South Downs Blanc de Blancs Chardonnay

My second time trying this wine having opened my case three years ago, and the 2015 BdB from Wiston hasn’t budged an inch. It remains a taut, incredibly youthful and monolithic Chardonnay which will age well for another decade at least. While the nose is a little shy, it has great effervescence and pristine aromas of gooseberries, lemon sherbet, crushed shells and hints of bread. On the palate the wine is very singular and direct; a testament to great English Chardonnay, with massive acidity and flavours of brioche and bitter lemon, and great minerality – perhaps the most I’ve experienced in an English fizz. The finish is, well, endless, and the wine benefits greatly from time in the glass, gaining a bit of fat and broader mouthfeel. Really complex stuff, and a wine I’ll leave for another three years at least before trying again.

First time trying Wiston Estate’s Blanc de Blancs, which Neal Martin described as ‘one of the finest English wines that I have encountered’. It’s hard to disagree, but this wine’s youth is perhaps its only hindrance at the moment - which is of course no bad thing. Very bright and vibrant, with a cloud-like texture on the palate and incredibly high acidity, this is a wine that wants to be left alone for at least four more years.

Impressive stuff - can’t wait to revisit.

93++

Pale gold. Toasty Brioche. More toasty Brioche and Creme brûlée. Creamy delicate mousse like clouds. Ripe apricot and nectarine. Fresh lemon zest. Ripe yellow and white pear. Hints of ginger. Damp white stone. Elevated acidity, medium body, medium plus finish. 12% abv. This is divine at a good price! Disgorged 11/15 - 5+ years on lees. Dosage 8g/L.

Beautiful . 2010 vintage . Champagne ..... long , intense , very citrus . England really stepping up . If you can find any wines from Wiston you won't be disappointed

Super fresh, gentle pear and green apple fruit, touch chalky, elegant mouthfeel with a persistent chalky finish, trés elegant

His stuff is giving Champagne some competition. Very fresh and zesty, high acid.
(Think fresh squeeze of lemon). Delicious. Great apéritif.

Great BdeB, one of the top British Bubblé's

English bubbly. Light lean champagne taste-alike.

Thanks to global warming 👍🏼

K&L notes as follows

We finally got our hands on some of Wiston’s remarkable Blanc de Blancs. This 100% Chardonnay bottling is pressed in their traditional wooden Coquard basket press, fermented and rested in neutral French oak for a year, before aging more than two years on the lees in bottle. Reserve wines range back to 2008, with the 2018 harvest making up most of this iteration. Look for aromas of white flowers, baked apple, crushed quince, pie crust, stony minerals, chalk, saline, and oyster shell notes complete this magical wine. More volume and golden ripe fruit here versus the racier other NV wines. Beautiful stuff! Limited quantity.
Top Value!

Yeasty, lovely fine mousse, delicate yet very good length, terrific English sparkler!!