Roebuck Estates Classic Cuvee Sparkling 2016

Roebuck Estates Classic Cuvee, West Sussex, England, 2016

Grapes: Blend of 50% Chardonnay, 37% Pinot Noir and 13% Pinot Meunier, hand-picked, disgorged January 2022

The vineyards that make up Roebuck Estates are located in the South of England throughout the beautiful county of Sussex. Our oldest vines were planted in 2006 at our home vineyard located close to the village of Tillington to the West of Petworth.

The fruit destined for our Classic Cuvee was harvested by hand at our Roebuck and Roman Villa vineyards and whole-bunch pressed. Partial fermentation in the finest Burgundian oak barrels, followed by long lees ageing for a minimum of 36 months gives additional texture, complexity and opulence to this wine.

A rich, yet refined English sparkling wine with opulence, texture and finesse. Attractive pale lemon in colour. Delightful notes of citrus fruit and baked apples are layered with a biscuity richness and delicious hint of hazelnut leading to a long, beautifully balanced finish. This wine is drinking well now but will undoubtedly continue to improve with additional bottle age.

“Orange blossom, creamy lemon, bruised apple and a hint of candied cherry.” 

Silver Medal, Sylvia Wu, DECANTER.COM 2022

"Golden straw. Really quite a lot of pleasing evolution on the nose. Masses of acidity on the palate (as there always is in the first English wine tasted). Hint of oak influence (a little grip on the inside of the cheeks) and increasing mellowness on the palate as it sits in the glass. Good-quality mousse. But a bone-dry finish so not exactly a flattering wine. Hints of Bollinger?"

17/20 points, Jancis Robinson, JANCISROBINSON.COM, November 2022