About this WINE
Ridgeview Wine Estate
Ridgeview Wine Estate is a family company dedicated solely to the production of the highest quality sparkling wine from traditional Champagne varieties and methods .
Aptly named with a scenic location on a plateau of paludina limestone near to the highest point of the Sussex Downs (Ditchling Beacon), Ridgeview has been making excellent sparkling wines for over a decade and have won numerous awards and trophies during this time in international and national competitions.
Mike Roberts was quick to recognise the potential of the region and its proximity to Champagne, both geographical and geological, and now makes an intriguing selection of fizz, all of it following the méthode champenoise pretty much à la lettre
Chardonnay
Chardonnay is often seen as the king of white wine grapes and one of the most widely planted in the world It is suited to a wide variety of soils, though it excels in soils with a high limestone content as found in Champagne, Chablis, and the Côte D`Or.
Burgundy is Chardonnay's spiritual home and the best White Burgundies are dry, rich, honeyed wines with marvellous poise, elegance and balance. They are unquestionably the finest dry white wines in the world. Chardonnay plays a crucial role in the Champagne blend, providing structure and finesse, and is the sole grape in Blanc de Blancs.
It is quantitatively important in California and Australia, is widely planted in Chile and South Africa, and is the second most widely planted grape in New Zealand. In warm climates Chardonnay has a tendency to develop very high sugar levels during the final stages of ripening and this can occur at the expense of acidity. Late picking is a common problem and can result in blowsy and flabby wines that lack structure and definition.
Recently in the New World, we have seen a move towards more elegant, better- balanced and less oak-driven Chardonnays, and this is to be welcomed.
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Description
The Roberts clan are building an international reputation, fully deserved, for their excellent range of sparkling wines. Based in Ditchling, West Sussex, they farm the majority of their own fruit and in the case of this their flagship brand, all of their fruit, the vineyard in question being in front of the winery , south facing, but sheltered from the elements in the lee of the South Downs.
Fruits of a well-appointed vineyard just in front of the Ridgeview winery, this is an excellent Chardonnay, its lively mousse and persistent bead hinting at quality… a presentiment that is not to be disappointed. The palate has a powerful citric attack, then notes of nectarine and honey to ensure a generous mouth-feel and demonstrate impressive autolytic development.
Simon Field MW, Wine Buyer
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