88% Chardonnay, 8% Pinot Noir, 4% Meunier
75cl * 12% ABV * Dorset, England
Inspired by the winemaking styles of 'Grower Champagne', Langham take a minimal intervention, oxidative approach to their winemaking. The vineyards sit on the same porous, 'belemnitic' chalk that is found in Champagne's Côte des Blancs responsible for some of the world's greatest sparkling wines.
This is a Chardonnay dominated blend, for which some of the reserve wine has matured under a layer of flor, bringing a slight nuttiness, viscosity and saline quality. The wine has great depth and breadth of flavour with a ripe quince quality. Langham produces wines with low pressure to ensure that the fizz is delicate and the wine is approachable from an early age. As well as being a delicious aperitif, the wine will also pair beautifully with white fish dishes.
This is a winery prepared to take risks with their winemaking to push boundaries and create wines which are unique in style. Excitingly, they are expanding their vineyard area, building a new winery and gaining wide acclaim for wines which are phenomenally well priced for the quality.
"Such a great nose! Apples and hay and pith piqued by bright-yellow lemon zest. Green apple, gold apple, fino-esque nuttiness. I find it quite manzanilla-like … Then winemaker Tommy Grimshaw tells me that some of the blend comes from a barrel which developed a flor. Salty and so damn delicious. It's not at all conventional, but it's not weird and it's not too off-piste. racy and complete. I love this. And it's VGV." 17/20 Tamlyn Currin, JancisRobinson.com