Anyone with experience with the new, highly touted British sparkling wines? Curious to hear people’s thoughts…
Edit: changed thread to reflect all areas of England, not just Cornwall…
I’ve only had one English wine, a 2006 Gusbourne BdB (from Kent, I believe), which was quite nice, at least the equal of better US sparkling wines.
I’ve had Kentish Sparkling, not Cornish. It’s quite tasty, though a little expensive. (Specifically Chapel Down BdB 2010).
I had one the last time I was in London. I didnt like it, but I would give the region a few more shots before writing it off.
I think I’ve had three UK sparkling wines, from Gusbourne and Wiston Estate. Like two of the three enough that I’d like to find more of them.
-Al
I pasted in my brief notes for a wine from our tasting groups annual holiday sparkling blind tasting. The wine was my WOTN, from a modest line up.
tuna casserole nose, saline, soft, rich aromatics, mouth is full entry, then linear mineral finish. Quite lovely, layered but still mineral and fresh. Hambledon Kent bubbles (70% Chardonnay 20% Pinot Meunier, 10% Pinot Noir)
Tuna casserole nose?
The two I’ve had were bought in London on a bit of a lark and they way overdelivered based on my expectations. I don’t even remember the producers and we were on vacation, so no notes.
I picked up a few bottles of the Sussex based 2009 Nyetimber Classic Cuvée for under $40 while in London last year and was impressed.
For me, it was noticeably better than the grand marque entry level cuvees and on par with the better grower champs I’ve had at that price point.
I’ve only had Nytimber, and it was number of years ago so I don’t remember the vintage, but it was quite nice. It didn’t make me forget Champagne, but it was certainly in the game.
I know I don’t give sparklers from elsewhere much of a chance; fair or not I definitely give Champagne more credence, at least when it comes time to buy.
Just picked up a few Camel Valley from Cornwall from Garagiste. Was easy enough to order and it is a bit of a pain to get Nyetimber or others, even in DC. Will break open a bottle shortly.
I opened one of the Garagiste sourced Camel Valley sparklers recently. I liked it better than most inexpensive California sparklers. Dry, with citrus, apple, and a bit of toast. Didn’t match an entry level real Champagne opened the same night, but exhibited family resemblance in every way.
P Hickner
The problem is the price…
As in the story:
Wine store clerk: “Would you like some British champagne?”
Customer: “No thank you”
Clerk: “It’s £50 a bottle”
Cust: “Oh, then I’ll have some”
Yes, quite a bit of experience - as a Brit wine journalist who has been following the scene. Some really exciting wines from the best terroirs - top names - Nyetimber, Hambledon, Gusbourne, Hattingley Valley, Wiston, Hofmann & Rathbone, Coates & Sealy, Camel Valley, Hush Heath among others
Here’s an article I wrote for Wine & Spirits on this -http://www.wineandspiritsmagazine.com/news/entry/english-fizz
have drunk several bottles of Nyetimber, always satisfying and frequently impressive.
Thanks for the link to your article, Jamie; I had no idea that plans for English sparkling wine were so ambitious.
Thanks, Jamie!
I enjoyed your article a little while back in print. I would like to try some English Sparklers, but my area will probably not see any for some time. Additionally, if folks are mentioning price now, I am more than likely screwed. 
I’ve tried several, most if not all purchased through Garagiste, which seems to come back to the region a couple of times a year.
The Ridgeview Knightsbridge (a blanc de noirs) was my favorite by a substantial margin. It was about $40, back in 2012, and I found it competitive with Champagne at a similar or even slightly higher price point. The Grosvenor (blanc de blancs from Ridgeview) was also enjoyable although not as much to my taste, and the Fitzrovia (a rose that runs about $30) is also enjoyable. I’ve also had the Camel Valley, referred to upthread, which I didn’t like as well as the Ridgeview wines – I found it a bit overly tart, and one bottle somewhat skunky – but it was still more akin to Champagne than most of the other non-French sparklers I’ve tried.
Overall, the experiences have been encouraging, although unfortunately the first is still the best.
– Matt
diverting a bit from the OP, but still influenced by English fizz:
one of my more memorable California sparklers comes from the Wrotham Clone of Pinot Noir. It was suitcase cloned from England by Dick Peterson and he in turn created Richard Grant Blanc de Noir. Fun stuff