Ridgeview Rosé de Noirs 2018

Description

Ridgeview Rosé de Noirs 2018 is an amazing rosé vintage English sparkling wine – and I am not the only one to think so as it scored 97 / 100 points and was awarded a Platinum medal at the Decanter World Wine Awards in 2023. Rosé de Noirs means of course that it is produced only from black grapes, in this instance 85% Pinot Noir and 15% Pinot Meunier (both also used in rosé de noirs champagnes).  Many of the grapes are grown just below the South Downs ridge on similar soils to the Champagne region in Ridgeview’s original estate and some come from specially selected partner growers across Southern England. Ridgeview has learned since its inception in 1995 that diversifying its grape sources from select vineyards is key to the quality of wine since “all have very different characteristics and contribute something special to our English sparkling wine”.

Ridgeview Rosé de Noirs 2018 tastes and smells delicious. The two Pinot grapes ensure that red fruit aromas and flavours abound – redcurrants, strawberries and sweet cherries with hints of spice and biscuits. Though the texture is lovely and creamy, this sparkling wine is not rich. It has a fresh vibrancy from the natural acidity and from the fruit flavours. Ridgeview uses its own interpretation of the ‘saignée’ method used in some areas of France to deepen the colour of some red and rosé wines. Ridgeview rests the grapes in their skins so that colour and other characteristics are imparted into the grape juice. A gentle pressing of the grapes helps to keep the fruit flavours as does a first fermentation in stainless steel to avoid any hints of oaky flavours. The second fermentation, like champagne, is in bottle to ensure a natural and long-lasting mousse and the wine rests on its lees for a minimum of 36 months which helps broaden the range of flavours to the biscuity notes and helps smooth the texture. This wine also have a lovely, long fruit-focused finish.

The first vines were planted at Ridgeview in 1995 and their wines have been gaining accolades and awards since their debut in 2000 at national and international wine competitions. The second generation of the Roberts family which is now in charge sticks to the original ethos, exceptional quality from vine to glass. Not only is Ridgeview a founder member of Sustainable Wines GB, they are also considered to be specialists in cool climate viticulture.

You might also like to try an English rosé wine or Ridgeview’s white sparkling wine also produced solely from black grapes.