The 2010-founded UK estate Rathfinny has released its 2018 Classic Cuvée
In England, 2018 is hailed as "the vintage of the decade." The warm and sunny year was a game-changer for the relatively young but burgeoning wine industry.
Rathfinny describe it as "one of the warmest summers on record. A mini-heatwave developed from April onwards, bringing on early flowering and the dry weather promoted good fruit set. New temperature records were set in July and August and despite heavy rain in early September, the weather during harvest in October was very favourable and we picked very clean fruit."
Vineyard manager Cameron Roucher says “the year panned out perfectly and we picked terrific fruit with the ideal balance of sugars and acidity for making high quality Sussex sparkling wines.” As is usual for the house, the wine comes with a very restrained dosage of just 5g/l.
While already delicious in its just-disgorged youthfulness, the wine will undoubtedly benefit from further bottle age.
