Owner Nick Clarke purchased the historic Blackdown Park estate in 2010 (near Haslemere, Surrey), and has planted 25 acres of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier vines located in five plots. The oldest plantings are from 2004 and the most recent from 2018. This site is the highest part of the South Downs, and the soil is a mix of sand, clay, and flint over chalk bedrock. This is the first release from the estate, which came out last September.
Weyborne Family Estate Reserve 2018 Surrey, England
12% ABV. 61% Chardonnay, 34% Pinot Noir, and 5% Pinot Meunier with fruit coming from the oldest plot on this, 1 acre in the Diddy Field, planted in 2004. At 160m, it’s the highest point of the estate, making it quite marginal in the UK climate, although it is south-facing. 3% fermented in barrel, the rest in stainless steel. This was disgorged in 2021 with zero dosage. Made in a slightly oxidative style, this has a lovely nose of ripe apple, pear, and lemon with subtle toasty notes. On the palate, it shows well-integrated acidity and notes of almond and brioche as well as herb-tinted lemon and pear fruit. Nice complexity here: well balanced and delicious, if a little ambitiously priced compared to some of its peers. 92/100 (£48.00 weyborne.com/buy-wines; £45.00 drinksdirect.com; £48.99 Loki Wine; £46.95 ND John Wine Merchants)