Raimes Demi-Sec 2017

Demi-Secs are the most under-rated style of English Sparkling Wine – sweeter than a typical ESW, but certainly not sickly. The 2017 Raimes Demi-Sec is a carefully selected blend of the three classic varieties: 75% Chardonnay, 15% Pinot Noir and 10% Pinot Meunier, bottle-fermented in the traditional method. The wine is partially fermented and aged in barrels, on lees for 42 months, helping to produce a soft, fine mousse and a lovely brioche note on the palate. It has great minerality, succulent citrus characteristics and a hint of stone fruits filling out the profile. A super-long finish.

The elegance of RAIMES English Sparkling starts to happen on the south-facing slopes of its Hampshire vineyard. Here the chalk substratum lends a particular minerality that helps to achieve a delicate balance of ripeness, acidity and berry aroma. Wines are made in the traditional method using only grapes grown by the Raimes family.