Description

ABOUT THE PRODUCER:
In 2008, two old friends, Nicholas Coates and Christian Seely, embarked on a quest. They had between them successful careers in finance and winemaking, an unshakeable belief, and a burning desire to make, one day, a sparkling wine to rival the best in the world. Their adventure drew them to the ancient chalk downlands of Hampshire, in Southern England, to a secluded valley nestling quietly in the hills, where the chalk soils and south-facing slopes presented the perfect terroir. They planted vines and began their craft. A decade later, their award-winning sparkling wines are listed in royal palaces, Michelin-starred restaurants and iconic houses around the world. Former winners of Best Overall Wine, Best Sparkling Wine, Best Blanc de Blancs and Best Sparkling Rosé at the UK Wine Awards.

ABOUT THE VINEYARD:
A mile to the south of the Hampshire vineyards, the clear chalk stream of the River Test flows along the valley floor. Three miles to the north lies the high chalk ridge of Watership Down, one of the highest points in Hampshire, which iron-age man first used as a vantage point. Nestled among wooded hillsides, at an altitude of 50 to 100 metres, the Coates & Seely vineyards lie on either side of a secluded V-shaped valley. The chalk soils and clay caps disgorge rugged flints which help retain the heat of the sun, warming the topsoil, while in the late summer and early autumn the enclosed valley helps trap the last of the season’s heat to ripen the grapes. The vineyard is cultivated without the use of pesticides, herbicides and with limited use of fungicides. The vines are hand-harvested when the grapes have reached optimum maturity and show the perfect balance of crisp acidity, sweet fruit, and bright saline minerality.

THE WINEMAKING PROCESS:
The wine was carefully crafted to reflect the terroir, the values and the families of Coates & Seely. Rigorous fruit selection took place, followed by state-of-the-art vinification in stainless steel tanks and concrete fermentation eggs. The secondary fermentation took place in the bottle as per the Méthode Traditionelle. The NV wines make extensive use of reserve wines from previous years and are lees-aged for between 24 and 36 months, imparting depth and complexity.

OUR TASTING NOTES:
Delicate pale pink, with wild raspberry, crisp orchard fruits and floral aromas leading to a full-bodied, pillowy and precise palate with an elegant core of fruit, bright freshness and a chalky finish.

GRAPE VARIETY:
Pinot Noir 80%, Pinot Meunier 20%.