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Welcome to Esses Wine Company!

Esses wine specialises in growing single estate, late disgorged Méthode Traditionnelle.

The ethos of the company is about making high-quality grower sparkling that is reflective of its natural environment, with minimal impact on its surrounds. Esses are sustainably certified and focus on ensuring that the soil, vines and fruit are naturally healthy and in balance.

All the grapes used in Esses wines are from a single estate. Esses undertake nearly all the work by hand, which results in truly knowing the vines and growing high-quality product.

Esses focuses on creating perfect sparklings that epitomises the season. This differentiates Esses from large scale sparkling and champagne houses that focus on blending and reproducing the same wine each year. Esses balances of the art of growing the grapes to create the flavours and aromas, with science, to ensure that the seasonal attributes shine through in the final product.

Esses is focussed on taking the time to create a quality still wine prior to undertaking the secondary fermentation. Esses specialises in late disgorgement, giving time for the wines to develop characteristics from the lees. Their vintage sparklings have a minimum of 36 months on lees, the same as vintage champagne.

Esses estate is framed by the spectacular seaward ranges with panoramic landscapes expanding out over stunning sea views. This provides Esses vineyard with a dual microclimate of continental and oceanic influences. The sea breezes provide cool temperatures that are beneficial to the development of aromas and quality. The influence of the sea also provides steady rainfall through the growing season, minimising need for irrigation and allowing vines to grow naturally. The stoney soil is free draining, ensuring the roots receive the water that they need but without oversaturating them.

Every step is carefully nurtured from vineyard through to the final product.

Esses Couer de Cuvée Blanc de Blanc Sparkling 2015

Reviews

"It smelled immediately of apple crumble, almond biscuits and vanilla brioche which carried onto the palate alongside fresh ripe red and green apples and light lemon tart. The mousse was perfection. I was in a celebratory mood!"

Libby Zietsman-Brodie, Wine Curater and Consultant, Bacchus & Brodie

London

(describing Couer de Cuvée 2015)

"Light, fresh sparkling wine with ethereal testure, fresh baked bread and citris flavours supported by gentle acidity. Dry but not austere.

A deliciously drinkable fizz - 95/100"

Bob Campbell, Master of Wine

New Zealand

(describing Lady Syme 2014)

"Light to medium straw-yellow colour, with a sweetly poached peach, straw and toast bouquet, popcorn and peanut brittle later. The palate is full and round, rich and ample, with a generous volume of flavour, not so much fruity as mellow and reflecting maturation on its lees."

Huon Hooke, Master of Wine

Australia

(describing Couer de Cuvée 2015)