It’s always fun to find wines that challenge more established wine regions. Like for example Champagne. I tried this English sparkling wine blind at my sister’s and brother in law’s house. Obviously they wanted to set me up. And so they did. My thoughts went directly to Champagne, although I also considered whether it could be something high-class from elsewhere. But my final guess was Champagne, Vallée de la Marne, with a certain element of pinot meunier, because of the delicious fruit. And it turned out to be from England.
It’s no secret anymore that the English producers can make sparkling wine of very good quality. I will not begin to speculate whether they are as good as or possibly better than Champagne. It doesn’t make much sense. This Nyetimber Classic Cuvée has a fine, toasty and fruity flavour with complexity, a little honey and a good length. And is confusingly similar to a Champagne. Nyetimber grow their grapes in West Sussex and Hampshire, and they grow all three Champagne grapes: pinot noir, pinot meunier and chardonnay.
We have previously written on Nyetimber’s sparkling wines on BKWine Magazine.
