Blanc de Blancs Magnum 2014, Hattingley Valley

Once again, a small amount of the wine was fermented in old oak, and with five years on lees, this is a sensational treat. With 3 g/L dosage, it is racy and firm when you eventually reach the finish, but there is so much theatre to enjoy on the nose and palate it is incredible. This 2014 vintage is the current release, and there is no substitute for adding bottle age to lees ageing. There must be a mathematical equation where the answer is eight because I often find that HV wines move to a compl etely different level of sophistication at this age. And forgive me for repeating myself, but this wine only costs forty quid, which ought to make it a go-to sparkler in every serious Blanc de Blanc collection in the land. Matthew Jukes, Vineyard Magazine July 2022