The Prestige Cuvée, 1086, represents the very finest of Nyetimber’s wines, with alluring aromas and sublime texture. The first ever Prestige Cuvée made in England, 1086 represents the pinnacle of their winemaking. The 2010 vintage has a rich and generous fruit character alongside a savoury and caramelised flavour (the result of almost a decade of ageing). Its texture and richness allow for pairing with some of the most decadent and complex ingredients which highlight the wine’s exquisite character. Pair it with lobster, sole, turbot or oysters. 1086 it is characterized by its balance, acidity, length and texture - all beautifully represented and combine seamlessly upon the palate. Complex aromas including fresh grapefruit, nougat and a fine minerality. The palate is both delicate and yet generous with great intensity and a lovely touch of vanilla on the delightfully long finish.

Attributes

Origin:	United Kingdom / West Sussex
Grape variety:	Chardonnay, Pinot noir, Pinot meunier
Label:	Vegan
Ripening potential:	10 to 12 years after harvest
Drinking temperature:	10 to 12 °C
Food Pairing:	Apéro pastries, Apéro riche, Whitefish fillets à la meunière, Fresh water fish with cream sauce, Oysters, Giant crevettes, grilled langoustines
Vinification:	bottle fermentation, fermentation in steel tank
Harvest:	hand-picking, in small boxes
Maturation:	on the yeast, long cultivation
Maturation duration:	36 months
Volume:	12.0 %
Note:	Contains sulphites

Producer

Nyetimber

For the last quarter-century, England has played a very special role in the world of wines – an exotic in moist and chilly northern Europe.

When you think of England you might think of umbrellas, charm, and bowler hats. Specifically umbrellas, since British weather is famously rainy. Few people know that winegrowing in England is historically documented back to the 7th century. Thanks to the Gulf Stream, the climate is mild enough for certain types of grapes to grow and fully ripen. The change in climate during recent decades has brought some advantages to English winemakers, improving growth conditions and encouraging many to try their luck at winegrowing.

Grape variety

Pinot meunier

Freshness boost for champagnes

Many fine white hairs on the underside of the leaves give this red grape its name. "Meunier" translates to miller, an allusion to the impression that the plant has been dusted with freshly ground flour. Its main habitat is in Champagne. Alongside Pinot noir and Chardonnay, it forms the third component of the classic champagne cuvée. It contributes fresh acidity and youthful fruit to the sparkling wines. It is only very rarely into champagne by itself, but the few examples are worth tasting. In German, Pinot Meunier is also known as Müllerrebe or misleadingly as Schwarzriesling (black Riesling).

Pinot noir

Blueprint of the terroir

No other variety expresses its terroir as precisely as Pinot noir. It is a sensitive, fragile grape. But when it succeeds, it gives the world some of its very greatest wine plants. It especially excels in Burgundy, where it has been cultivated for at least 700 years. Even in the middle ages, it was considered so precious that it was kept separate from other grapes so as to not diminish its value. The finest examples are delicate and fragrant with aromas of cherries and red berries. With maturity, notes of forest floor, leather and truffles enter as well. An irresistible fruity sweetness still shines through, even after several decades. The Pinot noir does well in cool locations: in Switzerland and in Germany, where it is known as Blauburgunder and Spätburgunder respectively; in Alsace and in South Tyrol, in Oregon, New Zealand and Tasmania. Not least, it yields fantastic champagnes. It is a wonderful culinary companion. With its soft tannins and charming bouquet, it meshes with everything, from Güggeli and cheeses to fried fish.

Chardonnay

King or beggar?

Hardly any variety of vine shows such a broad spectrum of quality as the Chardonnay. Its wines range from faceless neutrality to breath-taking class. It is an extremely low-maintenance vine, which explains why it is grown around the world – even in places where it probably should not be. The aromas of the Chardonnay variety are not very pronounced: a bit of green apple, a little hazelnut; in warmer latitudes, also melon and exotic fruits. The wines are often defined by maturing in casks. They develop more or less subtle notes of butter, toasted bread and vanilla. The grapes achieve their highest expression in their region of origin, Burgundy. Its heart beats in the Côte de Beaune: one might think of the plant growth of Meursault or Puligny-Montrachet. With their finesse and complexity, they can survive for decades. Chardonnay also achieves first class in some Blanc-de-Blancs champagnes. It additionally yields great wines in the Burgundian Chablis, and increasingly in Australia and Chile. A simple rule of thumb for pairing with food: When butter and cream are involved, you cannot go wrong with Chardonnay.