Weyborne Estate Family Reserve Brut 2018

The aromas are fresh, showing a degree of toasty complexity, while to taste, there’s an attractively textured mousse suffused with intense fruit flavours and nutty autolytic complexity, framed by a fine streak of lively fresh acidity for excellent overall balance, finishing with an incisive bite for elegance and freshness.

Zero dosage, disgorged in 2021 and led by Chardonnay (61%) with 34% Pinot Noir and a dash of Meunier. A light straw colour, the nose is biscuity and supple, with a savoury edge developing after a few years under cork. The fruit blends apple, pear and citrus together. The mousse is creamy and mellow, with more buttery, biscuity notes coming through on the palate. Led by citrus and apple in flavour, there is a bite of acidity but it matches the fruit, giving an almost blanc de blancs style. Light nuttiness lingers on the finish, again likely from bottle age. This is a well made, harmonious and enjoyable English sparkling that should drink very well over the coming 5-8 years.