2009 Gusbourne Estate, Blanc de Blancs, Sparkling, Kent

2009 Gusbourne Estate, Blanc de Blancs, Sparkling, Kent

Product: 24058
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2009 Gusbourne Estate, Blanc de Blancs, Sparkling, Kent

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Description

An outstanding Chardonnay from the most exciting of all the current English sparkling wine producers (there is now very stiff competition), the 2009 has been aged for 36 months on its lees, and has undergone full malolactic fermentation. The wine has an impressive toasty depth, seldom hitherto encountered in England, with all the freshness and vivacity that we have come to expect from these patriotic sparklers.

The fruit character of tarte tatin and poached pear hints at an impressive ripeness, a ripeness that is naturally present and not in any way forced by an excessive dosage. All in all, very impressive indeed. Bravo M. Holland (and I don’t mean the gentleman, who, at the time of writing, is the President of France!).
Simon Field MW - Wine Buyer

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Critics reviews

Victoria Moore
Gusbourne Estate Blanc de Blancs is made entirely from Chardonnay; this is a beautiful wine with mellow depth and a creamy, toasty taste. Probably Gusbourne’s best wine.

Three decades ago the phrase “English wine” was pretty much an oxymoron. Today, it’s a very different story... At a recent blind tasting organised by Noble Rot magazine, English wine scored a triumph over champagne, with two English wines (Hambledon Classic Cuvée and Nyetimber Classic Cuvée 2010) beating the likes of Pol Roger and Taittinger to finish in first and second place. England has moved from being just a consumer of wine to a country that also has its own small, respectable wine industry.
Victoria Moore - The Telegraph, Corking! The 10 best English wines -29 Oct 2015 Read more

About this WINE

Gusbourne Estate

Gusbourne Estate

Gusbourne Estate has become a standard-bearer of high quality English sparkling and still wines. The estate has been awarded the IWSC English Wine Producer of the Year in 2013 and their wines continue to go from strength to strength.

The estate sits on the low slopes of the ancient Kentish escarpment at Appledore. The extensive two hundred hectare Estate is on a single site with twenty hectares under vine cultivation with Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier grapes.

They are currently planting a further ten hectares of these Champagne clone vines, placing the extent of the plantings amongst the largest vineyards in England. The entire Estate consists exclusively of south facing slopes thereby ensuring that for most of the summer months the vines bask in a relatively warm and dry local microclimate. Located only 6 miles from the coast, the sea has a moderating influence on the weather, providing a long growing season. Together with the Estate’s clay and sandy loam soils, these particular conditions help ensure the production of exceptional quality grapes.

The first mention of Gusbourne Estate dates back to 1410, when John de Gosborne’s will was filed. Subsequently the estate passed to Philip Chute, a man of distinction and great wealth who won fame and the gratitude of Henry VIII at the siege of Boulogne on September 14th 1544. He had served as the standard bearer to the men of arms of the Kings Band. ‘Goosbourne’ as it was known then, carried the characteristic three geese crest that now adorns the small parish church in Appledore. Today they pay tribute to their heritage by using the same three geese on all of their bottles.

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Chardonnay

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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