Prosecco DOC Zardetto NV £11.99
Marks & Spencer
Winemaker and winery: Fabio Zardetto, Zardetto Spumanti
Grape variety: 100% Glera
Region: Veneto
Viticulture/Vinification: Grapes are harvested by hand and then gently pressed so that only the free run juice is extracted. The must is then fermented in stainless steel tanks for about 15/20 days. Specially selected yeasts and sugars are then added to start the sparkling process.
Availability: 360 stores

Light on the nose. Bitter flavour and typically short.
11.5% vol.

Single Estate Chardonnay Cava 2009 £12.99
Marks & Spencer
Winemaker and winery: Gabriel Suberviola, San Cugat
Grape variety: 100% Chardonnay
Region: San Sadurni D‟Anoia, Barcelona
Viticulture/Vinification: Grapes are harvested early in the morning to retain freshness. Once at the winery they are cold macerated for 12 hours before crushing. Secondary fermentation is started using indigenous yeast strains that are specific to the vineyard. Ageing on lees for a minimum of 9 months before disgorgement.
Availability: 186 stores
Base: 2009 Disgorgement Date: Dec 2011 Dosage: 9 g/l

Big bubbles and quite deep colour. Little on the nose. Bitter taste.  Quite long. Bone dry. Not terribly lovely.
12.0% vol.

Mount Bluff Sauvignon Blanc Brut NV £10.99
Marks & Spencer
Winemaker and winery: Jane De Witt, Mount Bluff
Grape varieties: 86% Sauvignon Blanc, 13% Chardonnay, 1% Pinot Noir
Region: Marlborough
Viticulture/Vinification: Juice is fermented slowly at cool temperatures to retain the distinctive regional and varietal flavours. For the cuvee component – Chardonnay undergoes secondary fermentation in bottle and spends up to 12 months on yeast lees before being transferred and blended with the Sauvignon Blanc. The wine is carbonated in line on bottling.
Availability: 400 stores

Light, fruity, lemony nose. Tart, dry and simple.
12.0% vol.

Sparkling English Brut NV £20
Marks & Spencer
Winemaker and winery: Andrew Parley, Chapel Down
Grape varieties: 42% Pinot Noir, 17% Pinot Meunier, 16% Chardonnay, 15% Reichensteiner,
10% Muller Thurgau
Region: Kent, Sussex & Essex
Viticulture/Vinification: A non-vintage wine made from grapes harvested from vineyards in Kent, Essex and Sussex. Juice is fermented in stainless steel vats between 14 -18ºC using yeast strains isolated in Champagne, then racked, cold stabilised, sterile filtered, tirage bottled and aged on lees for 18 months in the bottle before disgorging. The wine does not spend any time in oak.
Base: 2009 Disgorgement Date: January 2012 Dosage: 9 g/l
Availability: 207 stores

Pretty deep colour. Nice aroma, with a hint of biscuit. Nice amount of body. Pleasant.
12.0% vol.

English Sparkling Rosé NV £22
Marks & Spencer
Winemaker and winery: Andrew Parley, Chapel Down
Grape varieties: 44.5% Pinot Noir, 16.5% Pinot Meunier, 15% Chardonnay, 14.5%
Reichensteiner, 9.5% Muller Thurgau
Region: Kent, Sussex & Essex
Viticulture/Vinification: Juice is fermented in stainless steel vats between 14 -18ºC using yeast strains isolated in Champagne, then racked, cold stabilised, sterile filtered, tirage bottled and aged on lees for 18 months in the bottle before disgorging. The wine does not spend any time in oak. This wine has a small percentage of Pinot Noir added to the dosage.
Base: 2009 Disgorgement Date: January 2012 Dosage: 9 g/l
Availability: 200 stores

This is the most beautiful blush colour. One tiny notch in colour above white. Good, fruity nose. Bone dry, with intense flavour. Long and very good.
12.0% vol.

_________________
mel