In the Telegraph Online Victoria Moore wonders why Wimbledon – that most quintessentially English of sporting events – has not plumped for one of the “world class wines made from grapes grown on English soil”.
Notwithstanding Wimbledon’s reticence, Victoria plumps for five of the “finest English fizzes” including Coates & Seely’s Blanc de Blancs 2009 “La Perfide” as well as both of its two non-vintage wines, the Brut Reserve NV and the Rose NV.
Coates & Seely were honoured to have their Brut Reserve NV sparkling wine served at the opening night of the ‘Enlightened Princesses’ exhibition at Kensington Palace.
Curated by the Historic Royal Palaces in conjunction with the Yale Center for British Art, the exhibition explores the lives of the three German princesses – Caroline of Ansbach, Augusta of Saxe-Gotha and Charlotte of Mecklenberg-Streliz – whose respective marriages to George II, George III and George IV placed then at the very heart of the Enlightenment underway in 18th century Britain, and the shaping of the modern world.
On what proved to be the hottest night of the year thus far, the chilled Coates & Seely proved a doubly welcoming refreshment to a fascinated and appreciative audience.
https://www.hrp.org.uk/kensington-palace/#gs.sm1XRnc
Photography by David Jensen
Coates & Seely were delighted to be asked again by Brewin Dolphin to provide the wines for their client entertainment at both this year’s RHS Chelsea and Chatsworth Flower Shows.
It is always a thrill to be at Chelsea, and this year Brewin Dolphin entertained clients with Coates & Seely’s award-winning sparkling Rosé within the splendours of Christopher Wren’s Royal Hospital, built by Charles II for veterans over 325 years ago and still dispensing accommodation and fellowship to retired British heroes to this day.
The highlight this year was, however, the inaugural Flower Show at Chatsworth – certainly one of the most beautiful houses in England – where the representation of Paxton’s Great Conservatory, built by the fourth Duke of Devonshire in 1841, dominated the skyline, across the river Derwent from the main façade of the house. The show was full of inspirational gardens and wonderful stalls, but it was the daring, style and innovation of the Great Conservatory, so characteristic of Chatsworth and its illustrious family, that constantly drew the eye.
https://www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/rhs-chelsea-flower-show
https://www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/rhs-chatsworth-flower-show
After dark, on three hot and sultry Friday nights in June, the hallowed turf of the Parade Ring at Goodwood, directly below the Coates & Seely Pavilion, switches from hooves to heels as Tinie Tempah, Pete Tong and Sigma drive the crowd to dance and the pounding of the racing earlier in the evening morphs to the pounding of a different, more glamorous beat.
This is a unique and thrilling combination of racing, music and dance, washed down with Coates & Seely’s sparkling wines that are available in the pavilions throughout the evening.
https://www.goodwood.com/sports/horseracing/fixtures-events/three-friday-nights/
Coates & Seely’s journey into the world of racing continued afoot on the first of the 3 Friday Nights racing events at Goodwood on 2nd June, when the Coates & Seely Novice Stakes were run.
On a gloriously sunny evening, Irish filly Short Call, trained by Mick Channon and ridden by Martin Harley, tracked the leaders in an exciting race before moving slightly ahead two furlongs out to finish just over two lengths ahead of the runner up.
Amidst the copious betting in the Coates & Seely box, multiple corks popped as the winners celebrated victory and the losers took solace in the most agreeable response to defeat yet to be devised by man.
After our recent success in the UK Wine Awards, where we won 4 out of the 5 Trophies available for Sparkling Wine (Best Wine in the UK, Best Sparkling Wine in the UK, Best Sparkling Rose in the UK, and Best Blanc de Blancs in the UK), we were delighted to have three of our wines in the top 10 English Sparkling Wines as marked by Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, and for our Rose 2009 Vintage “La Perfide” to be awarded the highest score of any English sparkling Wine in the same tasting.
This is the first time that the Wine Advocate has undertaken a comprehensive tasting of English sparkling wines, and it is accompanied by a well-researched and thought-provoking analysis of the UK sparkling wine industry more generally. It is remarkably consistent with the UK Wine Awards, not only in placing Coates & Seely first, but also in the tight grouping of the same leading UK producers, most of whom also won gold (and exceptionally silver) medals at the UK Wine Awards.
These are the top 10 ranked producers, marked as an average of each of their wines tasted (the number of wines tasted appearing in brackets after the score), and then the top 10 wines ranked individually.
Average Rankings
1. Coates & Seely – 90.8 Points (4)
2. Wiston – 89.8 Points (6)
3. Hattingley Valley – 89.7 Points (3)
4. Nyetimber – 89.6 Points (5)
5. Ridgeview – 89.5 Points (6)
6. Camel Valley – 89.3 Points (4)
7. Hambledon – 88.7 Points (3)
8. Gusbourne – 88.3 Points (3)
9. Allbury – 87.3 Points (3)
10. Chapel Down – 86.3 Points (3)
Individual Wine Rankings
1. Coates & Seely La Perfide Rose 2009 – 93 Points
=2. Wiston Cuvee Brut 2013 – 92 Points
=2. Hattingley Valley Rose 2014 – 92 Points
=2. Ridgeview Blanc de Noirs 2013 – 92 Points
=2. Wiston Blanc de Blancs NV – 92 Points
=3. Coates & Seely Rose NV – 91 Points
=3. Coates & Seely La Perfide Blanc de Blancs 2009 – 91 Points
=3. Nyetimber Rose NV – 91 Points
=3. Camel Valley Rose 2014 – 91 Points
=3. Gusbourne Blanc de Blancs 2013 – 91 Points
