County Business Clubs’ Wine of the Month November 2024

Bee Tree by Sugrue Blanc de Noir 2021.

This month we have chosen the release from one of the UK’s best wine makers. Dermot Sugrue has been a significant figure in the rise of English wine in recent years, after making wines for many different vineyards Dermot is now focused on his own brands which are the impressive Sugrue South Downs and also Bee Tree by Sugrue

Dermot was a winemaker involved at the start of the rise of Nyetimber. After leaving Nyetimber, he established Wiston Estate together with working in Champagne. After making wines for several vineyards, he is now building his own exclusive brands with his wife, Ana, who was head winemaker at Plumpton Estate and where Dermot studied at the start of his career. Their focus is now the chalky soils of Sussex, although they work with other regions, such as Essex, that are also producing excellent grapes for wine.

Key characteristics of Bee Tree by Sugrue 2021

• Grape varieties – 70% Pinot Noir, 30% Pinot Meunier.

• Vineyard – Bee Tree Vineyard, planted in 2015. Vines were 6 years old at the time of harvest. 40-45m above sea level. Founding member of UK Sustainable Wine Scheme.

• Soil type – East Sussex clay over greensand and sandstone.

• Number of bottles produced – 1,800 bottles produced. 2021 was a low-yielding year in the UK.

• Vinification – 100% fermented in stainless steel, without malolactic fermentation. Grapes co-pressed.

• Maturation – Bottled in March 2022. Disgorged in May 2024, just over 2 years on lees.

• Analysis -Dosage 8 g/L, 12% abv.

Comments

Amazing completeness for such a young wine. We were surprised by how early this wine has shown its quality, in the challenging vintage of 2021.

Mouth-filling fruit from both the Pinots here deliver a deliciously balanced palate with a spice and biscuit finish. Youthful and charming, this wine perfectly displays the quality of Bee Tree Vineyard and it’s suitability as a terroir for Blanc de Noirs production.

Michael’s tasting notes

• Colour – attractive golden

• Nose – honeyed nose, apricot, slight maltiness

• Bubbles – Fine and persistent bubbles

• Palate – Soft strawberry and a little delicate spiciness, which works with savoury foods. It has consistent refreshing citrus; nice rounded fruity finish

In summary

A really enjoyable sparkling wine, to have such a young wine, just 3 years of age with such character and depth of flavour is rare. This wine is well-balanced; it has a lovely blend of freshness and fruit on the palate from the combination of Pinot Noir and Pinot Munier grapes. It would be the perfect accompaniment with Christmas nibbles such as smoked salmon. It would also age well with more complexity developing each year.

In my view, it is time to drop the  Champagne and try some of the best sparkling wine from Sussex for Christmas as the quality is sensational.

Where to buy?

You can buy directly online from Bee Tree Vineyard website https://beetreevineyard.co.uk/shop/ or at local vintners such as Butlers, Seven Cellars at between £35 to 38 per bottle. It is a limited release, so buy now or it will be gone for Christmas!

Michael Yeoman, Founder of Brighton and Hove Wine Club and Spirit of the Downs Distillery who produce small batch Sussex Brandies, Vodka and Liqueurs at Bolney

www.spiritofthedowns.co.uk