2018 SAFFRON GRANGE ROSÉ. Saffron Walden, England

Bin: 31

Alcohol Percentage: 11.5%

Size of bottle: 75cl

Area: Saffron Grange is just outside Saffron Walden in north Essex, only 45 minutes drive from us.
Paul and Ros Edwards give us the reasons for their choice of site:
"Our vineyard sits on the same chalk seam that runs all the way from Northern France’s renowned wine regions, up through Sussex and into Essex.
100 million years ago, our land was deeply submerged by tropical seawater teaming with macroscopic, calcareous algae and shellfish from which decaying fragments very slowly deposited to create a deep, porous chalk bed. In more recent times a thin overlying clay-loam soil developed on the surface which just covers the flinty, upper chalk.
This rare soil formation perfectly combines with the unique climate in this little pocket of England to create excellent conditions to grow grapes. In wet weather it provides excellent drainage, whilst holding enough moisture during the dry season to encourage the grapes’ flavour development ahead of harvest."
The area was also once home to the Woolly Mammoth - hence the label design!

Grape Variety: 100% Pinot Noir, matured for a year on the lees.

Old Bridge Rating: Well, we agree with Tamlyn - see below!

Press Reviews: "Absolutely delightful. It's so seldom that I just fall head over heels for a sparkling wine on the sole basis that it is simply delicious. No genuflecting to Krug or Billecart, no wannabe-Cristal winemaking attempts. Just a trugful of fresh-picked raspberries, the chalk and sherbet of alpine strawberries, a gauzy, lacy network of perfectly formed bubbles. As thirst-quenching as red-apple sorbet. And absolutely brilliant with food. One of the most food-friendly English sparkling wines I've ever had. I could drink this all summer... VGV" Tamlyn Currin, on jancisrobinson.com