Brown Brothers Patricia Pinot Noir & Chardonnay Brut 2018

As I gaze at the glass, the fine bead of bubbles, reminiscent of my grandma’s cherished pearls, takes centre stage. This is a testament to the exceptional quality of this sparkling champagne method, which is a privilege to savour. The nose opens with a symphony of Golden Delicious apples, Meyer lemons, dried chamomile flowers, wild strawberries, and red currants. Then it’s time for warm, oven-baked bread, fragrant croissants, lemon meringue, a lick of honey, and apple tartlets with a generous scoop of fresh cream on the side. I love how the bubbles caress my tongue and how the acidity sits on the mid-palate, adding flesh to the bones of this sophisticated yet flavoursome sparkling wine. The finish is endless, alternating between fruit characters and those derived from the patient, a long game of resting the wine on its lees. The hand of the winemaker here has magnificently conducted like the best of the orchestra’s directors.