No.1 Rose Methode Traditionelle

No.1 Family Estate is the family owned wine business of Daniel Le Brun, the Frenchman who’s got Champagne in his blood. The Le Bruns are a family with twelve generations of Champagne wine making in the Champagne region of France. So yep, they know a thing or two about making world class sparkling wine!

Daniel and his family moved to Marlborough in the 80s and used his know-how to produce Champagne-style sparkling wine (“Methode Traditionelle”). The company was then sold to beer, wine and spirit giants Lion while the man himself left to start his own operation, No.1 Family Estate.

The Le Bruns only make one style of wine – but damn they do it well! Their No.1 Rose is made from premium Marlborough Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes, and given 20 months lees aging and then a further 2-3 years aging in the Le Brun cellars. Lees who? It’s a technique winemakers use to add richness, flavour and aroma.

It’s won countless Golds, Trophies and 95+ point scores over the years including a rave review (and yes, another 95/100 score!) from Master of Wine Emma Jenkins. Writing for London’s Decanter Emma said “Marlborough’s No1 Family Estate draws upon founder Daniel LeBrun’s decades (and his Champenois family’s centuries) of experience, specialising in sparkling wine. Made from 86% Pinot Noir and 14% Chardonnay with around two years on lees, this is a sophisticated fizz with red cherry, wild strawberry, acacia flower and brioche notes. Rich and textural with a long savoury finish, it’s lovely on its own and has enough substance to match well with food – try with fresh salmon.”

An elegant style bubbles that looks and tastes like the class act you’d expect from the Le Bruns, all at half the price of entry level French Champagne.