Highlights: the white and rosé Nyetimber 1086 wines, icon-level English sparkling wines
Nyetimber’s presige cuvées are named 1086, referencing the date of the Nyetimber manor’s inclusion in the Doomsday book. They are selections of the best wines, and are only made in certain vintages.
Nyetimber 1086 2010 Sussex, England
This is a blend of 45% Chardonnay, 44% Pinot Noir, 11% Pinot Meunier from estate-owned vineyards, with greensand soils. (I think this pre-dates Nyetimber’s chalk-soil vineyards.) This particular bottle was bottled on 09.05.2011, riddled on 07.03.2019 and disgorged on 20.01.2020, and the residual sugar is 9.7 g/litre. It has a low pH of 3.01, with a TA of 7.8 g/litre. This information can be accessed on Nyetimber’s website, using a code on the back of the bottle. What’s it like? The nose shows some apple and brioche, with lemon and pear, as well as hints of cherry and almond. The apple/pear notes coupled with the high acidity, and the significant dosage give a sort of sweet and sour character on the palate. This has intense acidity that’s initially quite assertive, but settles down as the other flavours emerge: cherry, lime, toast, honey and some fine spices. It’s really concentrated and full, with subtle oxidative hints as well as bright fruit. Such presence, and even a bit of structure on the finish. 94/100
Nyetimber 1086 Rosé 2013 England
12% alcohol. A blend of 36% Chardonnay and 64% Pinot Noir, with a dosage of 8 g/l rs, and a TA of 8 g/l, pH 3.2. Salmon pink/orange in colour, this has lovely aromatics of cherry, strawberry and lime, with subtle nuts and rhubarb. The palate is very appealing with fruity lemony notes, some glacé cherry, a hint of marmalade, good acidity and a touch of sweetness on the finish. Complex and layered with some nice savoury intensity. 95/100
