The CLASSIC NV

Description

This iteration of the CLASSIC NV is made predominantly with grapes from 2020, the seventh harvest from the Burge's Field vineyard, and is the 14th wine from the much-garlanded team at Hattingley Valley, led by Emma Rice and Jacob Leadley.

2020 was the first lockdown year and we were hammered by terrible spring frosts in mid-May, losing at least 50% of the crop with temperatures going as low as -5C on the night of the 15th. For flowering we had perfect weather followed by a reasonable summer and a lovely warm September. We hand-harvested and whole-bunch pressed in mid-October with 91% of the juice was fermented in stainless steel tanks and the remainder in a variety of very neutral fifth-fill oak barrels, adding texture rather than anything else.  Low yields and the good Autumn meant we needed to put just 40% of the final base wines through malolactic fermentation. We blended with 12 base wines and 2400l of the continuing solera reserve as a 13th.  We made the WFB and the PINK and then tasted the remainder - it didn't quite feel right so we added a good dollop of the reserve and suddenly there was the CLASSIC - apple on the nose, some aged weight on the palate and a hint of savouriness on a long finish.  The final blend was nearly 60% Chardonnay, 25% Pinot Meunier and 15% Pinot Noir with the reserve making up 19% of the blend.

Secondary fermentation in bottle was followed by 34 months ageing on lees before the wine was disgorged in February 2024 and dosed to around 8g/l with 12% alcohol by volume.

This wine is an exemplary iteration of the CLASSIC with that spiced, baked-apple nose, rounded, buttery palate and long, savoury finish that we have come to love.

Tasting Notes

Pale straw in colour, with an intense nose of ripe orchard fruits, spice and citrus peel, surrounded by notes of toasted and buttered patisserie.

Crunchy, bright and fresh on the palate, with apples and citrus above rich patisserie. Dissipating slowly, the long and pleasing finish is savoury and satisfying.

Pairs well with

We drink the CLASSIC as an aperitif and enjoy it with:

• fine, buttery slices of iberico ham
• rich, smoked fish
• oysters
• ROKA cheese crispies