Jancis Robinson & Tamlyn Currin in JancisRobinson.com "This seems to spring out the glass offering blossoms and apples and kumquats - an expressive wine zipped up by energetic little bubbles."

"Weyborne, Oriana Brut 2019 England - 17

Full bottle 1,592 g. Grapes from an estate vineyard at the highest part of the South Downs in West Sussex on day, greensand and chalk at 190 m, south-facing slopes.

The wines are made by French viticulturist, Benjamin Abric. 60% Chardonnay,

30% Pinot Noir, 10% Meunier. Fermented in an open tank with 3% in barrel. Full malo. Bouled July 2020, disgorged June 2023. Dosage 2 g/l.

This seems to spring out the glass offering blossoms and apples and kumquats - an expressive wine zipped up by energetic little bubbles. Rounded without being rich. Remarkable peachy ripeness of fruit. There is so much fruit here! Fleshy and juicy despite the lance of acidity and pin bones of grilled-nut smoky savouriness. (TC) 12%

Weyborne, Family Reserve Brut 2018 England - 15.5

Full sparkling-wine boule 1,593 g. 61% Chardonnay, 34% Pinot Noir and 5% Pinot Meunier with fruit from the West Sussex estate's oldest vineyard at 160 m on clay, greensand and chalk planted in 2004. The wine was made oxidatively with 3% fermented in old oak and full, natural malo. The background notes reference zero dosage but the label says Brut. Two years on lees was followed, after disgorgement, by two years' maturation in boule.

Toasty nose with some development. Big and bold with a relatively loose mousse.

This is respectable and tastes very dry but is not that concentrated. There is some green-fruit character. (JR) 12%"

-Jancis Robinson & Tamlyn Currin jancisrobinson.com Thursday 28th Novembr 2024