It's no longer a wine trade secret that Essex is one of the best places in the UK to grow grapes. This low-lying county to the east of England has witnessed the steepest rise in reputation of any of England's burgeoning wine regions. With predominantly clay, gravel and sandy soils, long, dry summers allow grapes to ripen consistently well. The resultant wines are often more generous in fruit profile with a fuller body than some other areas of the UK.
While it is challenging to successfully ripen Pinot Noir in most parts of England, the long East Anglian summers give Essex a head start. It is for this reason that other wineries source grapes from here for both still and sparkling wines.
John Atkinson MW: "Not so much the Wild West as the Wild East. Could I fall in love with Essex after an eighteen-year relationship with Champagne? … Yes! Yes! Yes!"
Libertine Brut Rosé NV was launched last September. It's a blend of 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay, both grown in Essex and a collaboration between two English Masters of Wine, Liam Steevenson MW and John Atkinson MW.
The grapes are whole cluster pressed and fermented in a mix of stainless steel and old oak barriques. The wine then undergoes a secondary fermentation in bottle, as per the traditional method, and spends just a few months on its lees to preserve the red fruit character. ABV is 12.5% and residual sugar is 8g/L.
Liam Steevenson MW says: "Libertine encapsulates what we dreamt was possible, proving that true fruit ripeness was achievable in Essex, in a manner that we had not seen in the UK before. The crystalline minerality and hard-wired acid line persist, of course, but feel totally at one with the red fruit core that fills the palate. I could not be more pleased with the result."
Appearance: Attractive salmon pink colour with fine bubbles.
Nose: Notes of strawberry and raspberry with a touch of mace and paprika spice.
Palate: Notes of red berries with redcurrant and lemon zestiness plus some raspberry malt biscuit softening the mouthfeel.
Food pairings: light aperitifs; sushi; seafood; pear, chicory and blue cheese salad, fragrant Asian dishes. It even works with Wasabi peas! 😉 😉
Libertine Brut Rosé NV is currently sold online at Red & White, Good Taste Foods, The Secret Bottle Shop and SW Bottle Shop for around £37.00.
So if you're looking to celebrate the King's coronation on 6th May with a patriotic tipple, then liberate your Libertine spirit and toast the day with a sparkling English rosé. Cheers!
