Gusbourne Fifty One Degrees North 2014

Over time in the glass, the wine reveals its complexity: from classic citrus notes to stone fruit, green apple and orchard fruit.

Master Sommelier Laura Rhys commented: “I get a really tasty, peachy, lemon posset flavour. Mineral notes, of course – that’s typical of Gusbourne wines. And behind that there’s a creaminess on the palate – texturally this is a very interesting wine in the mouth. As well as the fruit character, there’s also these toasty, spicy, butterscotch and nutty tertiary notes that reveal themselves.”

The wine’s blend is two-thirds Chardonnay, one-third Pinot Noir. Winemaker Charlie Holland chose to tip the balance of the Chardonnay from their vineyards in Kent. Here, the clay and sandstone soils lend the fruit characteristic silkiness, roundness and weight. The Pinot Noir was sourced from both of Kent and West Sussex sites, with the fruit grown in the chalk and flint soil of our West Sussex vineyards imparting elegance, poise, freshness and structure.

Since 2015, Charlie and his team have tasted Fifty One Degrees North at least twice a year every year. They’ve carefully monitored the wine, gently assessing its profile as it has evolved in bottle. In the end, Fifty One Degrees North spent 80 months on lees. And now, at last, its complex flavours are ready to enjoy.

In the 2014 vintage, an early bud burst was followed by good weather until the end of June, resulting in successful flowering. Much needed rain in August helped compensate for the dry conditions earlier in the year. This ensured a fruitful and early vintage, which was completed by 7th October. Gusbourne’s Vineyard Manager, Jon Pollard, suggests that the success of 2014 was a combination of nature and meticulous nurture. “Veraison was about ten days ahead of normal, and it was a smaller crop than in previous years. This was partly due to weather conditions at fruit set, but also a result of deliberately dropping around 20% of selected bunches in the vineyard. By reducing the quantity of grapes left on the vine, we boosted the remaining fruit’s concentration and ripeness.” Their Chief Winemaker, Charlie Holland, believes 2014 was a watershed moment. “2014 convinced me that our wonderfully unique blend of soils and climates could consistently create outstanding ripeness. The fruit was perfectly ripe and we found more pronounced stone and orchard fruit f lavours alongside the typical English citrus fruit. A harmonious blend of perfect natural acidity and sugars was achieved effortlessly. No fining or intervention was required. We simply focused on producing the best quality possible and let the fruit express itself.”

Gusbourne has 60 hectares at Gusbourne Estate in Kent and 30 hectares in West Sussex that are planted with the 3 classic varieties of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. The distinct terroir and exceptionally mild microclimates of the surroundings add their own depth and complexity to the wines, and Gusbourne aims to allow the combination of site, soil and hard work in the vines to reflect in every bottle.

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