Ancre Hill, Blanc de Noirs

Move over producer grower Champagne we have this Welsh dragon of a wine. This is a properly decadent wine that is made for a special celebration.

Fermented in barrels, concrete egg and stainless steel, and followed by 2-3 years on lees, this Blanc de Noirs has a soft inviting nose of lightly toasted brioche with hints of beeswax. The palate adds a hint of citrus peel, with a refreshing finish.

Grapes: Pinot Noir

Place: Monmouthshire, Wales

ABV: 11%

Colour: Sparkling

Vintage: NV

PRODUCER PROFILE

Ancre Hill Estates, owned by Richard and Joy Morris, comprises two vineyard sites on the edge of Monmouth, south-east Wales with some 30,000 vines planted on approximately 12-hectares (29.5 acres) and a state-of-the-art, modern winery. The business has evolved from the first plantings in 2006 and 2007 at Ancre Hill, which now extends to about 4 hectares of mature vines to include Newton Court Farm, purchased in 2014, the same year as the new winery was built at Ancre Hill, where a further 8 hectares of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay has been planted. All the land was former grazing pasture – never used for agriculture and the soils are healthy and well-nourished. Ancre Hill apply a holistic approach to all activities in vineyard and winery, and practice conscientious biodynamics.