The very first sparkling wine for The Liberator is an absolute belter. When Richard Kelley MW – the man behind this series of rare parcels – tasted it, he said: “If Champagne is the stars, this is the Northern Lights.” And the comparison is completely justified. The wine is so vivid, ethereal and all-encompassing.

Made using the same method as Champagne,  it’s a blend of 60% Chardonnay and 40% Pinot Noir. The first fermentation took place entirely in barrels, while the second occurred in the bottle. It was matured on the lees for 5.5 years, 2.5 years longer than legally required for Vintage Champagne. All that expensive barrel fermentation and long ageing makes this rich, nutty and yeasty sparkling wine a bit of steal.