Highlights: Rathfinny Blanc de Blancs Brut 2017 Sussex, England

Rathfinny are a significant new-ish entry into the English sparkling wine scene, with their vines first going into the ground in 2012. They have just over 90 hectares of vineyards, and two-thirds are now producing. From eight different clones of Chardonnay, this is the fourth release of the Blanc de Blancs (first tiny vintage was 2014) and it’s spot on. (For a review of the entire range plus some history, see this report from last year.)

Rathfinny Blanc de Blancs Brut 2017 Sussex, England
12% alcohol. 36 months on lees, disgorged February 2021. This is a really precise, tight Chardonnay with linear citrus fruit, high but well integrated acidity and some richer notes of apple and nectarine – and just a touch of some herbs. It is all about the fruit at the moment: there’s a tiny bit of bready autolytic character hanging in the background, and it finishes with lovely crystalline citrus fruit. 93/100 (£42 Harrods)

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