2020 Blanc de Noirs, Rathfinny Wine Estate

• Style: Traditional-method sparkling, bone-dry
• Taste: Wild strawberries, morello cherry, brioche, autolytic depth
• Food: Shellfish & crustacean; salads & light dishes; soft & creamy cheese
• Occasion: Date night, gifting, celebration, aperitivo
• Serve: Chilled or cellar temperature; drink now–2028

In the Glass — Tasting Notes

Rose-gold in colour with a fine, unhurried mousse. Lifted aromas of wild strawberries and morello cherry, touched by brioche and baked apple, with pear and plum on the palate. The bone-dry frame carries mouthwatering acidity and genuine texture, refined and fresh throughout. Three years on lees have built autolytic depth without compromising the vintage's character.

The Winery — Rathfinny Wine Estate

Established in 2010 by Mark and Sarah Driver, this family-owned estate spans over 93 hectares on a south-facing slope in the South Downs, just three miles from the Channel. Planted predominantly with Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Meunier, Rathfinny releases only estate-grown fruit as vintage sparkling wines. The 2020 vintage benefited from early, dry growing conditions followed by mid-summer storms that concentrated flavour and lowered yields. Hand-harvested and fermented cool in stainless steel, the wine underwent malolactic fermentation before extended lees contact. Low dosage (3g/L) lets nothing mask the wine itself. Now B Corp certified, the estate puts people and planet at the heart of its philosophy.

At Your Table — Food Pairing & Serving

This is sparkling wine built for pleasure, working equally well with smoked salmon, pastries, shellfish or as an aperitivo at celebration. Its mouthwatering edge and refined texture pair beautifully with light salads and soft, creamy cheeses. Serve chilled or at cellar temperature; the wine will develop gracefully through 2028. Explore our other sparkling wines and still releases from the South Downs and beyond, or discover more from England's finest producers. A confident statement of what Pinot Noir blends can achieve when vintage and place align.