Originally Posted by
IBMJunkman
Well, a few weeks ago I found a bottle of Nyetimber from a place on the east coast. Cost and shipping put it at over $100. Figured what the heck. Just this one time. Cracked it open today. I am not a connoisseur and don’t have the jargon. All I can say is earthy. If I could get it locally and the price was close to the UK price I might switch. But since Veuve Clicquot is cheaper locally I will stick with the orange label. 😊
Was that the NV or one of the fancier cuvees? Nyetimber doesn't declare a vintage that often (unpredictable English weather) but vintage Nyetimber tends to get snapped up quickly and appears on the secondary market at prices not far off your USD 100.
The primary characteristic of Nyetimber (and indeed of all English fizz) is the floral notes. English sparkling wines tend to spend longer on the lees than Champagne, so tend to be quite yeasty. Like Champagnes, they're almost all Chardonnay grapes on chalk soils.
I'd raise a glass with you seeing as it's New Year's day, but I've already got a Cremant de Bourgogne on ice! (£ 9 a bottle in the UK when it's on special offer, as it was a few weeks ago when I bought a case.) It's not Nyetimber but it's eminently drinkable, and probably a lot more available in the US. I like the Louis Bouillot.