Hush Heath Balfour Leslie’s Reserve

The newest addition the Balfour range, this traditional method house blend is named after the producer’s wife. It has a slightly higher dosage than other Hush Heath Sparklings, making it round, approachable and ideal for a celebration.  

Sustainable farming, vegan/veggie.

NV

12%

75cl 

MORE INFORMATION

Producer

Hush Heath Estate, situated in Kent, dates back to 1503. At the heart of the property is a Tudor manor surrounded by 162 hectares of perfectly manicured gardens, vineyards and apple orchards. Forward-thinking Richard Balfour-Lynn first planted vineyards on the property in 2002, with the aim of making England’s finest sparkling rosé, Balfour Brut. Today, Hush Heath’s 15 hectares of vineyards and 8 hectares of apple trees are meticulously and sustainably managed by a family of viticulturists. Their sparkling non-vintage, Leslie’s Reserve sits alongside their range of still wines comprising of, Skye’s English Chardonnay, Manor Pinot Noir, Nanette’s English Rosé and the recently launched Liberty’s Bacchus. Their orchards also produce Jake’s Kentish cider and, a unique new product, a Sparkling English Apple Wine. These are all made from estate -grown fruit by winemakers Owen Elias and Victoria Ash. Owen Elias, both winemaker and cider maker, is a four-time winemaker of the year by the UK Vineyards Association and has nearly 20 years’ experience making English wines. 

Viticulture

All vineyards are located on the 400 acre estate in the heart of Kent. Wealden clay soils overlay Tunbridge Wells sand. Vines are trellised using the double guyot method with vertical shot positioning. Planting density is 3300 vines per hectare and the whole estate is managed sustainably.

Winemaking

Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier (classic champagne blend), the grapes were whole bunch pressed and then fermented at 16°C in stainless steel. Secondary fermentation took place in bottle and the wine aged on its lees for 15 months. The grapes are all grown, fermented and bottled on the Estate.

Taste

A golden colour with pink highlights, Leslie’s Reserve is a fresh and vibrant style with an expressive and fruity character of citrus, green apple and a creamy mousse. It has a lovely roundness on the palate, refreshing acidity on the finish and complexity derived from the lees ageing.