Decanter

Chapel Down, Rosé Brut, Kent, England NV (12%)

£29-£39

Amazon, Booths, Chapel Down, Fenwick, Grape Britannia, K&L, Majestic, Marks & Spencer, Ocado, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose Cellar

The UK category is always a focus of great interest during judging – so there was excitement when it became clear that, for the first time, an English rosé sparkler had made it into our Best in Show selection. A sign of climate change? Perhaps: red grapes are ever-easier to ripen here. But perhaps its success is also a function of the complex blend crafted by the winemaker. Whatever the reason, we found the wine hard to resist. The aromatic fruits are satisfying­ly restrained, the palate clean and emphatic. The English-season acidity – always prominent, but satisfying­ly ripe here – is lent interest by a mineral undertow as well as a soft sherbet charm.

‘The south-facing chalk slopes of the Kent Downs, in combinatio­n with the cool maritime climate we are blessed with, allow us to make crisp, fresh wines that simply couldn’t be made anywhere else,’ says Chapel Down’s head winemaker Josh Donaghay-Spire. ‘Our first vines were planted in 1977 and we’ve come a huge way in our learning since then; we’re now enjoying exploring the incredible terroir of the Kent Downs through wine. Being a new wine region, we are unconstrai­ned by winemaking history. We look at other regions and take inspiratio­n from our land to maximise the potential of what we can grow in Kent.’

The wine comprises 61% Chardonnay, 23% Pinot Noir and 9% Pinot Meunier, with small yet vital contributi­ons from Pinot Blanc and Pinot Noir Précoce (coined ‘Early Pinot Noir’ by Chapel Down). ‘[The last of these] provides a key point of difference,’ explains DonaghaySp­ire. ‘This variety has been championed by us for our sparkling rosé. As well as bringing colour, it contribute­s to the wine’s almost weightless character.

‘Winning such a high accolade is a fantastic recognitio­n of the quality of our vineyard sites and the meticulous attention to detail that every member of our team pours into our wines.’