Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier
75cl * Vegan * 12.0% ABV * Sussex, England
This small, boutique vineyard is driven by the bold and ambitious vision of husband and wife co-owners Julie Bretland and Mark Collins. With the backdrop of the beautiful South Downs, Artelium (a combination of ‘art’ and ‘ium’, representing a place for the study of nature) is a celebration of Julie and Mark's passion for wine and art. You can see this reflected in the striking modern labels of their wines and in the regular art exhibitions they host.
They work with artisan winemakers and take pride in the close relationship between the growers and makers, which have so far produced some outstanding award-winning wines. As well as being awarded the WineGB Sustainable Wine Certification in 2020, Artelium clinched the Newcomer of the Year award at the 2022 WineGB Awards, where their Blanc de Blancs 2015 won not only best Blanc de Blancs, but also Top Sparkling Wine of the whole competition.
Their 45-acre estate is currently home to 20 acres of vines – Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Meunier, and Pinot Gris. However, their vision for future plantings include Cabernet Noir, Divico and a selection of hitherto unplanted (in England) white grape varieties to encourage diversification.
This unusual white Pinot is a blend of 66% Pinot Noir, 34% Pinot Meunier. It is an elegant and textural white wine with delicate floral aromas and notes of summer fruits, produced by Artelium’s winemaking team in collaboration with legendary English winemaker Owen Elias. 2022 was a vintage of extremes; some areas experienced significant frosts in Spring, which quickly gave way to a long, warm, very dry Summer – the joint hottest on record since 1884.
Concentrated, fine and characterful, subtle violet aromatic notes sit over red apple, bramble and strawberry. Poached rhubarb and vanilla pod character adds layers of complexity. The palate is bright with a highly-polished, silky texture. Rich and medium bodied, held taut with fresh natural acidity and an almost imperceptible tannic grip.
A great aperitif, this White Pinot is ideal with seafood, ranging from fresh scallops, white meaty fish or pan-fried mackerel. A great partner to white meats, simple fresh green salads or an earthy mushroom dish.