2018 Nyetimber Blanc de Blancs (gift boxed)

Nyetimber`s 2018 Blanc de Blancs makes the most of this landmark season in England, where ripeness and abundance followed a string of more challenging vintages. This cuvee tends toward bright fragrance and subtle, creamy freshness rather than searing intensity, and the sunny nectarine and juicy pear fruit here is met with grapefruit zest, sweet jasmine and blossom notes, iodine freshness and gentle browned pastry aging complexity. Some incisiveness and zestiness hits at first, followed by a more soft-focused, amenable palate of moderate intensity and a welcome lick of ripe, citric bittersweetness that keeps the finish keen. This is an approachable vintage that will gain in complexity with a short passage post-release. 90+ points