Hattingley Valley, England (United Kingdom) Sparkling Wine Brut “Classic Reserve” NV ($47)

In the traditional Champagne style, this is a blend of multiple vintage reserve wines to get at a consistent house style that the public will recognize as such. The focus here is on tempering the regional acidity, which can be bracing to say the least. That said, the tempering is carefully done, bringing everything to a beautiful balance point. The result is a wine that feels full in the mouth, with flavors of apple, moderate toasty character, lemon zest and a persistent finish. It’s quite delicious, and a nice contrast to the more acid driven local competition. Fear not, there’s still plenty enough acidity to keep things fresh and lively.
93 Rich Cook