August 29, 2023
WineGB have announced the winners of the WineGB Awards 2023. Meet the Trophy winners here. Chapel Down Kit's Coty Blanc de Blancs 2019
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Chapel Down makes world-class wines from grapes grown in the South East of England where the geology and climate combine to provide the perfect terroir for sparkling wines. The first vines were planted at Tenterden in the late 1970's and the vineyard has been continuously producing English wines from this site ever since. Chapel Down now has a large acreage under vine in Kent and beyond.
Winemaking: Harvested by hand in September and October, this refined sparkling wine has under gone malolactic fermentation to add richness and hints of butter. and 29% of the blend is matured in barrel before being left to age on its lees for three and a half years before release, to help develop its toast like aromas. French Oak barrels, create a more complex palate of well integrated oak flavours balanced against refreshing tropical fruit.
Vineyards: Kit's Coty is a 100 acre vineyard located on the Kent Downs. Its southerly aspect ensures the vines capture the sunlight all season long, while the warm, free draining chalk soils provide the perfect terroir for producing well balanced, intensely flavoured fruit that truly express their identify and the unique soil qualities.
Weather in 2019: Winter rains enabled the vines to take full advantage of good soil moisture levels during spring growth. This was topped up during the season by regular rainfall, which helped to maintain optimum levels of nutrition in the vines. Dry and warm weather at the end of June allowed for successful flowering over a short period of time, resulting in even fruit-set. Good weather in August continued uniform fruit development across the vineyards. Slightly cooler weather in September and October allowed for a slow ripening period that created the composition of varied and complex flavour profiles. Harvest commenced at the end of September and was complete by the middle of October.
Technical Information:
Vineyards: Kit's Coty vineyard, North Downs of Kent.
Grape Varieties: 100% Chardonnay
Lees Ageing: 3.5 years
Dosage: 7.5 g/l
Alcohol: 12%
pH: 3.07
TA: 6.5 g/l
Drink: Now to 2030
Tasting Note: This wine shows typical aromas of cool climate Blanc de Blancs, fresh apples and buttery pastry. The palate is fresh yet shows development for maturation in bottle and has a toasty character from partial barrel fermentation which leads to a savoury finish with fine, persistent bubbles.
Winemaking: Harvested by hand in September and October, this refined sparkling wine has under gone malolactic fermentation to add richness and hints of butter. and 29% of the blend is matured in barrel before being left to age on its lees for three and a half years before release, to help develop its toast like aromas. French Oak barrels, create a more complex palate of well integrated oak flavours balanced against refreshing tropical fruit.
Vineyards: Kit's Coty is a 100 acre vineyard located on the Kent Downs. Its southerly aspect ensures the vines capture the sunlight all season long, while the warm, free draining chalk soils provide the perfect terroir for producing well balanced, intensely flavoured fruit that truly express their identify and the unique soil qualities.
Weather in 2019: Winter rains enabled the vines to take full advantage of good soil moisture levels during spring growth. This was topped up during the season by regular rainfall, which helped to maintain optimum levels of nutrition in the vines. Dry and warm weather at the end of June allowed for successful flowering over a short period of time, resulting in even fruit-set. Good weather in August continued uniform fruit development across the vineyards. Slightly cooler weather in September and October allowed for a slow ripening period that created the composition of varied and complex flavour profiles. Harvest commenced at the end of September and was complete by the middle of October.
Technical Information:
Vineyards: Kit's Coty vineyard, North Downs of Kent.
Grape Varieties: 100% Chardonnay
Lees Ageing: 3.5 years
Dosage: 7.5 g/l
Alcohol: 12%
pH: 3.07
TA: 6.5 g/l
Drink: Now to 2030
Tasting Note: This wine shows typical aromas of cool climate Blanc de Blancs, fresh apples and buttery pastry. The palate is fresh yet shows development for maturation in bottle and has a toasty character from partial barrel fermentation which leads to a savoury finish with fine, persistent bubbles.
