“This is an outstanding English sparkling wine from Dermot Sugrue, certainly one of the best that I have tasted.” - Neal Martin

“Wow, this is such an impressive palate! At least as complex and noteworthy as many prestigecuvées from champagne, but with its own English imprint.”- Richard Hemming MW

Press reviews:

JancisRobinson.com (Tamlyn Currin): “This took me into a wordless lacuna from the moment I put the glass to my nose. A hinterland. An unoccupied interior. There is an expression, chiaroscuro, from the Italian meaning 'light-dark'. It's when an artist allows the shape and substance of the form to be defined only by the way light falls against it. Silent contrast. Black and white. Shadows and light. You, the recipient, become the watcher, waiting for things to emerge from the shadows, for the shapes to make sense. Chiaroscuro demands meditative patience, unpartisan curiosity, a certain strength, the ability to see beyond the immediate and look through to find beauty. I will tell you that this astoundingly beautiful wine is chiselled to within an inch of its bones and yet it is charged with the purest canon of English fruit. I will tell you that it is so spicy that I just assumed the base wine was oak fermented and aged, until I read the notes. I will tell you that it is long and mineral and like a flashing blade of Valyrian steel although it cuts through ripe pear and elderflower honey and cold full-cream milk sitting in a pail on a flagstone floor. But that would not describe this wine. I'll go back to chiaroscuro. Rocks in the moonlight.” 18 points

Decanter: “Dermot Sugrue is one of England’s finest winemakers and he produces a small range of stunning wines under his own Sugrue South Downs label. Made from fruit grown at the Jenkyn Place vineyard in Hampshire, this is a brilliant example of a thoroughly English Blanc de Blancs with bags of character. Notes of praline, toasted hazelnut and apple rind are matched by a fine lively mousse and gloriously tangy acidity,” 96 points

JancisRobinson.com (Richard Hemming MW): “Ripe nose with a vegetal sweetcorn note plus cooked citrus fruit. On the palate, a sudden and surprising herbal leafiness comes first, then a long and complex fruit-driven palate – wow, this is such an impressive palate! At least as complex and noteworthy as many prestige cuvées from champagne, but with its own English imprint – something of the hawthorn and hedgerow note for which the region is renowned. (RH) 12% alc. Drink 2025-2030.” 17.5 points

Jamie Goode: “Lively aromatics here of apple, pear and lemon. The palate is powerful and concentrated, and fruit driven, with pure citrus fruits, a touch of pear and a hint of rhubarb. Very expressive and bold.” 95 points