By Lucy Shaw – English sparkling wine Nyetimber has beaten the likes of Bollinger and Louis Roederer to be named Champion of Worldwide Sparking Wines at an Italian competition. Nyetimber’s Classic Cuvée 2003, which costs around £25, came top in the blind tasting at the Bollicine del Mondo competition in Verona, run by Italian wine magazine Euposia.
The competition, now in its second year, is open to Champagnes and sparkling wines from around the world. West Sussex-based Nyetimber’s 2003 vintage is described as fruit-driven with Chardonnay at the fore and ‘aromas of mandarins, vanilla, lemons, shortbread and light apricot’. www.decanter.com
Caroline Gilby
Bordeaux second growth Chateau Leoville Las Cases has announced it is to produce a second wine. Yorick D’Alton of the Delon family, owners of the St Julien property, said this week it was the wish of Leoville Las Cases director Jean-Hubert Delon ‘to make a real second wine.’
He added, ‘The trend at the property is to select more and more, and if we make a second wine this will improve our top wines.’ Currently the property produces two wines, the grand vin from the original walled ‘clos’ vineyard, and Clos de Marquis, from a separate plot to the west of St Julien, with very different terroir.D’Alton said, ‘This will be a common second wine from both vineyards, made from young vines and vats that are not of the right quality level.’
The first release of the new wine, to be called Petit Leon de Léoville, will be from the 2007 vintage. No further details on pricing or release date have been announced. www.decanter.com
