Ancre Hill Estates Awards

We are dedicated to producing wines of only the highest quality, utilising traditional viticultural practices to produce the best possible fruit from varieties with great heritage.

Planting a vineyard is a long term investment. For example some of our Sparkling Cuvees will be left on their lees for a minimum of 5 years and, after disgorgement, receive another six months bottle ageing before release.  Similarly some of our finest Pinot Noirs will be left to mature in oak barrel and later, bottle, before release.

We are passionate about winemaking and will continue to push the boundaries. We specialize in Quality Sparkling wines, produced in the true champenoise style, some barrel fermented and all cuvees lees aged for a minimum of 2 years.

We made our first Pinot Noir red in 2009 following a perfect summer, producing excellent sugar and acidity levels and tannic ripeness.  With fastidious work in the vineyard, we believe the production of world class Pinot Noir is achievable from our vineyards in all but the very worst of years.

Delicious still rose and still whites complement our production portfolio.

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Sparkling Rosé 2009

Vintage Notes

2009 was only our second harvest and the best, weather wise, that we have seen. Conditions were almost optimal for all the major physiological stages of grape growing. Very good yields were combined with good sugar and acidity levels. Fruit was of very good quality with no disease issues. 2009 was the first fruit taken from our Chardonnay which was planted in 2007.

Tasting Notes

Luxurious, delicate salmon pink colour. Beautiful soft perfumed nose, delicate berries. On palate, layered, some mushroom on back palate, soft persistent bubbles, subtle balance of strawberries and texture on the finish. Great with sashimi of wild salmon with a little Halen Mon Sea salt.

Technical Data

66.6% Pinot noir / 33.3% Chardonnay
11.5% ABV
RS: 8.9g/l BRUT
TA: 8.4g/l T
Whole bunch pressed together, fermentation in temperature controlled stainless steel tank. Aged on the lees for 24 months before disgorging, receiving a further 6 months bottle age before release.
Closure: Cork

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Chardonnay 2010

Vintage Notes

2010 was a large crop due to the exceptional weather at bud initiation between bud-burst and flowering in 2009. The number of hours sunshine throughout the 2010 growing season was good and yet there was enough rainfall for adequate nutrient uptake. Harvest was the beginning of October in fine weather. Sugar and acidity levels were slightly above average. The quality of the fruit was exceptional, with no disease issues whatsoever.

Tasting Notes

Vibrant nose, buttery and waxy, with some good vanilla on palate, pear drops, guava, rich fruit. Crisp finish with good length. Has the ability to age and develop into a classic wine.

Technical Data

100% Chardonnay
11% ABV
RS: 5.7g/l
TA: 8.5g/l T
25% barrel fermented in 1-2 year old french oak. Stirred on lees for 6 months.
75% fermentation in temperature controlled stainless steel.
Closure: Screwcap

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Pinot Noir 2011

Vintage Notes

2011 was the first full season farming with biodynamic practices. The year began with a hot dry spring and drought conditions. This combined with the large crop from 2010 to affect nutrient uptake and thus a small but perfectly formed crop was set. Weather at flowering was poor, with low temperatures and high rainfall, however 1 week of good weather allowed for better fruit set in the Pinot noir and Chardonnay than earlier varieties. The sun finally arrived towards the end of August staying through September, providing a long late ripening. Harvested mid to late October, the ripeness of the tannins and sugars were the best yet recorded for the 'Town' vineyard Pinot noir. The quality of the fruit was extremely clean with no disease issues.

Tasting Notes

Classic Pinot noir nose, delicate, soft and clean with a hint of mushrooms. On the palate, light summer berries and light vanilla notes. Germanic in style, opens up after about 30 minutes benefiting from decanting. Soft ripe tannins are well integrated giving it a luxurious texture and lingering aftertaste.

Technical Data

100% Pinot Noir
12% ABV
R.S: 5.8g/l
TA: 5.1g/l T
Cold soaked then fermented in temperature controlled stainless steel tank. 50% aged in French oak of varying ages.
Closure: Screwcap

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Triomphe 2010

Vintage Notes

2010 was a large crop due to the exceptional weather at bud initiation between bud-burst and flowering in 2009. The number of hours sunshine throughout the 2010 growing season was good and yet there was enough rainfall for adequate nutrient uptake. Harvest was the beginning of October in fine weather. Sugar and acidity levels were slightly above average. The quality of the fruit was exceptional, with no disease issues whatsoever.

Tasting Notes

On the nose, fresh rhubarb, blackberries and gooseberry leaf. On the palate, intense flavours of redcurrant, blackcurrant and sweet red apples, with a floral note. Rich mouth feel with a zingy acidity; good length with a clean finish.

Technical Data

100% Triomphe
11.5% ABV
RS: 4.3g/l
TA: 6.0g/l T
Crushed and destemmed then cold soaked for 3 days. Fermented in temperature controlled stainless steel and aged in 1 year old french oak for 8 weeks.
Closure: Screwcap

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Rosé 2010

Vintage Notes

2010 was a large crop due to the exceptional weather at bud initiation between bud-burst and flowering in 2009. The number of hours sunshine throughout the 2010 growing season was good and yet there was enough rainfall for adequate nutrient uptake. Harvest was the beginning of October in fine weather. Sugar and acidity levels were slightly above average. The quality of the fruit was exceptional, with no disease issues whatsoever.

Tasting Notes

A strawberry ice-cream nose with a hint of apples and citrus. On the palate, sweet gala apples, red cherry, strawberries and a hint of grapefruit with a delicate floral undertone. Clean finish with the apple note lingering.

Technical Data

50% Triomphe / 50% Seyval Blanc
11% ABV
RS: 7.4g/l
TA: 7.2g/l T
Pressed together and fermented in stainless steel.
Closure: Screwcap

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Sparkling White 2009

Vintage Notes

2009 was only our second harvest and the best, weather wise, that we have seen. Conditions were almost optimal for all the major physiological stages of grape growing. Very good yields were combined with good sugar and acidity levels. Fruit was of very good quality with no disease issues.

Tasting Notes

Light straw / golden colour, mellow bees wax nose, soft delicate lightly toasted brioche. Tastes remarkably similar to the 2008 with faint lime peel on the palate. Good acidity, clean and fresh, luxurious mouth feel, delicate bubbles.

Technical Data

100% Seyval Blanc
11.5% ABV
RS: 10.7g/l BRUT
TA: 9.4g/l T
Whole bunch pressed and fermented in temperature controlled stainless steel tank. Aged on the lees for 24 months before disgorging, receiving a further 6 months bottle age before release.
Closure: Cork