Hambledon Vineyard Classic Cuvee Brut

Description

Hambledon Vineyard Classic Cuvee Brut is the first released English Sparkling Wine from Hambledon Vineyard (there was a small amount of a second label called Mill Down Brut which was made in 2010).

Hambledon Vineyard is England’s oldest commercial vineyard and is just starting to release their superb sparkling wine after a number of years of investment, vineyard planting and the building of a 100% gravity flow winery. The grapes for this wine are all estate-grown from vineyards on the South East facing chalky slopes of Windmill Hill in the village of Hambledon. The grapes are all hand-picked and undergo a double selection for quality – once in in the vineyard and once before pressing.

The assemblage (correct as of Spring 2017) for Hambledon Vineyard Classic Cuvee Brut is 40% Chardonnay, 29% Pinot Noir and 31% Pinot Meunier. The wine is a blend of two vintages. A small percentage of the reserve wines are barrel fermented in small French oak barrels to add extra complexity to the cuvee. The wine is fermented in stainless steel vats and is then left to settle for 6 months prior to blending with the reserve wines and bottling. Hambledon Vineyard Classic Cuvee Brut is aged for a minimum of 22 months on lees in their cellars dug into the chalk downs prior to disgorgement, dosage et al. The dosage for this wine is 7g/L.

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