Wiston Blanc de Noir 2014

Following in the footsteps of one of my all-time favourite English sparkling wines, Dermot Sugrue and Wiston Estate have delivered one of the wines of the year with this extravagant ‘Blanc de Noir’ 2014. It’s made from a blend of 66% Pinot Noir and 34% Pinot Meunier that was fermented in five and six-year-old Burgundy barrels before ageing on lees for four and a half years.

On pouring, the golden tone of this wine radiates out of the glass with aromas of peach, sweet red apple, orange skin and crisp almond pastry, as well as the fragrance of that beautiful Burgundian oak.

The first word that comes to my mind when sipping is ‘luxurious’. Whilst the brisk, lively acidity that Dermot’s wines are famed for is ever-present, the sheer breadth and expansiveness of the palate is a joy to behold.