Some top fizz from Berry Bros & Rudd, UK and Champagne
Here are some impressive sparkling wines from UK merchant Berry Bros & Rudd, including three from one of the UK’s leading wineries, Hambledon, who are now owned by BBR in conjunction with Symington Family Estates.
Hambledon Première Cuvée NV Hampshire, England
12% alcohol
£55.00 Berry Bros & Rudd
Complex nose: full and appley with some citrus notes. The palate is bold and intense with lovely lemony acidity. Good depth of flavour with a touch of orange peel and nice weight. 92/100
Hambledon Première Cuvée Rosé NV Hampshire, England
12% alcohol
£75.00 Berry Bros & Rudd
Winemaker Felix Gabillet based this on Pinot Meunier, making it with the saignée method. 2016 base and solera-aged reserve wine. Lovely intensity here with cherry and aniseed, as well as a hint of strawberry. Lively lemony fruit with nice detail, showing some rosehip and lime. 92/100
Hambledon Blanc de Blancs Brut NV Hampshire, England
12% alcohol
£43 Berry Bros & Rudd
95% from 2018, with a 4 g/l dosage. Fine, saline and mineral with a lovely brightness and purity. Great concentration here with good texture to the fresh lemony fruit, and a stony minerality. 95/100
Champagne Matthieu Godmé-Guillaume VVV 1er Cru Extra Brut NV France
12% alcohol
£40 Berry Bros & Rudd
From Verzenay, Verzy and Villers-Marmery. Based on 2021 with 45% reserve wines, vinified in oak. Complex, lemony and stony. Bright citrus with nice focus. Transparent and expressive. 92/100
Champagne Leclerc Briant Abysss Brut Zero 2018 France
12% alcohol
£160.00 Berry Bros & Rudd
The first vintage of Leclerc Briant’s Abyss was in 2012. It is stored 60 metres under the sea off the coast of Brittany for up to a year. Leclerc Briant considers this the ideal environment for the maturation of Champagne. Prior to submersion, the base wine was aged for 10 months in second-fill oak barriques from some top estates in Bordeaux. Nice weight here: this is lemony and bright woith some pear notes and subtle toasty depth, finishing bright and fruity. This is really refined. 93/100
Champagne Savart Éphémère 019 Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru NV France
12.5% alcohol
£61 Berry Bros & Rudd
Chardonnay from Grand Cru Villages. Bright, intense, pure and fine showing tightwound lemon and pear fruit with good acidity. Fresh and focused with a slight salty edge. Nice intensity and focus. 94/100
Champagne Savart Bulle de Rosé 1er Cru Brut NV France
12.5% alcohol
£76 Berry Bros & Rudd
70% Pinot Noir, 22% Chardonnay, 8% Pinot Noir red wine. Layered citrus fruit with some pear and peach notes. Has good acidity and a tapered finish, as well as some saline hints. Nice complexity and focus. 94/100
Champagne Marguet Shaman 20 Grand Cru Brut Nature NV France
12.5% alcohol
£47 Berry Bros & Rudd
81% Pinot Noir and 19% Chardonnay, from Bouzy and Ambonnay Grand Cru. Complex with citrus and apple fruit, as well as hints of nuts and spice, and some marzipan. Nice intensity here with a slightly saline finish. 93/100
Champagne Marguet Shaman 20 Grand Cru Brut Nature NV France
12.5% alcohol
£47 Berry Bros & Rudd
75% Chardonnay and 25% Pinot Noir. Cherry, citrus and almond and some fine limey notes. Dry with nice intensity and good balance. 93/100
