English wine is rapidly climbing up the ladder to snatch the spot of prestige wine countries. So much so, we now have English Wine Week!
From the 21 to 29 of June, the week was dedicated to raising our glasses to English vineyards and winemakers alike, toasting the dedication and perseverance of the vine-to-the-table craft.
We’d like to raise our glass, to a premium vintage English sparkling wine producer: The Roebuck Estates!
Hailing from West Sussex and named after the majestic roe deer that roams among its surroundings, Roebuck Estates was founded by two friends in 2013, launching its’ first vintage in 2019. Their mission is to produce exceptional, quality vintage wines, every single year, which is a celebration of their growing season.
Roebuck Estates has inherited a renowned reputation for its’ house style, with sommeliers and press. As a result of their handpicked fruit and a generous bottle ageing for minimum of 36 months, their wines are high quality in richness and complexity with a pinwheel of flavours upon each sip.
Now, in lieu of English Wine Week, Roebuck Estates are poised to launch their brand-new, limited-edition release: The Rare Expressions No.96.
If you’re a collector of fine wines and vintages, clear a space in your wine fridge, because we have a treat for you! This vintage marks the second entry in Roebuck’s luxury Rare Expressions collection. Only 1,625 bottles of this exclusive release are available and each bottle is individually numbered to mark its’ exclusivity. Here’s why you should add The Rare Expressions No.96 to your growing collection:
The Craft
The Rare Expressions No.96 has been crafted from the finest fruit of the 2014 vintage and aged in the bottle for 96 months, before being carefully disgorged. A true testament to the mastery of dedication, craftmanship and time, which proudly matches Roebuck’s mission. Head of Viticulture at Roebuck Estates, Jake Wicks, explains that this wine demonstrates the virtues of aging and time in sparkling wine production.
“We tasted the wine every year to assess its evolution in bottle. This process proved that ageing sparkling wines is not linear! However, after 96 months, the wine tasted incredible—deliciously rich, yet still refined, with layer upon layer of complexity.” – Jake Wicks, Head of Viticulture
The Classic Grape Varieties
A rich, classic blend of 47% Chardonnay, 38% Pinot Noir and 15% Pinot Meunier grape varieties craft the No.96. Eager eyed Champagne enthusiasts will know that these classic grape varieties, are the backbone of Champagne – and are the sole focus of Roebuck Estates.
This wine is beautifully balanced, offering a colour of molten gold and a velvety texture upon the tongue, with delicate bubbles, ultimately leading you to a long, lingering finish. On the nose, the wine exhumes notes of baked apples, honey and toast. Upon each sip, the smell and taste of the baked fruit is complemented by layers of candied citrus peel and toasted walnuts.
The Sustainability Commitment
Due their commitment to sustainability, Roebuck Estates no longer uses herbicides in their vineyards and pesticides and fungicides have been reduced by 40% in the last two years. Given the recent weather conditions in recent years, this is quite impressive! Now, there is a fully trained ecologist as an integral part of their vineyard team.
The Growing Collection
Roebuck’s Rare Expressions Range is a flagship series of limited-edition vintage sparkling wines that showcase the finest expressions of special grape varieties, places or moments in time. No.96 joins the debut release of The Rare Expressions No.19 which has already garnered critical claim. (You can enjoy a glass of this ‘prestige cuvèe’ at The Mandarin Oriental, on their by-the-glass list!)
“This really is a very special collection. Rare Expressions No.96 represents one of our oldest wine releases to date and adds another prestigious entry to our growing portfolio.” – Michael Kennedy, Roebuck Estates CEO
The Label
Wine collectors are proud of their labels, as much as their bottles. The No.96’s label tells a visual story of the wine’s journey through time. The intricate design, featuring Roebuck’s signature Roe Deer icon, is adorned with foliage and butterflies. The deer itself illustrates the wine’s transformation, growing richer in colour from the neck onwards, portraying the wine’s depth of flavour and tone. On the rim of the label, is a timeline, showing the months of the ageing process along a golden thread.
The Rising Star
The Savoy, Liberty London, Harvey Nichols, Hedonism, Sadlers Wells, Tate Modern, Mandarin Oriental and The Fat Duck are all venues which carry Roebuck Estate’s Classic Collection. Imagine you visit one of these iconic venues with friends and family, ordering a bottle of Roebuck’s Estate’s vintage, whilst glowing about your exclusive No.96, chilling in your wine fridge at home.
Roebuck Estates are now regarded as one of the country’s most highly regarded producers and their brand list is growing exponentially. This year, they became the official sparkling wine partner of Sussex Cricket, which is the first time in its’ almost 200-year-old history, that the prestigious cricket organisation has partnered exclusively with an English Sparkling Wine!
Additionally, last year, Roebuck Estates became the official sparkling wine sponsor of RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival, which attracts around 135,000 visitors a year. Once again, this exclusive partnership, marked the first time that the festival chose an English sparkling wine as it’s official partner. In fact, more Roebuck English Sparkling Wine was sold than all the Champagne and Prosecco combined, in the previous year! This partnership continues, with the festival running from 1st – 6th of July with an increased presence for Roebuck.
The 96’
For those born in the year 1996, they’re tiptoeing towards the big 30 next year! Perhaps it’s a loved one, or special friend, but what a stylish way to celebrate a significant milestone in a person’s life, than gifting them with an exclusive bottle of one of Roebuck’s Estate’s Rare Collections – with their birth year!
A Culinary Experience At Danesfield House
Adding to their notches of rapidly growing partnerships, the Roebuck Estates’ deer takes a leap into Danesfield House. This charming, historic, five-star hotel in Buckinghamshire, played host to a spectacular luncheon, with a four-course meal created by Chef Matt Edmonds and paired with Roebuck Estates’ special vintages – including the Rare Expressions 96!
Despite his kitchen also tuning up for a wedding banquet down the corridor, Maestro Chef Matt Edmonds (who is recognised for his modern, creative approach to fine dining) calmly conducted each of our courses with precision, flair and beautiful presentation.
The menu was carefully curated to showcase the very best of Roebuck Estates, from their Classic Cuvèe 2018, to their brand-new Rare Expressions No.96.
Whether you’re visiting the hotel for a Summer stay, or hosting a luncheon of your own with Roebuck Estates’ vintages, the food is definitely worth noting as a pairing!
Starter
First Course
Citrus Cured Sea Trout with dill, lemon and sourdough bread and butter.
Paired With:
Roebucks Estates’ Classic Cuvèe 2018.
Tasting note: As fish courses go, trout is a difficult one to pair with. The rich oils and sharp flavours (whether you spray lemon upon it or not) mean that acidity is key in your wine pairing. Fortunately, the acidity of the Classic Cuvèe, cut through the vibrant taste of the sea trout. As a result, the dish was light and refreshing, a perfect harmony with the wine’s crispness.
Second Course
Chicken Liver Parfait with cherry brioche crumb and wood sorrel.
Paired With:
Blanc de Noirs 2018.
Tasting Note: This chicken liver parfait was whipped up to a delicious frenzy! It was light, fluffy and melted on the tongue, perfectly balanced by the Blanc de Noirs. The fruit notes from the cherry brioche crumb, complimented the wine’s depth and subtle berry notes. I’d recommend the Blanc de Noirs to serve with a starter or with canapès before your dinner.
Main Course
Texel Cross Lamb with hazelnut crumb, hispy cabbage, black garlic and apple purèe.
Paired With:
Rare Expressions No.96.
Tasting Note: At last we get to enjoy the Rare Expressions No.96, both separately and with food! Boasting a colour of molten gold, creamy texture, with a toasted, pastry finish, this exclusive vintage was a perfect complement to the lamb. Seasoned with the hazelnut crumbs, there was an added crunch, tinged with a sweetness from the apple purèe. Oh and the cabbage? It was less of a side and more of a meal in itself! I alternated sips between the lamb and the No.96 and then the cabbage and the No.96, just to see if you can pair it with the vegetables. You absolutely can!
Dessert
Pineapple Carpaccio with coconut, pomegranate and coriander.
Paired With:
Rosé de Noirs 2019.
Tasting Note: When I think of carpaccio, naturally beef comes to mind. But this thinly sliced, tropical treat, bursting with stone fruit flavours was such a creative end to the meal! Accompanied with the rosé, the floral and red fruit notes matched with a vibrant intensity. Perfect for a summer banquet in the sun!
A Wine Lover’s Getaway
A warm, friendly location, with stunning views, world class cuisine and a chilled glass of Roebucks Estates to welcome you for your stay? Oh, yes. Danesfield House is definitely on our must visit list for wine lovers. Each sip of Roebuck’s Estates wine, truly is, a taste of Britain!
You can find Roebucks Estates here: roebuckestates.co.uk
And Danesfield House over here: danesfieldhouse.co.uk
Instagram: @roebuckestates | @danesfieldhouse