Nyetimber, Tillington Single Vineyard, Sussex, England, 2010

Nyetimber, the pioneer of English sparkling wines, is taking this category to another level by creating a single vineyard wine. The winemaker, Cherie Spriggs, who joined in 2007, felt that the grapes from the Tillington vineyard were of superior quality and started to vinify them separately. This is the second vintage from only 4-year-old vines. Predominantly Pinot Noir with some Chardonnay, it has spent 4 years on lees and only 4000 bottles were released. The result is pretty impressive for such young vines: fresh grapefruit and lemon scent comes to mind with some creamy notes. Very pure, graceful and focus offering many layers of complexity with a persistent mousse and a long finish. With a price tag of £78; it raises the bar for English sparkling and entering the Champagne Grande Marque territory.