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Nathan Lane
Wine Correspondent
2:00 AM 28th May 2022
lifestyle

It's Jubilee Weekend Next Week Let's Raise A Glass Of Fizz

 
Our wine correspondent, Nathan Lane, has been busy looking for three great options for a glass of fizz to celebrate over Jubilee weekend.

Berry Bros. & Rudd Blanc de Blancs Champagne by Le Mesnil, Grand Cru, Brut

As we look forward to the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations, it is timely to look at a few bottles of fizz. I have no doubt that corks will be popping at garden and street parties up and down the country.

If you like classic champagne, you need to look no further than Berry Bros & Rudd's own label Blanc de Blancs. The historic wine and spirit merchant, which aptly has a Royal Warrant, does most things exceptionally well.

The Chardonnay for its Blanc de Blancs comes entirely from Grand Cru vineyards in the Le Mesnil-sur-Oger area, which is known for having the best terroir in Champagne. Prior to release, the wine is matured in bottle for at least three years, giving it more richness and complexity. Seamless streams of bubbles carry aromas of white flowers, stone fruit, and toast as they build to a rewarding mineral finish.

Le Mesnil, based in Le Mesnil-sur-Oger in the heart of Champagne, is a cooperative that dates back to 1937. Much of their work as a group of grape growers is done behind the scenes, supplying wine to well-known Champagne houses.

It’s a bottle of classic champagne that offers fantastic value. It is well balanced with lots of fruit and a creamy feel on the palate.

Available at Berry Bros & Rudd for £34 a bottle.


Cloudy Bay Pelorus Brut N.V.

Perhaps New Zealand’s most famous white wine is Cloudy Bay. The Sauvignon Blanc has won an army of fans for its crisp mineral finish with bags of citrus and tropical fruit.

The vineyard also makes a sparkling wine, and the Pelorus Brut N.V offers the same winemaking expertise you would expect.

The straw-coloured wine has a steady stream of small bubbles in the glass. It is a rich toast feel in the mouth with a mix of citrus and grass on the nose.

It has good acidity, but it’s not too sharp and has a balanced finish. There are lots of green apples and peaches on offer, and it’s a great alternative to champagne and will win those who don’t usually like sparkling wines.

Pelorus is a chardonnay-based mix with a small amount of Pinot Noir. It's fermented in oak barrels and matured for two years on the lees.

You can drink it on its own, or it will pair well with seafood and salads. Perfect for a summer’s day.

Cloudy Bay Pelorus Brut N.V. is available at a range of online retailers and wine merchants from £26 a bottle.



Vasse Felix Idée Fixe Premier Brut

We stay in the southern hemisphere for this sparkling wine from the highly-rated wine region of Margaret River in Australia.

Vasse Felix Idée Fixe Premier Brut uses Chardonnay grapes to create a lively wine that packs a citrus punch. There is lots of fruit on offer with apples and lime but also a buttery toasted finish. Again, it is a fantastic alternative to champagne and offers a glass of fizz packed with fruit that sets your tastebuds firing.

It is a vegan-friendly Blanc de Blancs made with 100% Chardonnay cultivated in Karridale and the famed Champagne 'Méthode Traditionnelle.' The proximity to the coast leads to cool winds blowing over the vineyards, and it gives the wine a pleasantly salty, mineral finish.

The Vasse Felix winery is Margaret River's original wine estate, established in 1967 by Dr Tom Cullity. The area has a distinct environment and climate, making for unique wines. It focuses on Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay, as well as Shiraz and Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon blends. Its four Margaret River vineyards produce these wines, which are vinified and bottled at its own winery.

Vasse Felix Idée Fixe Premier Brut is available online for £36 a bottle.


Our wine enthusiast Nathan lives in Leeds and runs PR and marketing company Campfire PR
https://campfirepr.com/