Big mistake. It was like inviting your favourite bookish friend to a techno rave—neither party had a good time. Avoid anything spicey or vinegary which will ruin the wine.

Later, I tried it with a salmon niçoise salad, and bingo! The creaminess of the wine played beautifully with the oiliness of the fish and the pop of green beans. I can imagine it would pair splendidly with a fresh seafood platter – dressed crab, oily fish and a few lemon soaked prawns.

That said, this wine doesn’t need food. It’s got enough going on to be the main act, headliner and encore. This is a sipper, a thinker, a wine to swirl around while staring wistfully into the sunset and contemplating how gloriously ridiculous life can be.

Occasions and serving tips for Lyme Bay Chardonnay

This isn’t a wine for knocking back at a picnic. No, no. This is for evenings when you want to feel a little elegant. Maybe you’re having a night in with your bestie. Or you’re hosting a dinner date and want to impress, but not come across as a pretentious wine nerd.

Honestly, I don’t recommend taking it to a party or sharing it with more than one other person! You’ll regret it.

Serve it cool, but not fridge-cold—you don’t want to mute the magic. Let it open up a bit, stretch its limbs. It’ll thank you with every golden sip.

Just make sure it’s properly chilled and in a glass capable of a good swirl.

My review of Lyme Bay Chardonnay

It knocks the socks off Californian versions, and brings a unique English minerality to the glass. This wine is a delightfully bold, oaky, buttery extravaganza. Not shy, maybe not quite modest, but elegant in its own eccentric, full-bodied way. If that sounds like your thing, then this, my friend, is the one. Chardonnay from Essex, made in Devon, but truly a bottle made for centre stage.

Where to buy Lyme Bay Chardonnay

You can find it via Lyme Bay’s website or specialist wine retailers. Be quick though—it tends to sell out faster than a bottle of prosecco at a hen do.

*PR sample. All opinions are my own.

Where to next?

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