Fox & Fox Essence Blanc de Blancs Chardonnay

Fox & Fox is a multi-award winning boutique grower-producer of English sparkling wines, cultivating 30 acres of classic varieties. Their vineyards sit either side of the ancient hilltop village of Mayfield, amongst the rolling hills, woodlands and deep-cut ghylls of the Sussex High Weald. Jonica and Gerard Fox have been growing vines since 2004 and producing wine since 2009.

In 2010, they expanded from their first Hobdens vineyard site to the second larger Lakestreet vineyard, whilst remaining true to their first love: making limited quantities of high quality sparkling wines with a unique English twist.

The climate here is similar to Champagne, allowing for a long, even ripening season.  The vines are a combination of traditional Dijon and Champagne clones, grown on a south-facing sloping vineyard that consists of clay loam and greensand over sandstone with ironstone shale beds. The vines are worked rigorously by hand with great attention paid to minimising spraying, while maximising canopy management and vine nutrition.

The wine is vinified in stainless steel without malolactic fermentation and spends 4 years in bottles on it yeast lees before disgorgement and release.

Tasting Note: A superb blanc de blancs of precision and finesse. Citrus and white peach notes with hints of hawthorn and brioche. The mousse is fine and persistent, the finish crisp, long and mineral.

Food Match: Tartare of sea bream, fresh crab.

Awards: Decanter World Wine Awards 2021 - Gold, 95 points.

Winemaking: Traditional Method, Steel tank & Bottle Fermentation, No Malo. No filtration

Closure: Cork