Balfour

‘1503’ Rosé

Extra-Dry | England

Shelf Talker Spec Sheet Wine Label Bottle Image

About

Balfour has a reputation for producing some of the country’s finest sparkling Rosés and 1503 Rosé is no exception. As with its sibling, 1503 Classic Cuvée (named for the year when the estate’s historic manor house was built), the emphasis on this wine is the purity and expression of Kentish fruit. Made from the property’s younger vineyards and with a fresher, aperitif style in mind, this offers a very approachable yet still refined English fizz experience.

The fruit was harvested throughout October and the grapes were destemmed then whole-berry pressed to stainless steel tanks. Fermentation was inoculated with a house-specific strain and fermented at a cool temperature, preserving the vibrant fruit notes. Malolactic fermentation occurred simultaneously with primary fermentation. Prior to the wine being bottled a small amount of still Pinot Noir is added for color. The wine was bottled and hit with the liqueur de tirage to the optimum potential pressure as dictated by Victoria, the winemaker. Following a minimum of 9 months on lees the wine was disgorged in November 2022. It was hit with another small addition of Pinot Noir and a 12 gram dosage. The wine is bottled to order for freshness.

Stats

Grapes: 62% Pinot Noir - 20% Chardonnay - 18% Pinot Meunier
Vineyard: The Hush Heath Estate – Oast House Meadow, Old Eight Acre, and Foxridge blocks
Vine Age: 5-15-years-old
Soil Type: Wealden clay over Tunbridge Wells sand
Viticulture: Sustainable – dry-farmed
Fermentation: Inoculated – stainless-steel
Skin Contact: None
Aging: Minimum 9 months in bottle on lees
Alcohol: 12%
Residual Sugar: 12 g/L
pH: 3.16
Total Acidity: 7.2 g/L
Total Production: 1,667 cases
UPC: 6060056540757

Tasting Note

Delicate rose petal pink color. It is bursting with strawberry and raspberry, supported by herbal undertones. The fresh acidity provides balance to the fruit while lees aging adds a hint of brioche on the finish.

Press & Reviews

Wine Enthusiast

95

"With the grace of a ballerina—and the color of said dancer's slippers—this is a vibrant and delicate rosé. It's hard to believe such ripeness comes from England, but this fruity bottling demonstrates the effects climate change is having on the traditionally chilly island. A strawberry, lime, florals and toast nose leads to a palate of fine fizz, beautiful, tangy acidity, and a long, chalk-textured finish. A delicious drop from one of Kent's finest sparkling producers."

- Christina Pickard

Jancis Robinson

16.5

"Ripe redcurrant and cherry fruit – proper rosé flavours, and way more interesting than their white Brut under this label. Ripe, juicy, fragrant and very tasty."

- Richard Hemming MW

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