60% Chardonnay, 40% Pinot Noir
75cl * 12% ABV * Sussex, England
The Trouble with Dreams started life as just that, an ill-fated attempt to grow grapes for mainly monastic wine in 2008, attractive only to the birds. The priest leading the monastic mission remarked that this is the trouble with dreams. Rather than be dismayed by this setback, the wine maker Dermot Sugrue persevered, embodying the words of William Butler Yeats, 'an Irishman has an abiding sense of tragedy, to sustain him through the temporary periods of joy'.
Notes from the winery on this 2022 release:
'The 2022 growing season was extraordinary. The UK experienced its warmest year on record, with temperatures exceeding 40°C for the first time in meteorological history. Yet, our old, deep-rooted vines – now averaging 17 years across our South Downs vineyards – were able to access sufficient water through the drought, producing fruit of remarkable balance and concentration.
The resulting base wines were forward and complex, with the structure to benefit from some younger French oak barriques in addition to older, larger demi-muids. Thanks to the ripeness of the vintage, we were able to avoid malolactic fermentation entirely and disgorge with a low dosage of just 6g/L.
The Trouble With Dreams 2022 is open, bright, textural, salty, and electric, and speaks entirely of its place, its vintage, and its winemaker – just as I dreamt all those years ago.'
Great as an aperitif but also pairs well with a hard Sussex sheep's cheese or some freshly caught seafood.
"Deep and complex aroma: rich lemon fruit and smells a little more peachy than their Blanc de Blancs and without that blossom note, and perhaps a hint of red cherry; creamy and leesy but not (yet) toasty. On the palate, those autolytic characters are more noticeable, rich, almost chewy, concentrated in both texture and flavour and yet intensely fresh and beautifully balanced. Persistent and fine bubbles. A powerful, long wine that fills the mouth and finishes with a long, lightly salty, mouth-watering aftertaste. Outstanding. VGV." 18 Points, Julia Harding MW for JancisRobinson.com