WINE REVIEW
Based predominantly around the powerful Burgundian 777 Pinot Noir Clone, like the ‘Paragon’ this wine was made with no fining or Malolactic Fermentation, and with a minimal intervention approach. A tiny proportion of oak (3%) was used for complexity, and the wine also spent 26 months on lees before being disgorged in July 2023.
What a contrast to the ‘Paragon’! The red fruit on this wine is immediately noticeable with its nose of cranberry, and cherry as well as fragrant red apple and stone fruit richness. This feels even more fruit-forward than the ‘Paragon’, and it embraces and amplifies the qualities I have come to expect from a Hampshire Blanc de Noirs.
On the palate the fruit is even more expressive, but in a clean and fragrant way, rather than being a huge fruit bomb. It’s all English red berries, with cherry, raspberry and tangy cranberry and redcurrant notes. There are some floral hints in there too, as well as a more rounded red apple character, and just a hint of autolytic pastry – perhaps more strawberry shortbread than biscuit.
This is another hugely successful wine, and whilst perhaps not as ‘stand-out’ as the frankly remarkable ‘Paragon’, I think this will develop considerably with a few more years in bottle.
