“Mad Genius in a Glass.” To give its full name: Bonkers Zombie Robot Alien Monsters From The Future Ate My Brain (Sur Lie) V2. Bright, pale gold with a quiet shimmer, Bonkers V2 opens with aromas so pure they almost hover above the glass. Chalk dust and lemon zest lead the way, followed by whispers of green apple skin, sea spray and crushed oyster shell. Then comes the twist, warm oak spice, toasted hazelnut and a soft brioche note drifting in like a wink from the cellar. It smells both pristine and playfully complex, like classic Chardonnay seen through a slightly rebellious English lens. The palate is where the magic really unfolds. Silky, layered and beautifully poised, there’s a creamy mid-palate texture that feels indulgent yet precise, wrapped around citrus oil, white peach and a gentle nuttiness from time in oak and under flor. A fine thread of salinity runs through the wine, giving it a mouth-watering, tapering finish that feels somewhere between Chablis tension and Sussex seaside breeze. It’s elegant but characterful, serious but with a grin, a wine that keeps revealing new details as it opens in the glass. For when: you want to surprise serious wine friends and quietly impress them.Pairs with: roast chicken with lemon and thyme, grilled turbot, or creamy mushroom dishes.If this wine were a personality: the brilliant eccentric who turns out to be absolutely right. Behind the label is Sugrue South Downs, led by Dermot Sugrue, one of England’s most respected and imaginative winemakers. Bonkers began in the exceptional 2022 vintage as an experimental take on English still Chardonnay, blending multiple vintages and techniques including oak fermentation, controlled oxidation and a touch of flor ageing. Sourced from vineyards across Sussex and Kent, V2 refines the idea into a purer, saltier and more age-worthy expression, proof that English Chardonnay can be both world-class and joyfully unconventional.
