Sparkling English Wines
Denbies Wine Estate Cubitt Reserve Blanc de Blancs 2013
Green apple, citrus, white fruits and vanilla with brioche and buttered toast on the palate
The vineyards of Denbies Estate are situated on the North Downs, in the town of Dorking, with its famous chalky soil, in a protected valley of south-facing slopes (AONB). A total of 265 acres out of the 700-acre estate have been planted to vine, commencing in 1986. Pale straw in colour, the Cubitt Blanc de Blancs displays notes of green apple, citrus and white fruits on the nose with hints of vanilla and minerality. The palate has brioche and buttered toast overtones and is vibrant, fresh and creamy with a firm balanced acidity that requires no dosage. It is produced from hand-picked Chardonnay from the Hillside vineyard on Denbies Estate. The 2013 spring time and summer were warm, enabling the fruit to ripen fully, build-up interesting flavours and impart complexity to the resulting wine. Made from the very best of Denbies grapes, gently whole berry pressing ensures the very best quality juice is extracted before a cool, slow fermentation. It was bottled in May 2014 following 6 months on lees and then 40 months on lees in bottle.
Nestled in the bucolic surroundings of the rolling South Downs, Albourne Estate is picture-postcard pretty. Cresting the brow of an…