Gusbourne 51 Degrees North 2016 is the estate's prestige cuvée, a traditional-method sparkling wine from Kent and Sussex, England, named for the line of latitude the vineyards sit on. It stands apart from the rest of the Gusbourne range as the most ambitious wine the estate makes, and the 2016 now carries substantial bottle age.

Years on lees have brought real depth to the nose — toasted nuts, baked apple, honey and brioche layered over the estate's core citrus character. The palate is rich and complex, with fine, persistent bubbles carrying that toasty, developed character through a long, textured mid-palate.

Acidity remains bright beneath the richness, and the finish is long, savoury and complex, closing on toast and dried fruit rather than simple citrus, with a faint smokiness that develops further with air.

This calls for a proper meal alongside it — roast chicken, lobster or a rich seafood dish that can match its depth.

As the flagship release, 51 Degrees North is built for extended ageing, and the 2016 is drinking beautifully now at a fully mature stage.