2016 Bride Valley Sparkling Blanc de Blancs Dorset England

WE94 The merest touch of nettle merges into a supreme lemon freshness on the nose. The palate rounds everything out with a subtle yeasty creaminess that boosts the pure lemon flavor. It never seems overly opulent or tart, holding delicious tension throughout. Drink now–2025.
WSI93+ Silver pale with lemony tints, the colour reflecting the cool growing season and general lightness of the vintage; white flowers and spring-like freshness on the nose with citrus elements and a hint of dry honey, great purity of fruit on the palate, showing a light creami- ness at the start contrasting to a taut Granny Smith acidity on the finish, still very young and will blossom out well during 2021 and beyond, a true reflection of Bride Valley’s chalky Kimmeridgian soil. 11.5% alc. 70% Chardonnay, 20% Pinot Noir, 10% Pinot Meunier.

Bud burst was delayed this year due to a cold start and April was the third coldest since 1963. May improved but vine growth was slow, flowering began on July 6th, being long drawn-out and slightly affected by rain. August was warm and settled with above average temperatures and September even a little better. An attack of Downy Mildew in August reduced the crop further, but the harvest went well from mid-October, sugars being relatively high due to the reduced volume which balanced the high level of acidity due to the cold summer. Overall, a difficult year which ended satisfactorily for quality rather than for quantity. 12% alc. 100% Chardonnay.

After a celebrated career in wine – and inspired by the chalky, south-facing slopes of his wife Bella’s Dorset sheep farm – Steven Spurrier joined the English sparkling wine revolution.
In 2008, he and Bella went to Burgundy’s famous Pepinieres Guillaume vine nursery, where they selected the finest Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier root stocks.
In 2011 the first Bride Valley harvest was picked. It sold out on release in 2014.
There are now 10 hectares under cultivation, producing three elegantly sparkling English wines in the heart of Dorset’s breathtaking Bride Valley.