Gold Medal – Champagne & Sparkling Wine World Championships 2022
Winery notes (NV)
"Cuvée No.1 was the first wine produced by No.1 Family Estate. This Chardonnay Blanc de Blancs is lees aged to encourage full yeast autolysis. The wine displays texture, finesse and charm. Typical, complex, Champagne-like characters with savoury layers of citrus and stone fruits."
5 Stars & 95/100 Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, October 2023 (NV)
"It’s finely scented on the nose, showing white flesh nectarine, Gala apple, oatmeal and sourdough nuances, leading to a brilliantly focused palate that’s linear and creamy at the same time. Wonderfully structured and persistent with charming elegance and poise. A blend of 99% Chardonnay & 1% Pinot Noir; aged on lees for 18 months."
Rated Outstanding & 95/100 Cameron Douglas MS, November 2024 (NV)
"This has to be the perfect aperitif, the bouquet is both pure and precise, it is seductive with complexity and depth. Aromas of citrus and fresh butter brioche, the autolysis intensity increases as the wine opens out in glass, complexity and fruit spice, flower, mineral and new. As the wine touches the palate the mousse delivers a rush of flavours wrapped is a precise and bold texture, carrying with it flavours of citrus and white peach, then breadth and depth from entreillage of at least 18 months. Can you tell this is one of my favourites?"
94/100 David Walker Bell, WineFolio.co.nz, November 2024 (NV)
"A Méthode Traditionnelle wine from Marlborough. The Le Brun family first released this Blanc de Blancs expression of 100% Chardonnay sparkling in 1999, and it has been a classic of New Zealand bubbles in the 25 years since. A pale lemon-yellow colour in the glass. The bouquet has a burst of yeasty autolysis and is sufficiently complex that you’d think it came from Champagne. Lemon, green apple and quince is layered with rich, buttery brioche, and a honeysuckle floral note. A fine bead of bubbles shows off the kinetic energy coiled through the palate. Dry, zesty and so crisp – a really fine example of New Zealand (and Marlborough) sparkling. The finish is very persistent and elegant."
94/100 Bob Campbell MW, The Real Review, January 2024 (NV)
"A blend of 99% chardonnay with 1% pinot noir. Aged on lees for 18 months. Fine, intense wine with rich yeasty baguette-crust, toast and oyster shell flavours. Elegant wine with good cellaring potential despite being very accessible now."
93/100 Stephen Wong MW, The Real Review, October 2024 (NV)
"Pale golden colour. Restrained, complex and introverted nose of citrus peel, apple, floral and spearmint supported by subtle brioche. The palate is softly off-dry with a savoury acidity, palate-staining mid-weight flavours of apple and brioche that turn honeyed on the end. Rich, compact and pastille-like on the finish, it welcomes food to match the sweetness but the fruit is ripe and decadent and there is plenty of acidity for balance. A softer, more mellow blanc de blancs."
5 Stars & 18.5/20 (93) Candice Chow, Raymond Chan Reviews, October 2023 (NV)
"Bright, even, pale straw yellow. Brilliantly persistent and fine bead. The nose is elegant and soft, with aromas of stonefruit, floral, citrus and subtle toastiness. Medium-bodied, aromas of peach and apricot entwined with lemon curd, yellow blossom and pastry hints. The wine is vibrant and youthful with zippy acidity support; subtle brioche and pastry notes entice and carry an elegant, satisfying finish. Slightly chalky fine-textured phenolics provide a silky mouthfeel. This Blanc de Blancs is youthful with elegantly layered toasty autolysis details and a fine-textured palate. Match with garlic butter prawns and chicken ballotine over the next 3 years. 99% Chardonnay, 1% Pinot Noir, 12.5% alc, 6.4g/l RS, 18 months on lees."