EA | Bright lemon colour. The nose is a little closed for the time being. Spicy and woody layers prevail over ripe orchard fruit. Red apple, grape fruit peel, dried meadow flowers, bonfire and licorice. Broad palaye of vinous volume, the wine comes with concentration and fruity power. The acidity is suitably accentuated on the long palate of ample volume. Opens up nicely in the glass promising longevity.Drink Dates: 2024 - 2032. 92
SF | Fuller in colour than some; a soft gold . The bubbles are less obvious, if not absent. Nose of gunpowder, sake, juniper and quince; then verbena and coleslaw. A fulsom evocative palte, ludic bit not lackign for authority, with flinty grip behind the orchard fruti harm and an imnpressive, youthful peroraton which underlines qulaity and presages a happy evolution. 92
AR | Mid-gold and seemingly quite evolved in colour for a relatively youthful 2019 vintage wine, this is shamelessly rich and decadent in its aromatic power, showing rich butterscotch, farm butter and grilled almonds before you even put lip to glass; it feels as if it's undergone a full malolactic fermentation but you never know; rather the same is true of the flavours which are buoyed by a fine mousse of bubvbles and wehile there's plenty of popcorn and butterscotch going on here, there is also the saving grace of some balancing tangy acidity to break through that richness. It's the kind of champagne that divides opinion because of the level of controilled oxidation, but I wouldn't have a problem drinking a bottle or two, given half the chance.Drink Dates: 2024 - 2030. 93