WINE REVIEW
Whilst New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc has become one of the nation’s favourite wines, there are just a handful of English growers that are cultivating the grape domestically. Fewer still use those grapes to make a wine from 100% Sauvignon Blanc. Greyfriars not only do this, but they also make (what is believed to be) the only English Sparkling Sauvignon Blanc.
This year saw the release of Greyfriars first Non Vintage Sparkling Fumé, which is a blend of Sauvignon from the 2013 and 2014 harvest. The wine was fermented in old oak barrels, aged for 12 months in the bottle before disgorging in April this year. Curiously, the wine has been given zero dosage.
The Fumé is remarkably light in colour, with tiny fine streams of bubbles – it is certainly a lively wine!
On the nose, it’s clear that this wine is very different to the norm; aromas of gooseberry, green grass with light citrus zest and hints of flower and hedgerow.
On the palate, the wine is bone dry – but acidity is not too bracing however allowing the wine to retain a fairly light and ‘aperitif style’ profile.
Unusually clean thanks to all those green notes; lime, gooseberry and grass with a slight vegetal quality.
