Nyetimber - Tillington Single Vineyard, 2013
Nyetimber is today synonymous with top-quality English sparkling wine. The estate was founded in 1988 by US venture capitalists Stuart and Sandy Moss. They started with one vineyard in Sussex South Downs. Today, Nyetimber owns 7 vineyards (5 in Sussex, 2 in Hampshire) covering a total of 150 hectares. A curious note: the producer’s name apparently comes from a reference from the Doomsday Book, in which the Nyetimber estate (Nitimbreha) was first mentioned.
Nyetimber was the first winery in the UK to produce sparkling wines which looked at Champagne as a model. An ambitious project that has proved successful. Nyetimber wines are today universally acclaimed. On several occasions, Nyetimber sparklings have outranked Champagne wines in blind tasting competitions.
The wine is a pale lemon hue in the glass, with a dynamic fine perlage. On the nose, it immediately reveals its refinement and focus. Crunchy ripe apple and pear notes, along with white strawberry, mix with a delicate bread crust and yeasty accent. Lemon zest, nectarine skin, and a touch of white flowers add more delicacy. All these flavours are coated by a gentle smokiness.
On the palate, this sparkling is medium in body, sporting a high and linear high acidity. The aromas are simultaneously defined and pronounced. Ripe apples, grapefruit zest, white flowers, a touch of bready and lees undertones with some reminiscences of wild herbs. A very elegant sparkling, with an optimal balance and a good underlying minerality. A muscular push firmly pervades the mid-palate, harmoniously leading to a poised long finish. This is a sparkling wine that can age.