Langham Wine Estate Culver Classic Cuvée NV

Aromas are very pronounced and intense on this wine. An initial strong floral hit, not dissimilar to walking into a florist, is backed up very well by notes of fresh, buttery croissants and raspberry jam.  On the palate, this wine is equally as complex and layered. Raspberry yoghurt and Pink Lady Apple dominate, but a subtle salinity and danish pastry bring the wine together.

The cuvée is a blend of 65% Pinot Noir, 25% Chardonnay and 10% Pinot Meunier. The grapes for the base vintage were picked in October 2020 and gently pressed, whole bunch. Primary fermentation took place in a combination of stainless-steel tanks and used oak barrels, followed by complete malolactic fermentation, with regular battonage. Following 7 months of élevage, the final blend, complete with 23% reserve wine from 4000 L concrete tanks, was bottled and left to age on lees for a minimum of 14 months. At disgorgement the wine received 3 g/L dosage and was aged for a minimum of 3 months under cork.

Langham Wine Estate specialises in making low-intervention, traditional method sparkling wines from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier grapes grown on 30 hectares north-east of Dorchester in rural Dorset. The vineyard is planted on a south-southwest slope at 80-110m above sea level on flinty clay topsoil over deep, porous Cretaceous chalk, with the first block planted in 2009. Viticulture is science-based and data-led, seeking to minimise chemical input wherever possible.