The objective of the Coates and Seely wine business is simple: to create quality English sparkling wine that reflects the unique characteristics of English chalk terroir where the grapes are grown, and to stay true to traditional French winemaking principles, enhanced by modern technology.
The idea for the business came about in 2007 when friends Christian Seely and Nicholas Coates decided to create an English sparkling wine, made from Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay grapes grown in Hampshire, England.
After establishing plans for a vineyard in a Hampshire valley of outstanding natural beauty, the pair planted a south-facing chalk slope before expanding by partnering with a neighbour, Daphne Cunningham, and committing to create nothing but quality. In 2009, Coates and Seely had 30 acres under vine and the pair refurbished an old tasting building while stocking the site with the highest quality wine making technology from France.
The result is three wines of the finest quality: The Brut Reserve NV, the Blanc de Blancs NV and the Rosé NV – all three a combination and celebration of England and France.
The Brut Reserve NV is a classic English sparkling. Made from 65% Chardonnay and 35% Pinot Noir, the nose is bold, giving citrus fruitiness. The mouth also offers citrus flavours, particularly lemon, orange and grapefruit. There’s also some marmalade notes but everything is perfectly balanced. There’s a dryness which helps the balance, and evidence of this wine’s quality comes in the form of a Gold Medal award from the 2016 Champagne & Sparkling Wine World Championships and 92 points in Decanter magazine.
The finish is smooth and leaves you with pale lemon. There is potential for improvement in the bottle but it’s extremely good right now. We can’t recommend highly enough.
Coates & Seely Brut Reserve NV
