Wiston Estate Winery
South Downs Blanc de Blancs Chardonnay
England
My second time trying this wine having opened my case three years ago, and the 2015 BdB from Wiston hasn’t budged an inch. It remains a taut, incredibly youthful and monolithic Chardonnay which will age well for another decade at least. While the nose is a little shy, it has great effervescence and pristine aromas of gooseberries, lemon sherbet, crushed shells and hints of bread. On the palate the wine is very singular and direct; a testament to great English Chardonnay, with massive acidity and flavours of brioche and bitter lemon, and great minerality – perhaps the most I’ve experienced in an English fizz. The finish is, well, endless, and the wine benefits greatly from time in the glass, gaining a bit of fat and broader mouthfeel. Really complex stuff, and a wine I’ll leave for another three years at least before trying again.
My second time trying this wine having opened my case three years ago, and the 2015 BdB from Wiston hasn’t budged an inch. It remains a taut, incredibly youthful and monolithic Chardonnay which will age well for another decade at least. While the nose is a little shy, it has great effervescence and pristine aromas of gooseberries, lemon sherbet, crushed shells and hints of bread. On the palate the wine is very singular and direct; a testament to great English Chardonnay, with massive acidity and flavours of brioche and bitter lemon, and great minerality – perhaps the most I’ve experienced in an English fizz. The finish is, well, endless, and the wine benefits greatly from time in the glass, gaining a bit of fat and broader mouthfeel. Really complex stuff, and a wine I’ll leave for another three years at least before trying again.
Jul 28th, 2024First time trying Wiston Estate’s Blanc de Blancs, which Neal Martin described as ‘one of the finest English wines that I have encountered’. It’s hard to disagree, but this wine’s youth is perhaps its only hindrance at the moment - which is of course no bad thing. Very bright and vibrant, with a cloud-like texture on the palate and incredibly high acidity, this is a wine that wants to be left alone for at least four more years.
Impressive stuff - can’t wait to revisit.
93++
First time trying Wiston Estate’s Blanc de Blancs, which Neal Martin described as ‘one of the finest English wines that I have encountered’. It’s hard to disagree, but this wine’s youth is perhaps its only hindrance at the moment - which is of course no bad thing. Very bright and vibrant, with a cloud-like texture on the palate and incredibly high acidity, this is a wine that wants to be left alone for at least four more years.
Impressive stuff - can’t wait to revisit.
93++
Yeasty, lovely fine mousse, delicate yet very good length, terrific English sparkler!!
Yeasty, lovely fine mousse, delicate yet very good length, terrific English sparkler!!
Jul 4th, 2021
Bright yellow, very fine mousse that fills the mouth beautifully. A little sharper than I remembered last time, from a dominant citrus profile led by lemon throughout with a twist of grapefruit. Fairly persistent with acidity leading. I suspect I’ll enjoy more with a bit more age.
Bright yellow, very fine mousse that fills the mouth beautifully. A little sharper than I remembered last time, from a dominant citrus profile led by lemon throughout with a twist of grapefruit. Fairly persistent with acidity leading. I suspect I’ll enjoy more with a bit more age.
May 23rd, 2021
Happy New Year!
English Bubbles
Great now, happy to be laid down for a while. Great fruit, beautiful chalky soil. Huge cork, attempts by three guys to dislodge cork.
Happy New Year!
English Bubbles
Great now, happy to be laid down for a while. Great fruit, beautiful chalky soil. Huge cork, attempts by three guys to dislodge cork.