Sometimes two different wineries or wine families get together in partnership to form a new winery, such as Almaviva, which is a joint venture established in the late 1990s between Baroness Philippine de Rothschild and the Guilisasti/Larrain family, theowners of Concha y Toro. Another example is Chateau Ste. Michelle of Washington state and Ernst Loosen of Germany, creating Eroica Riesling.
Today, I would like to tell you about a partnership between lifelong friends Pierre-Emmanuel Taittinger and Patrick McGrath MW to craft an exceptional English sparkling wine. In 2015, Pierre Emmanuel Taittinger (from Champagne Taittinger) and Patrick McGrath MW located the perfect site for their collaboration to create the winery Domaine Evremond. They are convinced that the combination of chalk soils, climate, and topography of their site in Kent would be ideal for producing quality sparkling wine, as the area is very similar to the terroir in Champagne.
I received a bottle of their inaugural sparkling wine, Domaine Evremond Classic Cuvee Edition I, to review for you. It is a blend of 55% Pinot Noir, 35% Chardonnay, and 10% Pinot Meunier. The wine is fermented and matured entirely in stainless steel vats and undergoes malolactic fermentation and has been aged 3 years on the lees.
The bottle has quite a unique shape as well as the label. According to the winery, “The label for Domaine Evremond Classic Cuvée was inspired by archived imagery of the figure who gave the estate its name: Charles de Saint-Évremond. The label’s oval shape mirrors the frame of his 1659 portrait by Pieter van Gunst, while the estate’s emblem, the cinquefoil (a heraldic five-petalled flower), is fashioned after Charles de Saint-Évremond’s crest…Domaine Evremond takes its name from Charles de Saint-Évremond (1613-1703), a Frenchman and the first true ambassador for the wines of Champagne, who fuelled its popularity in England at the court of Charles II. A poet, epicurean and literary critic, he was buried in Poet’s Corner in Westminster Abbey.”
The bottle shape has quite a long narrow neck. The bottle’s shape is inspired not by Champagne but rather by Taittinger’s Californian adventure, Domaine Carneros, specifically its Napa Valley sparkling wine, Le Rêve.
My Wine Tasting Notes
Domaine Evremond Classic Cuvee Edition I (BC ~$114.99)
Appearance: A clear, bright, medium-intensity pear colour with many tiny bubbles when poured in the glass. Persistent bubbles after being poured.
Nose: Medium intensity aromas of stone fruits, lees, and dried apples.
Palate: This sparkling wine is dry, with medium-plus acidity. Creamy, medium-sized bubbles provide a full mouthfeel. Crisp apples, brioche, and a touch of grape stem on the palate.
Finish: Medum-plus to long length, finishing with mouthwatering acidity, flavours of crisp apple, a hint of grape stem, and brioche.
The full method of vinification is not described online, as I picked up something similar to oak, which is likely a result of a portion of grape stems left in the fermentation process.
This is a quality sparkling wine. The full mouthfeel was very nice, plus the creaminess of the bubbles. I would say it reminds me of Taittinger Champagne in its style.
Rating: 
Where Can I Buy This Wine?
Domaine Evremond Classic Cuvee Brut will only be available in private stores; so far, The Gull, Kitsilano Wine Cellar, and on-premise accounts. I only have the estimated price of $114.99. The actual price may vary by store. You may want to purchase this sparkling wine for collecting as well since it is the first released edition from this winery.
