Ben says
★★ Great Wine “Pinot Noir might be Balfour’s main repertoire but don’t underestimate their Chardonnay. In a ripe and generous vintage like 2018, the Blanc de Blancs style can get away with being drunk younger than I’d normally hope for and still taste layered and delicious. It has retained predominantly primary fruit with punches of fresh citrus, orchard fruit and peach, but there’s a well balanced framework of lees-influence toastiness and creamy character as you sip it down. If you would like an excellent example of youthful home-grown Blanc de Blancs, you’ll be hard pressed to find better.“
KEY POINTS
Varietal Chardonnay with 12.0% abv. Bottled with 12g/L dosage. This is only made in the best years and is one of only three Blanc de Blancs made in Balfour’s 20 year history.
Grown in: Kent, ENGLAND.
Food Pairing
If you’re drinking this anytime soon (say anything under 10 years from vintage) then you’re largely going to be tasting the zingy, fruit-forward sparkling wine that I was, in which case the fullest meal you should drink it with is something like chicken wrapped in bacon or a smoky and cheesy fish pie. If you manage to find the patience to age this Blanc de Blancs into the honeyed, elegant wine it will surely become, then invite some friends round and toast to good times with the best caviar you can find.
Disclosure & Price
Tasted at the Walker & Wodehouse portfolio tasting. Find in the UK for circa £44.99 at Grape Britannia.
Reviewed and tasted: 20/02/2024
About the Producer
Balfour Hush Heath Estate is one of the largest and most acclaimed English producers, making over 400,000 bottles of wine each year. It was co-founded by Richard and Leslie Balfour-Lynn in 2002, with their first vintage released in 2004. The winemaking has been in the same family hands since the beginning, employing father and son Owen and Fergus Elias. Owen Elias has over 25 years’ experience in English winemaking and has been awarded Winemaker of the Year on no less than six occasions.
