Nyetimber releases Tillington Single Vineyard 2016 – a rare and refined English sparkling wine

Nyetimber Tillington Single Vineyard 2016. Photo courtesy of Nyetimber.

As the first single-vineyard release ever to be produced in England, Nyetimber’s Tillington cuvée has become a calling card for the country’s top sparkling wines. The estate has just released its fifth vintage of this distinctive sparkling wine, the Tillington Single Vineyard 2016.

Partner story with Nyetimber.

Now boasting 11 estate-owned vineyards, Nyetimber has produced a single-vineyard expression – in exceptional vintages only – since 2013 from Tillington vineyard in West Sussex. The fifth iteration, the Tillington Single Vineyard 2016, is a rare and refined English sparkling wine exhibiting the unique terroir of the county’s renowned greensand soils.

With a history dating back to 1086, the Nyetimber estate was bought by Dutch entrepreneur Eric Heerema in 2006 and, under his guidance, has become England’s preeminent sparkling wine producer, with an impressive global reputation. Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier vines are planted across 425 hectares in the counties of West Sussex, Kent and Hampshire.

The Tillington story began in 2009, when Nyetimber’s winemakers, Cherie Spriggs and Brad Greatrix identified an extraordinary parcel of Pinot Noir while walking the vine rows of this West Sussex plot during pre-harvest grape tastings. The fruit’s exceptional quality, with distinct floral notes and a rose water character, stood apart from anything they had tasted before. This discovery led to the creation of Tillington Single Vineyard, now one of Nyetimber’s most prized sparkling wines, which marks a pioneering achievement in English winemaking and reflects Nyetimber’s commitment to producing 100% estate-grown wines.

Tillington vineyard. Photo courtesy of Nyetimber.

“After a challenging start with an April frost that impacted buds and delayed flowering, the season was redeemed by a long, warm summer,” says Head Winemaker Cherie, who was named ‘Sparkling Winemaker of the Year’ at the International Wine Challenge 2018. “This ideal weather nurtured the grapes, allowing for excellent quality despite lower yields. Harvest began slightly later than usual, in mid-October, and ran for 12 days. The result is a vintage release with beautifully ripe fruit, showcasing a balance of vibrant citrus acidity and generous ripe fruit characters.”

A blend of 73% Pinot Noir and 27% Chardonnay grapes, Nyetimber Tillington Single Vineyard 2016 has been aged on the lees for over five years. Pale gold in colour, with particularly fine bubbles, this 2016 vintage brims with intense aromas of fresh raspberry, red apple skin and rose petal. The textured palate reveals layers of orange zest, apricot, marzipan and opulent fruit, with complex biscuit characters wrapped up in a long, mouthwatering finish. The wine is well structured, with a richness that pairs beautifully with weightier fish, such as monkfish or John Dory.

Available now in the UK, the wine will launch in Japan over the next few months before rolling out to other international markets later this year.

“Tillington Single Vineyard 2016 is wine that we are looking forward to rolling out to the international market, following a successful launch in the UK,” adds Cherie.