No.1 Family Estate • Library Tasting: 17 March 2025.
I have worked in the wine industry for over 36 years, being invited to be part of my first Champagne ‘vin-clair’ tasting panel in 1996. So, I can share with hands-on experience that the wines diligently crafted here in Marlborough - NZ by Daniel and assisted by Lee Dobson (winery manager) are some of the best in the world. I hope the Le Brun family don't actually ‘follow’ this next statement for obvious reasons - ‘they could easily ask twice as much for their wines’, as they can stand confidently side-by-side with wines of Champagne. But thankfully we can enjoy their incredibly graceful wines on more frequent occasions.
I was recently in Marlborough, and the Le Brun family and crew generously made available to me a very rare and special library tasting of some cuvées. Knowing I like to understand all the unique nuances and details with each wine, they set up the library tasting at the end of some rows behind the winery. The following are short notes, brief insights into what I tasted on the day sitting in the sun, amongst the vines and having Lee take me through the growing seasons and winemaking decisions that went into each wine. Please note these ‘aged library wines’ sadly are not available for sale, but if you do possess incredible patience or you simply loose a bottle or two of their current cuvées for a number of years, you too can host your own library tasting.
*(Current vintage / cuvée's are available across the country & online, and most importantly are ready to sip, savour and share on any occasion).
No.1 Cuvée NV • *(Current Cuvée • base wine 2022 vintage).
Grape Varietals: 99% Chardonnay, 1% Pinot Noir
Growing Region: Marlborough - New Zealand
Owner / Chef de Cave: Daniel Le Brun, No.1 Family Estate
This Cuvée Brut NV was the first wine produced by No.1 Family Estate. As with classic ‘Blanc de Blancs’ styles méthode this wine was given a respected 18+ months of lees ageing to encourage a broad character across the palate. The wine displays a textural finesse and real charm and has a quality well above its price-point.
★ The wine has a poised finesse and charm, with an enticing bouquet of fresh citrus fruits, white peaches, apples, and subtle fresh pastry notes. These all join each other on the dancefloor that is your palate, where the medium sized mousse with its delicate texture has a beguiling confidence from its diligent time of lees. Resulting in a depth of character, all nicely balanced by varietal acidity that carries gracefully through to a memorable dry finish.
• Chill gently & serve between 8°- 9°C : 12.5% Alc. - Extra Brut, dosage 4.9g/L : Cellar 3 - 4 years : *NZ $40.
No.1 Cuvée NV • *(Library Stock • base wine 2016 vintage).
Grape Varietals: Chardonnay & Pinot Noir
Growing Region: Marlborough - New Zealand
Owner / Chef de Cave: Daniel Le Brun, No.1 Family Estate
This Cuvée Brut NV was bottled in November 2016 and disgorged in September 2018. As with classic ‘Blanc de Blancs’ styles méthode this wine was given a respectful 22 months of lees ageing to encourage a broad character across the palate. The wine is still displaying a textural finesse and genuine charm and has a signature of quality.
★ The wine has a beguiling charm, with an enticing aroma of peach and apple skins, a splash of citrus and deft pastry note. This wine has an engaging palate weight, where the medium sized mousse with its developing textural nuance has a beguiling confidence from its extended time of lees. Revealing a solid structure and depth of character and balanced by upbeat acidity that carries through to a gastronomic finish. 5-Stars
• Chill gently & serve between 8°- 9°C : 12% Alc. - Brut Style, dosage 6g/L : Cellar 2 - 3 years : *Library Collection
No.1 Cuvée NV • *(Library Stock • base wine 2006 vintage).
Grape Varietals: Chardonnay & Pinot Noir
Growing Region: Marlborough - New Zealand
Owner / Chef de Cave: Daniel Le Brun, No.1 Family Estate
This Cuvée Brut NV was bottled in February 2007 and disgorged in February 2009. As with classic ‘Blanc de Blancs’ styles méthode this wine was given a generous 24 months of lees ageing to encourage a broad character across the palate. The wine is just holding onto its textural nuance and old charm and the quality that set it on its long journey.
★ Due to its age, it rightfully has a distinguished air of popcorn, nougat, dried apricots and baked pastry notes. With age you have a broad palate, with the mousse resilient to the core and still giving direction to the developed textural nature and rich confidence from its additional dosage. This vintage is just holding onto its technical structure and varietal acidity, leading to a casual autumnal signoff.
• Chill gently & serve between 8°- 9°C : 13% Alc. - Brut Style, dosage 11.2g/L : *Peaked : *Library Collection
No.1 Rosé NV • *(Currently available • base wine 2021 vintage).
Grape Varietal: 100% Pinot Noir
Growing Region: Marlborough - New Zealand
Owner / Chef de Cave: Daniel Le Brun - No.1 Family Estate
An extremely well-crafted Rosé style méthode, made from 100% Pinot Noir and showcasing the ideal climate that Marlborough has, to produce desired flavours. A fresh, youthful expression with a generous collection small-to-medium sized bubbles, producing a silky mousse on the palate and a most enjoyable and refreshing finish.
★ This wine has hypnotic aromas expressing a bright bouquet of acacia flowers, red cherries, raspberries, strawberries along with a subtle apple pastry note. The 20 months on lees has given this wine a good engagement across the palate. But not losing any of its explosive summer fruit freshness that is delivered to all your senses by the energized mousse, and a balanced kiss of fruit acidity producing a silky texture on a pleasingly dry sign-off. 5-Stars
• Chill gently & serve between 8°- 9°C : 12.5% Alc. - Brut Style, dosage 6.4g/L : Cellar 3 - 5 years : *NZ $49.
No.1 Rosé NV • *(Library Stock • base wine 2017 vintage).
Grape Varietal: 100% Pinot Noir
Growing Region: Marlborough - New Zealand
Owner / Chef de Cave: Daniel Le Brun, No.1 Family Estate
An extremely well-crafted Rosé méthode traditionelle, it was bottled in September 2017 and then disgorged in October 2020. After 37 months on less you have generous collection small-to-medium sized bubbles, producing a silky mousse on the palate and a most enjoyable and dynamic expression.
★ This wine has an inviting aroma, showcasing wild acacia flowers, red cherries, raspberries, cranberries along with a deft pastry note. The extended time on lees has given this wine added structure and character that engages with all the senses. Time has also revealed a beguiling complexity not often seen in New Zealand Rosé Méthodes. Definitely no wilting violet with an explosive freshness that is expressed on the dance floor, and a kept upbeat by a kiss of fruit acidity producing a silky texture and charming off-dry finish. 5-Stars
• Chill gently & serve between 8°- 9°C : 13% Alc. - Brut Style, dosage 6g/L : Cellar 2 - 3 years : *Library Collection
No.1 Rosé NV • *(Library Stock • base wine 2016 vintage).
Grape Varietal: 100% Pinot Noir
Growing Region: Marlborough - New Zealand
Owner / Chef de Cave: Daniel Le Brun, No.1 Family Estate
This wine will be bought up by ‘cosmetic companies’ as it has somehow found the elixir of youth. With every sip you will feel 10 years younger, by the colour, aroma and light-footed grace it has on the dance floor. If we hadn't all seen it being poured, you would have thought this wine was the youngest in the flight we shared amongst the vines.
★ This 2016 vintage has an incredibly youthful aroma, highlighting acacia flowers, red cherries, white peaches, watermelon along with a thin pastry note. The diligent time on lees has given this wine a stealthy structure and refined character that charm the senses. This time machine opens the door on a vibrant and dynamic expression. A youthful explosion of just picked fruit freshness that glides across the dance floor and is kept upbeat by a vivacious kiss of fruit acidity producing a silky nature and a most graceful dry finish. 5-Stars
• Chill gently & serve between 8°- 9°C : 11% Alc. - Brut Style, dosage 6.9g/L : Cellar 2 - 3 years : *Library Collection
*(No.1 Family Estate availability & pricing will vary by outlet & country)