Deliciously complex with opulence, texture and finesse…
We’re excited to unveil our brand-new flagship Classic Cuvée, this time from our 2017 vintage. Produced from handpicked grapes grown at our beautiful Roebuck and Little Brockhurst vineyards, close to Petworth in West Sussex, our 2017 Classic is made from a harmonious blend of Pinot Noir (44%), Chardonnay (42%), and Pinot Meunier (14%) grapes. Each vineyard site contributes a distinct character, adding a layer of uniqueness to our signature blend.
Carefully selected bunches were harvested by hand, and gently whole bunch pressed. Partial fermentation in the finest Burgundian barrels, followed by a generous lees-ageing in bottle for a minimum of 36 months, imparts a wonderful richness and complexity on our flagship cuvée.
2017 Growing Season
While it was a challenging harvest for many wine producers across Northern Europe, 2017 proved to be very different for us here in Sussex. The location of our vineyards, combined with the hard work and diligence of our expert vineyard team, meant that our vines were protected from the late spring frost that affected many producers.
The season started well with an early budburst in spring, followed by dry, sunny weather in May and June, leading to a very early flowering – one of the earliest on record. A relatively warm ripening period throughout the summer and autumn months provided us with some fantastic Pinot fruit.
Harvest commenced at the start of October, and although yields were lower than usual, the quality of the fruit was exceptional – sugars were high, and the acids were wonderfully balanced.
Jake Wicks, our Head of Viticulture, adds, “We aim to make sparkling wines that are the finest expression of a particular growing season. Our vines at our two sites closest to Petworth provided us with some fantastic Pinot Noir fruit in 2017 and naturally became the dominant variety in our Classic Cuvée blend, resulting in a richer style of our flagship wine.”
Rich and complex, with delicate golden hues, this vintage exhibits all the hallmarks of our signature classic style. You can expect delicious notes of baked apples and stone fruit layered with biscuity richness and delicious hints of hazelnut. Whilst our 2017 Classic Cuvée is drinking beautifully now, it will no doubt continue to age gracefully over time. It makes a wonderful pairing with freshly caught seafood dishes such as crab linguine and fresh oysters.
