English Sparkling Wines
Raimes Classic 2015
Vibrating, fresh core with lemon verbena, asian pear, chalky minerality; amazing drive and energy
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. The 2014 Classic is a carefully selected blend of the three classic varieties: 51% Chardonnay, 29% Pinot Noir and 20% Pinot Meunier, bottle-fermented in the traditional method. The wine is partially fermented and aged in barrels, helping produce a soft, fine mousse. It has great minerality, fresh citrus characteristics and a hint of stone fruits filling out the profile. A super-long finish.
www.jancisrobinson.com tasting note: “Elegant nose. Lemon-leaf perfume. Zesty, lemony, bright, bracing and tap dancing. This is delicious. Just a hint of honeyed richness under all that sharply pressed English acidity. White currants and mint and tarragon. Long and slender. Comes together beautifully. 17/20” (Tamlyn Currin)
Overview It wasn’t the smoothest of growing seasons, but the end results demonstrate fantastic potential. Although there were many positive…