WINE REVIEW
Abingworth is a brand-new vineyard that have launched their first wines this year, having been planted in 2022. The vineyard is a family operation, based on the historic Champions Farm in West Sussex, which dates back to 1296.
To A Skylark is made from Caberet Noir, an increasingly popular PIWI variety on English soils. The disease-resistant nature of Cabaret Noir makes it ideal in our unreliable climate, and allowed a crop of healthy, clean fruit to be harvested in the difficult year of 2024. The resulting wine was aged in barrel for eight months.
This is medium to light bodied compared to some Caberet Noir that I’ve had, but it’s incredibly supple and rounded. The wine has a ripe cherry, blackberry and slightly plummy warmth, with soft tannin and hints of savoury and spice. Overall, this is a really smooth and pretty expression.
The quality of this wine really demonstrates why PIWI varieties such as Caberet Noir are incredibly relevant.
