Harrow & Hope Blanc de Noirs 2015

What a wine this is! if you wanted a textbook example of why 100% red grape sparkling wine is so exciting in England right now, this is it, and then some! It’s a blend of 70% Pinot Noir with 30% Pinot Meunier, and is one of the most impressive sparkling wines I’ve tasted recently.

The nose is big and complex, with top notes of vanilla pod, toasted oak, dried redcurrant and toasted nuts, plus hints of savoury and vanilla fudge. There is so much going on, and not enough words to describe it.

The palate follows up on the promise of the nose too: classic crisp bite, cranberry, leading to soft waves of toasted nuts, crispy pastry, creamy textures and those signature red berry characters you get from a Pinot-based sparkling wine. It’s all so texturally and structurally perfect, and also one of the best priced Blanc de Noirs on the market right now.