This month marks a very special milestone for the vineyard as we disgorge our first ever “Blanc de Blancs” ready for release in November of this year.
Just a few short weeks ago we were able to have a taste as we worked with winemaker Matthieu Elzinga on deciding what the dosage should be for this special release, and were delighted to find that after nearly seven years of waiting after picking in 2019, we had a truly incredible wine waiting for us.
Read on for details of what you can expect from this exceptional wine…
First - what is a Blanc de Blancs?
For those whose French might be a little rusty, Blanc de Blancs literally translates as “White from Whites” and in the context of premium traditional method sparkling wine, including that of Chilworth Manor Vineyard, the white grape being referred to is Chardonnay.
This is in contrast to a ‘Blanc de Noirs’ where entirely red (or black) grapes are used to make a white wine. As the colour compound of a grape is contained within the skin, a gentle press of red grapes followed by a quick removal of the skins from the winemaking process will leave you with clear juice which becomes a white wine. This is also the case for our Classic Cuvées which are also white sparkling wines, but include a blend of white and red grapes. Our sparkling Brut Rosés meanwhile can also contain a blend of red and white grapes, but the red skins are left with the juice for just a few hours to soak up that beautiful pink colour.
Chilworth Manor Vineyard Blanc de Blanc Tasting Notes – first look
When sampling a Blanc de Blanc made from Chardonnay in a cool(ish!) continental climate, you’d be expecting something zesty and flinty, with citrus and green apple at its core, floral top notes, and a creamy, toasty finish shaped by extended lees aging. From our dosage tasting we can confirm that our Blanc de Blanc certainly delivers and we can’t wait for another taste in November!
This is a very special limited release from our 2022 Vintage. Beautifully complex thanks to part of the base wine aged in oak, followed by six years on the lees after the second fermentation. Abundant bready and yeasty brioche characters are immediately apparent on the nose with hints of dried fig and hazelnut.. The palate has a bright, lean and linear texture with a touch of sweetness leading onto a full and harmonious back palate and a fresh lingering finish with a citrus purity.
How does the 2019 Chilworth Blanc de Blancs compare our 2019 Classic Cuvée ‘ The Bishop’
This inaugural Chilworth Blanc de Blancs is the same vintage as our Classic Cuvée ‘The Bishop’ 2019 but the two wines offer two distinct experiences in the glass.
The 100% Chardonnay Blanc de Blancs is a slightly leaner and precise style defined by bright acidity and citrus whereas, thanks to the inclusion of Pinot Noir and Meunier in our Classic Cuvée, 'The Bishop’ is a slightly fuller bodied, rounder wine with layered fruit notes.
Don’t think that the Blanc de Blancs is any less complex though; it has had an extra year ageing on the lees so you’ll notice even more of those delicious brioche notes and it has developed a delicious nuttiness on the finish.
When will pre-order go live?
If these notes have made you thirsty for a glass then we’re sorry but you do have a little wait ahead of you! We never sacrifice on quality so after disgorgement our wine spends a minimum of three months ageing in bottle before release.
This means that we will be releasing this wine at the end of November with pre-order set to go live the week commencing 9th November. Make sure you’re signed up to our newsletter to be at the front of the queue!
