Nyetimber Classic Cuvée NV, West Sussex, England - 1.5l

If there was any doubt as to the pedigree of English sparkling wine, Nyetimber puts that debate to bed. The best British bubbles can easily contend with Champagne, and here’s the proof. Its pale gold colour and fine mousse would pass for a top Champagne to even the most discerning eye. On the nose, there are complex aromas with distinctive toast and spicy notes. The palate is at once intense and delicate, with hints of baked apple, honey, almond and baker’s yeast, and a lingering, tingling finish.

GRAPE

• 51% Pinot Noir
• 36% Chardonnay
• 13% Pinot Meunier

WHAT IT GOES WITH

Nyetimber crafts some seriously food-friendly sparklers, and this one is a safe bet with most any hors d’oeuvres you could think of. It’s particularly well-suited to fresh and meaty seafood dishes, so whip up a crab meat salad or splash out on some lobster and you won’t be disappointed.

ABOUT THE VINEYARD

The Nyetimber estate counts 170 hectares of vines planted on the same chalky and sandy soils that make the Champagne region so special. This sort of terroir has long produced most of the world’s finest sparkling wines in northern France, and Nyetimber leads the charge in doing the same in the south of England. These vineyards on the South Downs are wholly-owned by Nyetimber, ensuring that winemaker Cherie Spriggs and her team can carefully control each and every step of the process.