Hambledon Classic Cuvee NV
UK, EnglandIn Stock - 7 available
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DESCRIPTION
An excellent Hampshire English Sparkling Wine from England's oldest commercial vineyard.
The lowdown:
Hambledon's Classic Cuvée, their benchmark cuvée, is a traditional champagne non-vintage blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier grown on the chalky Hampshire downs, the same type that is found in Champagne and some of the best parts of Burgundy. It has aromas of fresh sourdough, ripe apples and floral notes which lead onto a fresh, steely palate full of crunchy citrus and orchard fruits held together with refined, tense, perfectly controlled acidity.
When to drink:
A long, clean finish this wine is of course perfect as an aperitif but will also work really well with seafood like sushi, scallops, oysters and smoked salmon.
PRODUCER
Hambledon Vineyard

Established in 1952 by Major General Sir Guy Salisbury-Jones, Hambledon situated in the Hampshire Downs between Winchester and Portsmouth, is possibly Englands oldest commercial vineyard. Ian Kellett acquired Hambledon Vineyard in 1999. As a passionate wine lover, Ian was intrigued by the winemaking heritage of the property. After analysing the commercial potential for English wine, he began studying oenology at Plumpton College in Sussex with a view to restoring Hambledon to its former glory
Research convinced him that sparkling wines were the future and in 2005 Ian planted a 10-acre test bed of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier to see which of the 27 different combinations of vine clones and rootstocks gave the best results. The chalk on which the vines grow was formed on the seabed of the Paris basin some 65 million years ago. It is part of the Newhaven Chalk formation that developed between the Santonian and Campanian eras of the Upper Cretaceous period. The same chalk, with the same Belemnite content, is found in the best Chardonnay areas of the Côtes des Blancs in Champagne.
In 2011 one of the other final pieces of the jigsaw slotted into place with the appointment of Hervé Jestin, formerly one of Champagnes leading chefs de cave. A renowned expert in minimal-intervention winemaking, Hervé directs all winemaking at the Estate. Hambledon Vineyard now comprises over 200 acres of vineyards and the only gravity-fed, state-of-the-art winery in the UK. In 2015 Felix Gabillet joined the team as assistant winemaker and now heads up the onsite team working alongside Hervé.
Today, the House produces three cuvées, all of which are currently Chardonnay-led, non-vintage blends, capitalising on the quality of the chalky terroir of the South Downs and its ability to produce top quality wines.
DETAILS
Categories | Wine / Sparkling Wine / Sparkling Wine |
Region | England |
Country | UK |
Grape Variety | Chardonnay , Pinot Noir , Pinot Meunier |
Vintage | NV |
Volume | 75cl |
ABV | 12% |
SKU | HA3PNVSN |