{"product_id":"0001-7120","title":"Gusbourne Estate 51 Degrees North","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e67% Chardonnay, 33% Pinot Noir \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e75cl * 12% ABV * Kent, England\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFifty One Degrees North is Gusbourne’s prestige cuvée. Produced only in exceptional vintages, it represents the pinnacle of modern English winemaking.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe name - 51°N - carries a subtle defiance of tradition; while the “ideal” latitudes for viticulture have long been considered to lie between 30° and 50°, Gusbourne asserts its position just beyond these boundaries, where their Burgundian varieties benefit from a cool maritime climate.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 2016 vintage saw near-perfect growing conditions, yet still only the finest parcels were selected. The fruit was whole-bunch pressed, and a portion of the wine was matured in old oak, followed by 5+ years of aging on its lees, developing lovely depth and texture.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe nose is beautifully complex, almost savoury. The palate is rich and layered, with toasted nuts, ripe apple and apricot, all lifted by bright acidity and a minerality that is characteristic of all their wines. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eVintage Report from Gusbourne: \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e'The 2016 vintage was a year of near-perfect growing conditions. The mild spring saw a mid-April bud burst. Flowering, which began towards the end of June, was successful and the warm, dry weather resulted in abundant fruit being set.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur vineyard Manager, Jon Pollard, carefully regulated the crop, dropping fruit where required to help boost the grapes' concentration and flavours. By harvest time on 2nd October, the fruit was ripe and exceptionally well balanced. Jon was delighted with the quality we achieved. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStylistically, Charlie Holland, our Chief Winemaker, feels that 2016 is a worthy successor to the 2014 watershed vintage. \u003cem\u003e'The 2016 vintage has much in common with 2014' \u003c\/em\u003ehe says. '\u003cem\u003eThe fruit had the same intensity, complexity and length, with distinct mineral and maritime notes. It's a little toastier in style.' \u003c\/em\u003eIn the winery, Charlie amplified this toasty, brioche profile with judicious use of oak. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor food pairings, Laura Rhys, Master Sommelier and our Global Ambassador, enjoys serving this wine alongside pan-fried halibut with a cream sauce, chanterelle mushrooms and samphire. \u003cem\u003e'The delicate sweetness of halibut pairs well with the elegant fruit characters in the wine', \u003c\/em\u003esays Laura. \u003cem\u003e'Meanwhile, the creamy, earthy flavours of the sauce and mushrooms highlight the autolytic, more complex notes of Fifty OneDegrees North. The samphire brings a delicious freshness to it all, sitting beautifully alongside the salinity in the wine.' \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e18pts, TC for JancisRobinson.com: \u003c\/strong\u003e'I recently read winemaker Dermot Sugrue saying that the 2016 sparkling wines need time, and this wine bears testament to that opinion. It is, quite simply put, magnificent. Every molecule feels as if it is vibrating with the intensity of its own beauty. It radiates a kind of honeyed gold energy, the glistening acidity tasting as if it has been dipped in golden honey and spun into a slipstream of spine-tingling tenacity. The flavours unfurl, almost, it seems, in slow motion. Guava, Forelle pear, a soft smudge of toffee, a fine craquelure of smoke. Torque rising through the wine as the finest of bubbles leave staccato in their wake. It's hard to capture a wine like this in words. You just know it when you taste it: it is complete. I didn't blink when I saw the price.'\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e17pts, Jancis Robinson:\u003c\/strong\u003e 'The second release of their prestige cuvée, 2014 being the first. Their finest grapes – 63% Chardonnay and 37% Pinot Noir. Two-thirds from Kent and a third from Sussex fruit. Disgorged after 69 months on lees with a dosage of 10 g\/l. Smoky, nervy nose. Fine and vibrant. Clearly built to age. Very dense and long. Fresher than the 2014 and this really builds towards the end of the tasting experience.'\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"England","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57650284527990,"sku":"0001-7120","price":195.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0437\/0215\/7464\/files\/GUSB_51DN_FUNCTIONAL_Bottle_Transparent.png?v=1775838049","url":"https:\/\/www.tauruswines.co.uk\/products\/0001-7120","provider":"Taurus Wines","version":"1.0","type":"link"}