Phone: 01273 242 535 | Free delivery on orders over £250
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Phone: 01273 242 535 | Free delivery on orders over £250
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You have 1 item in your cart

Hambledon Classic Cuvée, Hampshire, England (6x75cl)

£156.00

Price is for: 6x 75cl bottles


ABV: 12%| Grape: ChardonnayPinot Noir & Pinot Meunière | Location: Hampshire, England | Case Size: 6 Bottles

Perfect as an aperitif and an ideal match to fresh seafood or smoked salmon.

“Hampshire’s Hambledon is one of the stars , its Classic Cuvée a tingling, Cox’s apple-tangy, subtly toasty delight.”
David Williams, The Observer, July 2021

23 in stock (can be backordered)

Description

Hambledon Vineyards in the South Downs is England’s oldest commercial vineyard, which passionate wine lover Ian Kellett acquired Hambledon in 1999.  Ian was intrigued by the winemaking heritage of the property and after analysing the commercial potential for English wine, he began studying oenology at Plumpton College in Sussex with a view to restoring Hambledon to its former glory.

Research convinced him that sparkling wines were the future and in 2005 Ian planted a 10-acre ‘test bed’ of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier to see which of the 27 different combinations of vine clones and rootstocks gave the best results. The chalk on which the vines grow was formed on the seabed of the Paris basin some 65 million years ago. It is part of the Newhaven Chalk formation that developed between the Santonian and Campanian eras of the Upper Cretaceous period. The same chalk, with the same Belemnite content, is found in the best Chardonnay areas of the Côtes des Blancs in Champagne.

In 2011 one of the other final pieces of the jigsaw slotted into place with the appointment of Hervé Jestin, formerly one of Champagne’s leading chefs de cave. A renowned expert in minimal-intervention winemaking, Hervé directs all winemaking at the Estate. Hambledon Vineyard now comprises over 200 acres of vineyards and the only gravity-fed, state-of-the-art winery in the UK. Work has begun on extending the cellars and wine storage to ensure that all the wine produced can be aged successfully on site. A tasting room and visitor centre is also been built.

Today, the House produces three cuvées, all of which are currently Chardonnay-led, non-vintage blends, capitalising on the quality of the chalky terroir of the South Downs and its ability to produce top quality wines.

Aromas of fresh sour dough, floral notes and dessert apples on the nose.  There is a sense of vibrancy and tension on the palate that unfolds with stone fruit flavours, a lovely creaminess and fineness on the finish.  A classy sparkling wine.

Many thanks to Tatiana Harrison for her food paring suggestion with this wine.  The smoked salmon mousse is really easy to make and makes a stunning, not to mention delicious, starter with this sparkling wine.  Do get in touch if you would like the recipe!