Laithwaites Theale Vineyard Sparkling Wine

I was impressed by this. It’s a limited-production sparkling wine from a vineyard at the headquarters of Laithwaites, one of the UK’s most successful wine merchants, located in Theale, near Reading, Berkshire.

There are just 704 Chardonnay vines here, planted in 1998. The 2006 vintage, which I am tasting here, was harvested on October 3rd and made at Ridgeview Vineyard in Sussex.

Laithwaites Theale Vineyard Blanc de Blancs 2006 England
12% alcohol. Super stuff. Fresh with nice acidity but also a lovely rounded character and some toasty richness. Good purity here. Blind, I’d have been heading straight to Champagne here. A really stylish wine. 90/100 (£22.99 Laithwaites)