Wiston’s vineyard sits on an ancient chalk seam covered by a shallow layer (10-30 cm) of topsoil, an ideal growing medium for vines. As in so many areas producing wines of outstanding quality, it is this chalky soil that is held to impart the complex flavours and structural elegance to the grapes and the wine itself. The tiny yields (15 hl per hectare) are critical to Wiston Estate’s purity, focus and elegance. The 2015 harvest was carried out by hand by a team of skilled pickers in late October and early November.

Weather: The 2015 growing season began positively with a warm, frost-free period encouraging bud burst. Temperatures cooled for the remainder of the Spring but re-warmed in time for flowering in July (albeit two weeks later than normal). As a result, the yield for the year looked set to be good. A cool summer, characterised by untypically cold nights, meant grapes were slow to develop, with veraison much later than normal. However, September improved significantly ending the month with a relative heatwave that continued into October. Harvest began on the 22nd October and finished on the 3rd of November. October’s warm, dry weather conditions resulted in a small to medium crop of exceptionally ripe, and healthy grapes. The year is one of concentration of flavour, producing broad wines with impressive ability to age.

Technical Information:
Grape Varieties: 100% Chardonnay
Ageing: 3 years on the lees
Dosage: 8 g/l
Disgorged: 15th September 2020
Drink: Now for 3-4 years

Tasting Note: Selected from the chalkiest and steepest part of Wiston’s vineyard, Blanc de Blancs 2015 is elegant and complex, with notes of tangerine, honeydew melon, honeysuckle and brioche. Aged in 50% mature Burgundy oak barrels and 50% stainless steel, this single vineyard, single vintage, single varietal Blanc de Blancs is perfect for immediate drinking and will also cellar beautifully.