Blanc de Blancs
£65
Green apple and lemon sharpen richer notes of baked apple, buttered toast and hazelnut, while a salty mineral line keeps everything precise. Open it with oysters, seafood or simply because the evening deserves upgrading.
2004
Appledore, Ashford
Gusbourne began in 2004, when founder Andrew Weeber planted vines on an old estate at Appledore in Kent with a deliberately uncompromising idea: grow every grape, make only vintage wine and give each bottle the time it needs. The first Brut Reserve and Blanc de Blancs appeared in 2010, and the goose-marked bottles have since become familiar on serious wine lists far beyond England. The estate now works with two distinctly different landscapes. Appledore’s clay and sandstone bring ripeness, weight and a soft-edged generosity; vineyards near Goodwood in West Sussex sit on chalk and flint, adding line, freshness and structure. Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier are hand-picked, whole-bunch pressed and handled parcel by parcel before careful blending and extended lees ageing. There is precision here, but not preciousness. The Nest opens the Kent estate to walkers, tasters and long-lunch people, from a free self-guided trail to cellar flights and full dining experiences. It is a polished way into Gusbourne’s world — equal parts vineyard, cellar and very good reason to stay for lunch.
Gusbourne grows all its own Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier across two complementary landscapes. Around Appledore, roughly 60 hectares of clay and sandstone build ripe fruit, breadth and generosity. Near Goodwood in West Sussex, about 30 hectares of chalk and flint bring freshness, tension and structure. Each parcel is hand-picked and handled separately so the character of vintage and place remains visible in the final blend.
WINEMAKER
Head Winemaker Mary Bridges leads a patient, parcel-by-parcel approach built around Gusbourne’s estate fruit. Whole-bunch pressing, cool fermentation, measured use of older oak and long lees ageing allow each vintage to find its own shape. Her wines favour clarity over showiness: ripe fruit held in line by bright acidity, fine texture and the salty, savoury detail that links Kent and Sussex.
The Collection
£65
Green apple and lemon sharpen richer notes of baked apple, buttered toast and hazelnut, while a salty mineral line keeps everything precise. Open it with oysters, seafood or simply because the evening deserves upgrading.
£45
Red apple and soft stone fruit meet warm pastry, toasted cobnut and a flicker of spice. Bright citrus keeps the generous middle fresh, polished enough for a celebration but relaxed enough for fish and chips.
£55
A pale, poised rosé with strawberry, cherry and redcurrant, a floral lift and a gently creamy finish. Fresh enough for the first glass, structured enough to follow through lunch.
The Nest is currently open every day from 10am to 5pm, including bank holidays.
Experiences can change with the season, so it is worth checking what is available and booking before heading over.
BUY & DRINK
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VERIFIED STOCKIST • London
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