Hart of Gold 2010
- Retail
- £35.00
- Member
- £28.00
- Case
- £210.00
- Case (Member)
- £168.00
- Varieties
- Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier
- Vintage
- 2010
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Region
- Herefordshire
- Alcohol
- 12%
- Bottle Size
- 750ml
- Drinking Window
- 2015 - 2018
Awards
- Award
- GOLD -
- Event
- International Wine Challenge
- Year
- 2016
- Description
- In addition to Domaine of the Bee, Justin makes English sparkling wine. He has worked closely with the Roberts Family at Ridgeview to produce Hart of Gold. The wine is from the highly-rated 2010 vintage. This delicious fizz was awarded a Gold Medal at The International Wine Challenge 2016. It was also listed by Jancis Robinson MW in her selection of 'seriously impressive wines' in a great article about the future of English Sparkling wine, "An awfully big English adventure".
- Eyes
- A lovely pale gold in colour, with a persistent stream of fine bubbles.
- Nose
- A combination of citrus and stone fruit with rich toasty notes
- Mouth
- Complex flavours of refreshing citrus, alongside distinctive toastiness are underpinned by balanced acidity and a long mouth-watering finish.
- Body
- medium
- Winemaking notes
- Beautiful grapes in perfect condition were harvested in early October, and brought down to Ridgeview for whole bunch pressing and fermentation. Each grape variety is harvested separately. The base wine is then blended, mixed with liqueur de tirage (a syrupy mix of wine, sugar and yeast), and sealed in a bottle with a crown cap to being the secondary fermentation (which is where the bubbles come from). Three years in the bottle in contact with the lees before disgorgement.
- Growing Conditions
- 2010 was a stand-out vintage in England, and particularly good in Herefordshire, where the grapes for Hart of Gold were grown. The warm (but not hot) summer, and long ripening season allowed the grapes to reach full ripeness, while retaining refreshing acidity.
Reviews
Peter Richards MW - Twitter
https://twitter.com/wineschools?lang=enMay 29, 2015
"Oh yes yes yes @Just1nHS! Loving your toasty English fizz. And the fine, fiercely patriotic design..."
Jamie Goode - www.wineanorak.com
http://www.wineanorak.com/wineblog/sparkling-wine/hart-of-gold-english-sparkling-wineJune 10, 2015
"I was impressed by this new English sparkling wine, made by Justin Howard-Sneyd, high-flying wine buyer and owner of a small domaine in the South of France. Justin sourced the grapes – a mixture of all three Champagne varieties – from a vineyard in Ross on Wye, Herefordshire (soils chalk and clay), and the wine was made at Ridgeview. It’s bold and rich, yet fresh at the same time. Hart of Gold 2010 English Sparkling Wine 12% alcohol. Rich yet very fresh with a lovely appley edge to the pear and spice notes. It has tension but also depth of flavour, and a hint of sweetness on the finish. Baked apple, spice, citrus and subtle toasty notes in the mix here. Lovely." - 91
Jancis Robinson MW - Jancis Robinson.com
http://www.jancisrobinson.com/May 14, 2015
"it would make a rousing aperitif" - 16
Jancis Robinson MW - Financial Times
March 3, 2016
Writing for the Financial Times, Jancis Robinson MW listed Hart of Gold as one producers "who have already made some seriously impressive wines" in her article "An awfully big English adventure"
Andrew Jefford - Decanter.com
http://www.decanter.com/opinion/jefford-on-monday/jefford-on-monday-thats-the-way-to-do-it-267299/July 20, 2015
"It has truly impressive aromatic complexity, billowing with white orchard fruit, brioche and a little oxidative richness; the flavours are rousing, long and perfumed too, with splendidly ripe, resonant acidity."
Hugh Johnson - by email
June 14, 2015
"Our family (all ranks) simply loved Hart of Gold..... the MOST delicious bubbly!"
Richard Hemming - Twitter
https://twitter.com/richardhemmingJune 16, 2015
"Well done, @Just1nHS - this is completely delicious! Yet another great English fizz joins the fold."