Candover Brook, Rosé, England, United Kingdom NV

John Davan Sainsbury, Baron Sainsbury of Preston Candover, dreamed of making his own wine ever since touring the vineyards of Champagne as CEO of the UK supermarket Sainsburys in the 1970s. The Hampshire-based Candover Brook estate is run by sons Mark and Julian, who planted a 5ha south-facing slope on silty clay loam soils with a free-draining chalky subsoil. Consultant winemaker is the very experienced Hervé Jestin, chef de cave at Duval Leroy for over 20 years. This is the inaugural release of a non-vintage rosé, 85% from the 2018 vintage, and the remainder from a solera dating back to when the vineyard was planted in 2011. The wine, a blend of 54% Chardonnay, 33% Pinot Noir and 13% Pinot Meunier, aged on lees for 27 months in its secondary fermentation, and has a dosage of 9g/L. It's an accomplished rosé, with vibrant and perfumed, bright red berry fruit that bursts from the glass. On the evidence of this, Candover Brook is an exciting new name on the English wine scene.