Taste the Difference Lightly Sparkling Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2011
£11.99
100% Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough. The grapes are sourced from across the Wairau and Awatere Valleys. The wine is fermented and stored in temperature regulated stainless steel tanks to preserve the fresh aromas and character of the Sauvignon Blanc. The wine is aerated with CO2 at the point of bottling to 2.5 bar pressure to provide a spritz in the glass and on the tongue. The wine is fined with casein. Residual sugar: 10g/l. Winemaker: Stu Marfell at Vavasour - a pioneer of plantings in the Awatere Valley and a renowned producer of high quality wines.
New vintage, available mid May, 456 stores, exclusive, zork closure 12.5%
Not a great aroma. Well, it's my first sparkling sauvignon. I don't mind it. It reminds me of sauvignon. Rid your mind of anything remotely related to champagne and it's quite pleasant.
Taste the Difference English Sparkling Brut 2007 £19.99
34% Chardonnay, 33% Pinot Noir, 33% Pinot Meunier. The hand-harvested grapes for this wine are grown on Denbies Wine Estate on the hillsides of the North Downs in Dorking, 40km south-west of London. The vineyard lies 120-150m above sea level and boasts a soil structure that is geologically similar to that of the Champagne region, with a rich topsoil of loam and flint supported by a calcium-rich subsoil. The south-facing slopes enjoy maximum sunlight in the growing season. The vineyards are not irrigated and are low yielding (around 15hl/ha). The individual varieties were separately fermented in October 2007 and bottled in July 2008 after assemblage. 15% barrel-aged reserve Chardonnay makes up part of the blend. After 0.45 micron filtration, tannin, sugar, bentonite and yeast is added for the secondary fermentation. Disgorging began in September 2011 with 8g of sugar added in the dosage. Winemaker: John Worontschak at Denbies Wine Estate - England’s largest vineyard and one of the largest privately owned in Northern Europe. The current owners acquired the estate in 1985. The estate now comprises 627 acres, with 265 acres under vine.
Available now, 185 stores, exclusive, cork 11.5%
Nice biscuity nose. Hollow and short palate.
Sainsbury’s Blanc de Blancs Champagne NV £22.49
100% Chardonnay, a blend of 10-12 crus sourced from the Côtes des Blancs, the Région de Sézanne and the Région d’Epernay. This Champagne is made with a traditional ‘Champenois’ vertical pressing and only the first pressing is retained. Alcoholic fermentation occurs in stainless steel vats under temperature control between 16 and 20°C followed by a secondary, malolactic fermentation. The wine is aged on yeast lees for a minimum of 15 months deep in cellars where the temperature remains around 11°C. Residual sugar: 10g/l. Winemaker: Sandrine Logette-Jardin at Duval Leroy.
Available now, 575 stores, exclusive, cork 12.0%
Lovely full nose. Full-flavoured and not too dry on the finish. Pretty good.
Sainsbury’s Blanc de Noirs Champagne NV £20.99
60% Pinot Meunier, 40% Pinot Noir. Picking is done entirely by hand, with grapes being put into individual open crates. In most cases the grapes are taken to press houses no further than a few miles from the vineyards. Harvesting takes place traditionally from mid to end September, when the natural sugar levels and acidity are at their best. 30% reserve wines are used. Fermentation takes place in stainless steel vats at a controlled temperature of around 17°C. The wine is aged in underground cellars for 30 months. Residual sugar: 10-12g/l. Winemaker: Jérôme Bouby at SCA des Producteurs des Grands Terroirs de la Champagne.
Available now, 575 stores, exclusive, cork 12.0%
Just a touch of colour. Lovely rich, biscuity nose. Full, long and tasty. Very good.