An Afternoon with Nyetimber
From Melt Weddings to Melt Productions and Melt Bars, we know the impact that wines can have on any occasion.
From a corporate event with significant figureheads to the long-awaited wedding of a happy couple, the drinks supplied at any event give a taste of what is to come and, hopefully, leave a lasting impression.
When it comes to wedding wines, they are often something a couple will return back to year after year - so it is important to make sure it is something they both love.
Our Melt Team members were lucky enough to take part in an in-depth wine tasting with a member of the Nyetimber Team, the lovely Helen.
From the history of Nyetimber to the complex process of creating an award-winning English Sparkling Wine, Helen talked us through each of the wines and was attentive in every way - ensuring we took the time to enjoy each one and, of course, leaving time for a good natter in between.
Classic Cuvee
The signature wine of Nyetimber, the multi-vintage wine is the flagship Cuvee: blending together Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier to create a fresh and balanced sparkling wine.
Generally aged for more than three years, the Classic Cuvee hosts notes of honey, almond, pastry and baked apples - building an intense flavour profile, whilst holding an air of delicacy.
Consistently recognised as one of the best sparkling wines in the world, the Classic Cuvee is Nyetimber’s most popular wine and a favourite among wedding couples.
Blanc de Blancs, 2014
The Blanc de Blanc, Nyetimber’s vintage wine, was the first style produced back in the early 1990s.
Crafted from 100% Chardonnay grape, the Blanc de Blancs has a greater body to it than the Classic Cuvee, and finishes with greater length.
With notes of baked lemon and white peach, and aromas of citrus, honeysuckle, brioche and vanilla, the Blanc de Blancs warms you with its aged tones. Its balance of delicacy and complexity unmatched, the Blanc de Blancs is sure to tantalise the palate of yourself and your guests.
Cuvee Cherie
Another of Nyetimber’s multi-vintage wines, the Cuvee Cherie is the sweetest of the selection. The first Demi-Sec of its kind in England, this is the perfect non-dessert wine dessert wine (if you get my drift).
The Cuvee Cherie is not a dessert wine by name, but the way that sugars on the tongue interact with sugars in the wine makes for a perfect pairing. Taking the sweetness down a notch, the wine becomes a mirror of the Classic Cuvee with its clean and pure structures.
Hosting aromas of pure lemon, mineral, honey and tangerine and a palate with a sweet lemon start, the Cuvee Cherie is a wine to satisfy any sweet tooth.
Rosé
With a core of bright red fruits, the Multi-Vintage Rosé is the epitome of an English summer.
From the stunningly warm sunset colour, to dreamy aromas of summer fruits and shortbread (a combination we dream about), and flavours of redcurrant, raspberry and cherry, Nyetimber’s Rosé is a summer afternoon in liquid form.
Whilst remaining beautifully light and silky, this wine is somehow both perfectly refreshing and luxuriously creamy in its texture.
Tillington Single Vineyard, 2014
With grapes from a single vineyard, this wine exhibits Pinot Noir at its finest, displaying just how refined and intricate the grape is.
Where wild strawberries and florals meet rich pastries and praline, the aromas draw you in and truly set the tone of the wine. Followed by flavours of red apple, apricot, citrus and almond, the thick texture leads to a long and refined finish.
1086 Prestige Cuvee, 2010
Nyetimber’s Prestige Cuvee, 1086, is said to represent the finest of their wines - the true pinnacle of not only Nyetimber’s winemaking skill but English Sparkling Wines as a whole.
The ageing process (nearly a decade) allows for a marriage between fruit, caramel and savoury flavours like no other, creating a rich texture and complex finish.
1086 Rosé Prestige Cuvee, 2010
Taking the best of both the Rosé and the Prestige Cuvee, Nyetimber’s 1086 Rosé is the perfect expression of Pinot Noir red fruit, floral and pastry flavours, and the long ageing process that makes the 1086 wines as indulgent as they are.
Creating a wine of silk and elegance, Nyetimber’s 1086 Rosé calls for warm nights, cool breezes and fine summer fruits.
So Which Should I Choose?
Being a multi-vintage wine, the Classic Cuvee has the potential to change from one year to the next - the same way a couple would evolve as the years of their marriage build.
As the Blanc de Blanc is not a multi-vintage wine, this is one couples can return to year on year and reminisce their wedding day - like saying hello to an old friend.
There is an argument to be made for each wine but, at the end of the day, the answer is quite simple...
You need to try the wines to determine which will work for you and your wedding party.
Why Should We Book a Wine Tasting?
Our overall experience with Nyetimber was one of pleasure and luxury, something the entire Melt Team wishes to enjoy again. Helen was thorough in her teaching, allowing us to leave with a greater knowledge of the wines we hope to be sharing with our couples in the coming months.
Taking the time to explain the process of the lees, the delicacy of grape-picking and the story behind neck labels (to name just a few things), Helen filled us with confidence that our nearly-wed couples would be in safe hands.
Whether you are a wine connoisseur or know little further than what you like (this was me going into the day, don’t worry!), taking part in a wine tasting as part of your wedding planning process is something that will serve as an experience for you as a couple, bringing you together and giving you a moment of calm and stillness to reflect upon the wonder of your engagement, the life you have lived so far and the future you are building with one another. Not to mention, you can find a wine that satisfies both of you…
Get in touch with us today to organise your Nyetimber Wedding Wine Tasting and unlock a new sensory experience in your wedding planning process.
Take a look over the Nyetimber website here.
Written by Siobhan Tinnion
Event & Marketing Manager
