English sparkling wine producer Nyetimber has taken top honours at the London Wine Fair’s highly anticipated ‘Battle of the Bubbles’, outscoring some of Champagne’s most iconic names in a blind tasting.
The standout bottle, 1086 by Nyetimber 2010, was awarded the highest score of the entire competition, beating out prestige cuvées including Dom Pérignon 2013 and Krug Grande Cuvée, 172ème Édition.
Twenty-six sparkling wines from around the world were judged by a panel of sixteen experts, including Masters of Wine, Master Sommeliers, and prominent sparkling wine writers. Each wine was scored out of 100. When the final tally came in, it was the English entry that came out on top.
Nyetimber was the first English producer to release a prestige cuvée back in 2018. The 1086 range is only made in exceptional vintages, using select parcels of fruit, and matured on lees for extended periods. It represents the highest expression of the estate’s winemaking.
This latest accolade follows a string of successes for the West Sussex producer. Earlier this year, Nyetimber became the first English sparkling wine served on board British Airways in First Class. The 1086 Rosé is already available in the cabin, with the white cuvée to follow later this year.
Eric Heerema, owner and CEO of The Nyetimber Group, says, “It is wonderful to see 1086 by Nyetimber being recognised in such a renowned competition. So much hard work and passion go into creating this wine, and we only make it from vintages when the quality of the harvest has been strong enough. Champagne has been renowned for its prestige cuvées for decades. However, we have always been quietly confident that prestige cuvées from England can match, if not exceed, the standards of those from Champagne.”
Nyetimber’s success continued at the International Wine Challenge, where the 1086 and 1086 Rosé 2013 both received Gold medals with 96 points. The Blanc de Blancs 2016 Magnum also won Gold with a score of 97.
The 1086 by Nyetimber 2010 opens with a rich and complex nose of red apple, peach, and white rose petals. On the palate, it is delicate yet structured, with crisp acidity and notes of yellow pear, almond, and clotted cream. It finishes long and refined, and is a natural match for oysters, lobster, turbot, or caviar.
The Rosé is equally expressive, offering aromas of wild strawberry, red apple, and cream. Fresh red fruit and subtle brioche notes carry through on the palate, balanced by a pure, crystalline core. It pairs beautifully with duck, veal carpaccio, steak tartare, or grilled octopus.
Once seen as an underdog, Nyetimber has proven it can stand on equal footing with the giants of Champagne. After this performance, it may be time to stop calling it a surprise.
