Wine of the week: Kent’s epic Chardonnay sparkler

I have nothing less than a global scoop this week: 2014 Coeur de Cuvée is the second vintage release from the remarkable Kit’s Coty vineyard, and it goes on sale any minute. Kit’s Coty is an exceptional 95-acre vineyard with a perfect southerly aspect and pristine, free-draining chalk soils.

When the yields are restricted the resulting fruit is epic. Made from the “heart” of the Chardonnay grapes’ first pressing, the juice undergoes wild fermentation and maturation on its lees in French oak for seven months. Immediately sensational on both the nose and palate, this is a grand wine with an expansive flavour and terrific potential.

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If you want to form an image of just how serious the Coeur de Cuvée is prior to taking the £100-plunge, then 2014 Kit’s Coty, Blanc de Blancs (£40) is closely related to its elite stablemate.

Again, this is a 100% Chardonnay sparkler, but this time only 20% of the wine is matured in oak and so this is a nimbler number with an edgier feel.

Both wines are absolutely top drawer and they build on the success of the lovely 2013 releases which brought this special vineyard to our collective vinous consciousness.

I expect you have one question to ask – are they worth it? They wouldn’t make it onto the page if I had any doubts.

2014 Chapel Down, Kit’s Coty, Coeur de Cuvée, North Downs, Kent, England £100, chapeldown.com

This article was originally published in MoneyWeek