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Balfour

2019

‘Skye’s’ Chardonnay

Kent - England
Shelf Talker Spec Sheet Wine Label Bottle Image

About

Named after Richard & Leslie’s daughter Skye because of her love for bright and cheerful white Burgundy, Skye’s Chardonnay is a welcome addition to the stable for Balfour.  The wine is only made in the ripest of vintages to ensure that ample hangtime occurs, thus more complexity in the grapes and ultimately the wine.  The wine comes from the two warmest Chardonnay blocks on the property: Middle Strackney Wood and Old 8 Acre.

The fruit was hand-harvested in mid-September and whole-bunch pressed to small one-ton stainless-steel fermenters.  No additions other than a specific yeast for the still wine ferments were used prior to fermentation occurring.  Frequent battonage was done in tank, adding more texture in the mid-palate.  After eight months of aging the wine was lightly sulfured and racked to a blending tank where it settled naturally.  The wine was bottled without fining and with a coarse filtration and another small addition of sulfur.

Stats

  • Grapes: 90% Chardonnay - 5% Petit Meslier - 3% Pinot Gris - 2% Pinot Blanc
  • Vineyard: Hush Heath Estate: Middle Strackney Wood and Old Eight Acre Blocks
  • Vine Age: 10-years-old
  • Soil Type: Wealden clay over Tunbridge Wells sand
  • Viticulture: Conventional
  • Fermentation: Inoculated – stainless-steel
  • Skin Contact: None
  • Aging: 8 months in stainless-steel
  • Alcohol: 11.5%
  • pH: 3.08
  • Total Acidity: 7.1 g/L
  • Total SO2: 110 ppm
  • Total Production: 750 cases
  • UPC: 5060056540955

Tasting Note

A light green-gold color.  Fresh and citrus-led nose with hints of apple blossom and wonderful thyme notes.  A clean citrus-driven palate with notes of lime and melon rind.  A delightful aromatic and surprisingly complex wine.

Press & Reviews

Jancis Robinson

16.5

"Full bottle 1,275 g. Kent. From their two warmest blocks, Middle Strackney and Old Eight Acre Vineyards on the Hush Heath Estate, both on Wealden clay. 100% burgundian clones. No oak but extended lees ageing and bâtonnage.
Tasted blind.

Creamy, hazelnuts and what smells like a bit of oak toast/smoke. Excellent tingling acidity. Bitter lemon. Sharp green apple. Herbal. Lemon verbena and lovage. Fresh-sandalwood spice. Very pointed, laser focus, acidity forward but has elegance."

- Tamlyn Currin

Producer


Balfour

Region


Kent

Country


England

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