13/12/2015 – Three Sparkling Wines for Christmas

(2015) A blend of the classic Champagne grapes Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier this trophy-winning wine is excellent, opening with fine bubbles and a fresh aroma with some brioche and pastry notes, but a keen limey fruit and touch of bruised apple. In the mouth it has truly elegant balance, good acidity without any sharpness and a long finish with that touch of creaminess fattening the texture in the mouth. Exemplary wine, and less that £27 on some pre-Christmas deals in 1995, though more regularly between £28 and £33.

(2015) Ex-Formula 1 race engineer Lawrence Warr's estate was planted in 2007, again with classic Champagne varieties, this vintage dominated by 70% Chardonnay and having spent 46 months on the lees. There's a more developed, slightly more oxidative character to this, with those truffle and bruised fruit notes that are so authentic and so attractive, then a creamy and sweeter-feeling palate that is delicious sippable - indeed gulpable - before a long and charmingly fresh finish. Another beauty from the 2010 vintage.

(2015) Again, a blend of the three classic Champagne grapes, from Denbies 'Yew Tree' vineyard at the highest point of the estate, cellared for four years before release. It has a pale colour and fine bubbles, a touch of biscuit on the nose to ripe orchard fruits and citrus. Less layered than the others aromatically, it is nevertheless delicious to drink, again with a sweet mid-palate fruitiness but perfectly balanced acidity, the gentle mousse persisting through the finish.