2020 Classic
BLACK CHALK WINE
$79.33
79.33 CAD- United Kingdom
- England
6 x 750
Nestled amongst the hills of the glorious Test Valley, in the heart of the Hampshire countryside, lies Black Chalk. Created in 2015 by current CEO and winemaker, Jacob Leady sought out fruit from local Hampshire vineyards to make small batch, traditional method sparkling wines while working as winemaker for Hattingley Valley. The first Black Chalk wines were released in 2018 to critical acclaim.
12ha of established vineyards across 3 sites in Test Valley were purchased in 2019 followed by the building of a state-of-the-art winery and tasting room in 2020. The three vineyards: Rivers (is bordered by The River Test and The River Anton), The Levels (the largest vineyard and split into two levels) and Hide (hidden away in a beautiful valley that bakes in the summer sunshine) - all are situated on shallow soils above solid chalk.
Across these vineyards 34 different clone and rootstock combinations of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, Pinot Précoce and Pinot Gris are grown. These combinations provide an array of quality and wine profiles, from which a number of small batch sparkling and still wines are created.
The Classic and the Wild Rose (rosé) sparkling wines are both made from the three classic Champagne varieties: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier.
Jacob and his small team are continually striving for a better understanding about how to grow better fruit and make wines with more precision with quality always the focus and priority.
Jacob Leadley has held a messianic faith in Hampshire chalk for over seven years. Utterly convinced of its potential to create insane sparkling wine he risked everything to buy his own vineyards and build a winery – a mere week before lockdown hit.
It might have sunk a softer team, but Jacob, James and Zoë are made of sterner stuff. Today this decision is bearing fruit: all of the wine made at Black Chalk is made from owned vineyards. With 35 clone rootstock variations on 30 acres (spread across three vineyard sites) – coupled with small and varied batch pressings, the team have a palate to play with that is worthy of the artistic Black Chalk name.Lisse Garnett, June 2022
