Hambledon Première Cuvée

£45.00 per bottle

TASTING NOTE
Confit lemon, orange blossom and white lily exude on the
nose, nestling amongst ripe apricot, white peach and baked
red apple. The palate intensifies, evolving into tarte Tatin,
almond croissant and a dusting of crumble, yet maintaining a
precise structure, creamy texture and mouth-watering acidity.
The finish develops a mineral, chalky quality, nodding to our
Hampshire terroir, and the svelte mousse remains persistent
and elegant. Incredibly complex
and immensely enjoyable.

ASSEMBLAGE
BLEND: 73% Chardonnay, 24% Pinot Noir and 3% Pinot
Meunier, mostly from the 2015 harvest, with barrel-aged
reserve wines from 2010.

DOSAGE: 2g/l

17/20 – “Mid straw colour with admirable depth of flavour and some obvious evolution already but still very zesty and refreshing. Complex and satisfying.”
Jancis Robinson - June 25th 2019

Ian Kellett acquired Hambledon Vineyard in 1999. As a passionate wine lover, Ian was intrigued by the winemaking heritage of the property. After analysing the commercial potential for English wine, he began studying oenology at Plumpton College in Sussex with a view to restoring Hambledon to its former glory.

Research convinced him that sparkling wines were the future and in 2005 Ian planted a 10-acre ‘test bed’ of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier to see which of the 27 different combinations of vine clones and rootstocks gave the best results. Hambledon Vineyard now comprises over 200 acres of vineyards and the only gravity-fed, state-of-the-art winery in the UK. Work has begun on extending the cellars and wine storage to ensure that all the wine produced can be aged successfully on site. A tasting room and visitor centre is also planned on top the cellar to be completed for Early 2020.

The chalk on which the vines grow was formed on the seabed of the Paris basin some 65 million years ago. It is part of the Newhaven Chalk formation that developed between the Santonian and Campanian eras of the Upper Cretaceous period. The same chalk, with the same Belemnite content, is found in the best Chardonnay areas of the Côtes des Blancs in Champagne and is thought to be a key factor in the quality of the wines.

In 2011 one of the other final pieces of the jigsaw slotted into place with the appointment of Hervé Jestin, formerly one of Champagne’s leading chefs de cave. A renowned expert in minimal-intervention winemaking, Hervé directs all winemaking at the Estate.

Today, the House produces three cuvées, all of which are currently Chardonnay-led, non-vintage blends, capitalising on the quality of the chalky terroir of the South Downs and its ability to produce top quality wines.