Nyetimber Classic Cuvée Brut

Classic Cuvee has, until 2010, been a Vintage cuvée based on a single vintage but for the first time ever Nyetimber launched their Classic Cuvee 'Multi-Vintage' in 2006. Normally, sparkling wines that are not from a single vintage are referred to as Non Vintage but Nyetimber chose the term Multi-Vintage as it better describes what Classic Cuvee consists of. A multi-vintage Cuvee Classic makes it possible to give the wine a more consistent style year after year, as well as to add layers of complexity by using 'Reserve' wines. Reserve wines are base wines from previous vintages that are stored and aged longer for use in future blends. These wines are selected for Reserve wines based on their ageing potential and their ability to deliver complexity and interesting flavours. Nyetimber has mostly Chardonnay in their Reserve cellar, but also some Pinot Noir. Pinot Meunier does not have the same ageing ability but gives nice depth and complexity to Classic Cuvee, so the grapes are always blended with the cuvee from the harvest year it is made. There will typically be 4-5 vintages in Classic Cuvee - 65-75% will always be from the harvest year the cuvee is made. The first Multi-Vintage is based on the 2011 vintage, but includes Reserve wines from 2010, 2009, 2008 and 2007. Nyetimber Classic Cuvee typically spends a minimum of 3 years 'sur lies' (on the lees), but the exact bottling and disgorging dates for each bottle, as well as the blend, will always be available at nyetimber.com/wineinfo. This is Nyetimber's "business card", the sparkling wine that has made the winery famous in England and sought after in many countries around the world. Classic Cuvee with a lovely light golden colour and fine small soft bubbles. The aroma reveals apple and lime with complex toasted and spicy notes - an evolution that testifies to the prolonged ageing in the cellar (usually more than three years). These notes are echoed in the flavour along with aromas of honey, almond, brioche and baked apple. Very fine and elegant with a great combination of intensity, delicacy and length.