Nyetimber Classic Cuvée NV

The Classic Cuvée comes from Nyetimber's vineyards in the south of England, mainly in West Sussex and Hampshire. The plots, set on gentle south-facing slopes sheltered by the South Downs, enjoy a cool maritime climate that encourages slow ripening of the grapes and preserves lovely acidity. The chalk and greensand soils, greensand being a greenish sandy rock typical of the region, bring drainage and finesse. The cuvée blends wines from the property's various vineyards, all grown and harvested by Nyetimber.

The grapes are harvested by hand, plot by plot, then pressed quickly and gently. Each lot is vinified separately to preserve its identity before blending, which also includes a proportion of reserve wines. Made using the traditional method, the cuvée undergoes its second fermentation in bottle and benefits from long ageing on the lees, generally more than three years. The base wines are aged in stainless-steel tanks, with a portion possibly vinified in old oak barrels.

This wine reveals notes of toast, pastry and sweet spices, complemented by hints of honey, almond and baked apple. Its fruity expression also recalls citrus and ripe white-fleshed fruit. The palate combines a delicate texture, enlivened by fine bubbles, with a broad and harmoniously creamy body. Fresh acidity supports the whole, while the long, elegant finish extends the toasty and fruity flavours.

England, a country better known for its green landscapes and rainy climate than for viticulture, nonetheless has a booming wine industry whose reputation keeps on growing. Long regarded as a curiosity, English viticulture has established itself in recent decades as a source of very high-quality sparkling wines, even rivalling some Champagnes in blind tastings. English vineyards are mainly concentrated in the south of the country, in the counties of Kent, Sussex, Hampshire, Surrey and Essex, each enjoying climatic conditions and soils particularly suited to certain grape varieties. Sussex is today England's most renowned wine region, famous for its sparkling wines made by the traditional method from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. The chalk soils running through the region, a direct geological extension of the Champagne terroir, combined with an increasingly favourable climate, create ideal conditions for these demanding grapes. Kent, nicknamed the “Garden of England”, is home to some of the country's most established estates, producing both highly refined sparkling wines and still whites based on Bacchus, an aromatic grape variety that has become emblematic of the English style. Hampshire and Surrey, though more modest in terms of output, are gaining in energy and recognition, with innovative estates experimenting with traditional methods as well as international grape varieties suited to a cool climate. Essex, more continental, enjoys generous sunshine and low rainfall, which favour a slow, steady ripening of the grapes, essential to the elegance of sparkling wines. English wines, still produced in limited quantities but with remarkable attention to detail and rigour, are mainly consumed on the home market or exported in small volumes to discerning markets, making them true treasures for curious wine lovers eager to discover a new face of European viticulture. England is today a country where traditional know-how and climate innovation meet in the vineyard, offering a surprising, authentic and resolutely forward-looking wine experience.