This summer, we're delighted to release the second-ever Gusbourne Agrafe sparkling. A production method which can only be described as a labour of love, working with agrafe is both a nod to tradition and also another step forward in understanding the complex ageing process of English sparkling wine.
You can find out more about our first Agrafe bottling, and learn more about the philosophy of the approach here. Below, we speak with Mary Bridges, Head Winemaker, about this latest, incredibly limited release.
Mary, let’s start with the basics – what exactly is Agrafe, and why did you choose to make this wine?
“Agrafe” refers to the traditional method of sealing a sparkling wine bottle with a metal staple during its second fermentation, instead of the more modern crown cap. It’s a nod to an older, artisanal Champagne technique – a small but significant gesture that allows a tiny bit of oxygen ingress during ageing. The decision to make this wine came from our ongoing exploration of method and style. It’s a very small difference in process, but the result is something quite unique and expressive.
So Agrafe 2020 is all about experimentation?
Absolutely – but it’s not experimentation for the sake of it. This wine was born from a place of curiosity and precision. It’s about fine margins. We already have a deep understanding of our core wines and how they behave over time. So here we wanted to take a small parcel and do something very deliberate – to give it a slightly different élevage and see what it could become. It’s also about bringing to life a truly artisanal process – one that requires skilled hands at every step of the way.
Can you talk us through the winemaking process for Agrafe 2020?
It’s 100% Chardonnay from a single vineyard parcel – all grown in our vineyards in Kent. The fruit was hand-picked, whole-bunch pressed, and fermented in neutral oak. Then it went through its second fermentation under cork with an agrafe closure. That’s really the defining feature – it’s bottled under cork and aged on lees for nearly four years. We added a small dosage at disgorgement as we really wanted to let the purity of the site and the variety shine.
What does the agrafe closure do to the wine, from a flavour and texture perspective?
It’s subtle, but it gives a difference in mouthfeel and aromatic development. Because the cork ageing starts together with the lees ageing, the wine evolves a little differently. The nose remains very fresh and primary driven, but there is more tertiary character integrated with the autolytic character on the palate - mushroom, honey, that lovely toasted brioche, baked pastry edge – but it’s softer, more seamless. It also brings out a slightly more tertiary character at a younger stage than we’d expect under crown cap. It’s still got the core of bright citrus and minerality, but there’s also a broader, richer dimension.
So what does it taste like? What should we be looking for in the glass?
Expect a really pure citrus drive at the start – think yuzu and lemon oil – but then there’s this deeper, savoury layer. You get toasted hazelnut, almond skin, even a touch of saltiness on the finish. The mousse is incredibly fine, which makes the texture feel almost creamy despite the wine’s precision. There’s a lovely tension running through it – tight, linear acid but softened by the way it’s aged. It’s a really poised, thoughtful wine.
And food-wise – how should people drink it?
It’s quite gastronomic. I think it’s brilliant with something like a scallop crudo or oysters – anything that has purity and salinity. But equally, it’s a wine that works well with richer dishes because it has that backbone of acidity and structure to cut through. And because of its complexity, it’s also a beautiful one to enjoy just on its own, with a bit of time in the glass to open up.
How many bottles did you make – and is Agrafe here to stay?
It’s very limited, with just under 1,000 bottles made. At this stage, Agrafe is a small-batch release. Whether it becomes a regular feature depends on what we continue to learn from it. For now, it’s a collector’s piece – for people who are really into sparkling wine and want to taste something crafted with a different lens.
And finally – who is this wine for? What kind of drinker will love Agrafe 2020?
This is for the curious. For people who love nuance and detail in wine – who don’t just want something delicious, but something with a story and a sense of intention. It’s not showy. It’s quietly complex. And I think that’s what makes it so compelling.
Our Agrafe 2020 will be released this summer.
