About this WINE
Hattingley Valley
Champagne blend
Which grapes are included in the blend, and their proportion, is one of the key factors determining the style of most Champagnes. Three grapes are used - Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier.
26% of vineyards in Champagne are planted with Chardonnay and it performs best on the Côtes des Blancs and on the chalk slopes south of Epernay. It is relatively simple to grow, although it buds early and thus is susceptible to spring frosts. It produces lighter, fresher wines than those from Burgundy and gives finesse, fruit and elegance to the final blend. It is the sole grape in Blancs de Blancs, which are some of the richest long-lived Champagnes produced.
Pinot Noir accounts for nearly 40% of the plantings in Champagne and lies at the heart of most blends - it gives Champagne its body, structure, strength and grip. It is planted across Champagne and particularly so in the southern Aube district.
The final component is Pinot Meunier and this constitutes nearly 35% of the plantings. Its durability and resistance to spring frosts make the Marne Valley, a notorious frost pocket, its natural home. It ripens well in poor years and produces a soft, fruity style of wine that is ideal for blending with the more assertive flavours of Pinot Noir. Producers allege that Pinot Meunier lacks ageing potential, but this does not deter Krug from including around 15% of it in their final blends.
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Description
This offering from our most l0cal Hampshire producer is enticingly toasty on the nose and shows notes of autumnal orchard fruit. On the palate, generous green apple fruit runs wild over bread yeast and biscuit notes, the acidity is well in balance with the intensity of flavours making this a beautifully elegant offering with a very moreish finish.
A true testimony to the levels of excellence being achieved in top UK wineries in these modern times.
Oliver Barton, Wine Sales
The award winning Hattingley Valley winery , close to our Basingstoke Office, is located near Alresford, also in Hampshire. Founded in 2008, the first 28 acre south facing site was planted in May of that year and the modern, eco-friendly winery was built in 2010. Since then they have added a second ‘Cottonworth’ site to the west of Winchester bringing their total holdings to 60 acres.
Their wine maker, Emma Rice, was crowned Winemaker of the Year at the UK Vineyards Association English & Welsh Wine of the Year Competition 2014.
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