Move over French Beaujolais Nouveau! We now have British Nouveau – and Balfour Nouveau in particular, born in Kent, the Garden of England, and released a day ahead of our friends across the Channel. .....
Balfour Nouveau 2020 is made from one particular parcel of Burgundy clone Pinot Noir, and harvested on 23rd September - less than two months ago. Fergus recalls “the fruit from this parcel was so early, with a lovely strawberry jam character, that we thought we would never have a better opportunity to make a Nouveau style red wine. This fruit was the forerunner of a harvest of exceptional quality”
The result was just 1000 bottles of, in Fergus’ words, ‘an extraordinarily fresh and delicious Pinot Noir brimming with rich red autumnal fruits combined with delicate hints of spice and coffee’, and matured briefly in brand new French and American barrels for its distinctives soft oak character.
A quirky illustration of our winemaking philosophy Balfour Nouveau is available from the Hush Heath Estate website www.hushheath.com for £20 a bottle (postage and packing free). There are also a few Jeroboams to be snapped up for around £100 each – perfect for a socially -distanced Rule of Six celebration......or beside a log fire on a cold, dark winter evening.
The Balfour Nouveau has arrived indeed, and on exactly the right day.