Rosé

Brut | England

Shelf Talker Spec Sheet Wine Label Bottle Image

About

Balfour Brut Rosé is the estate’s flagship expression and has helped put this producer firmly on the English wine map, winning a Decanter Gold Medal in 2013 and being regularly served on the Orient Express and British Airways First Class flights, as well as being chosen as the only English wine to be served at the London 2012 Olympics. This single-block wine is the ‘tête de cuvée’ for the Estate and a wine the Balfours are incredibly proud of, and with good reason. The 2020 vintage, though from a smaller crop due to a mid-May frost, offers a richer, fuller expression than the most recent 2018 vintage, making it an approachable wine for either drinking now or storing.

Grapes for this wine were hand-picked from the Oast House Meadow block. The grapes were whole-bunch pressed to specially designed conical stainless-steel tanks for primary fermentation at a cool 60ºF. Wanting to maintain the maximum tension with the plan of extended lees maturation, malolactic fermentation was blocked as the wine was quickly racked off of the lees. After a month post-ferment in tank the blend was assembled and the wine was bottled. Frequent riddling was employed and following four years on lees the wine was disgorged and hit with an 8 g/L dosage.

Stats

Grapes: 51% Chardonnay - 34% Pinot Noir - 15% Pinot Meunier
Vineyard: The Hush Heath Estate – Oast House Meadow block
Vine Age: 23-years-old
Soil Type: Wealden clay over Tunbridge Wells sand
Viticulture: Sustainable – dry-farmed
Fermentation: Inoculated – stainless-steel
Skin Contact: None
Aging: Primary: 4 months in stainless-steel Secondary: 48 months in bottle
Alcohol: 12.5%
Residual Sugar: 8 g/L
pH: 3.08
Total Acidity: 7.2 g/L
Total Production: 1,250 cases
UPC: 5060056540306
SRP: $69.99

Tasting Note

A vibrant profile on the nose with notes of wild strawberry, blood orange, and crushed oyster shell. The palate brings redcurrant, pomegranate, and grapefruit, balanced by the classic Kentish acidity, resulting in a wine that is both bright and structured.

Press & Reviews

Decanter

91

"Zesty summer berry aromas. Soft cherry and strawberry fruit engage the palate with cream and a touch of biscuit. Balanced acidity brings delicate complexity and length."

- Susie Barrie MW, Simon Field MW, & Rebecca Palmer

Vinous

93

"The 2020 Brut Rosé is the estate's calling card, a blend of 34% Pinot Noir, 51% Chardonnay and 15% Pinot Meunier and it spent four years on lees. As usual, it is made without malolactic conversion of the base wines. Its pale pink hue hints at the style, which is scented, elegant and sleek. Cranberry and redcurrant are foremost on the nose, aromatic and appetizing, verging into juicier berry on the palate. Juicy notes of English summer pudding dominate the palate, where fine mousse swirls them in lively elegance. As always, it's a joy to drink and with its beautiful concentration and backbone, it's absolutely equipped to evolve for years. Dosage is 8 grams per liter."

- Anne Krebiehl MW

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Producer

Balfour

Country

England

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2020