Rathfinny Estate Blanc de Noirs 2018 is the fourth vintage of their premium Pinot Noir/Meunier blend, produced from grapes grown and hand-harvested on Rathfinny Wine Estate.

Weather in 2018: Often referred to as the vintage of the decade, 2018 was one of the warmest summers on record. A mini heatwave developed from April onwards, bringing on early flowering and the dry weather promoted good fruit set. New temperature records were set in July and August and despite heavy rain in early September, the weather during harvest in October was very favourable and very clean fruit was picked with an ideal balance of sugars and acidity for the Sussex sparkling wines.

Technical Information:
Grape Varieties: 85% Pinot Noir, 15% Meunier
Lees Ageing: 3 years
Disgorged: January 2022
Dosage: 3.5 g/l
pH: 3.11
Total acidity: 6.2 g/l
Drink: Now to 2025

Tasting Note: Ripe and juicy notes of fresh red and yellow apple come with a buttery shortbread note and an enticing overtone of candied redcurrant. The palate is wonderfully taut, has real tension, softened by very fine, lively bubbles which will only get creamier with more time in bottle. The ripeness of 2018 expresses itself in an exquisite balance: the wine shows generosity of body, of fruit, while remaining absolutely sleek, taut and brisk. The finish sounds a beautiful and serene note of harmonious freshness. - Tasted by Anne Krebiehl MW

Established in 2010 the Rathfinny Wine Estate, near Alfriston in the South Downs of Sussex is in one of England’s exceptional natural landscapes. Rathfinny occupies a perfect south-facing slope, just three miles from the sea, and its climate, chalk soils and aspect make it probably the most perfect place to produce wine in a region that is already producing some of the best, award winning English sparkling wines.

Sussex Sparkling wine is crafted in the Traditional Method, where the secondary fermentation takes place in the bottle, after which it is left to age on the yeast lees for a minimum of 15 months to develop wonderful autolytic notes. The Sussex wine is produced in Rathfinny’s state-of-the-art Winery, which sits at the heart of the Estate, with panoramic views across the Vineyard and the South Downs.

Cellar Master: Jonathan Médard
Winery Location: South Downs | West Sussex, England
Annual Production (bottles): Undisclosed