Beyond the fancy bottle: Heemskerk Chardonnay Pinot Noir 2009

This comes in one of the most eye-catching bottles around. What do you think – brilliance or novelty (especially given that it looks a lot like the Crown Ambassador bottle)

Thankfully the juice inside is top-rate – perhaps the best bubbly yet from Heemskerk. All Coal River Valley fruit (including a portion from the Tolpuddle vineyard apparently) and Chardonnay dominant.

A wonderfully delicate style it is too. Very crisp and perhaps too dry, but lovely delicacy – really quite pretty and correct, though the acid is just a little citrussy. Indeed it’s almost an aromatic white with bubbles, such is the citrussy acidity. But nice though – I shared a bottle and it disappeared quick smart.

If anything I think this could be quite magnificent with more lees/bottle ageing. Certainly more complete than most $60 NV Champagne (and a quick Google search tells me this can be bought for sub $50 too).

Source: Sample
Tasted: Nov 2014
Drink: 2014-2018+
Score: 18.1/20, 93/100
Would I buy it? Almost. With Bollinger available at $54 its tricky. This has more character though.
Buy online: Wine Box Warehouse, Heemskerk website