Lyme Bay Winery has released the 2018 vintage of its award-winning Chardonnay. This is the first time the Devon-based drinks producer has released a still English Wine vintage ahead of an older year and will move straight on from 2016 to 2018 leaving the 2017 Chardonnay in the cellar.
The team at Lyme Bay believe the 2017 vintage will benefit from a longer period of maturation while the 2018 English grape harvest, recognised by producers and English Wine experts for its quality and quantity, is now ready to be enjoyed.
James Lambert, managing director at LBW Drinks said: “As an experienced producer, we consider each harvest in relation to how the growing season will influence the wine. Our focus is to ensure each wine has structure and delivers in terms of flavour and varietal character. As a result, we release each wine when we believe it is ready and most likely to delight discerning drinkers. We are able to do this because we work with a small group of growers that share our interest in nurturing selected still wine clones – an approach that is perhaps unique amongst English producers.”
“Our ambition, through minimal intervention in the winery, is to allow each wine to develop so it is the best expression possible of the grape, the vineyard locations and of the particular growing season. That’s why we made the decision to release the 2018 now and allow the 2017 to develop its full potential.”
Lyme Bay Chardonnay 2018 retails at £22.49 per bottle and is available directly from www.lymebaywinery.co.uk.
