Winemaker Notes
This blend uses grapes from Hush Heath's newest vineyard, planted in 2002, for a fresh, fruit-forward style. It is a well-made wine with a fresh, fine mousse and crisp acidity. There's lemon balm, white flower and green apple notes plus a hint of red berry fruit on the tight palate.
Blend: 64% Pinot Noir, 32% Chardonnay, 4% Pinot Meunier
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Classically structured and beautifully balanced, delicate fruit aromas dance with creamier, toastier ones. It hints at jasmine, white peach, apple with custard and lemon oil. There’s a silkiness to the mouthfeel, then a crunch of acidity and fine bubbles. Those delicate aromas flow seamlessly into flavors. A poised and ultra-food-friendly bottling. The back label suggests fish and chips.
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Decanter
The year 1503 was when Hush Heath Manor in Kent (home of the Balfour-Lynn family who own this wine estate) was founded. Exclusive to the Co-op, this blend uses grapes from Hush Heath's newest vineyard, planted in 2002, for a fresh, fruit-forward style. It is a well-made wine with a fresh, fine mousse and crisp acidity. There's lemon balm, white flower and green apple notes plus a hint of red berry fruit on the tight palate.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Offering up attractive aromas of yellow orchard fruit, warm biscuits and citrus rind, the attractive NV Brut Classic Cuvée 1503 is medium-bodied, fleshy and charming, with a generous core of fruit, integrated acids and a nicely defined finish. This is a generous, inviting Brut that's immensely easy to drink.
A term typically reserved for Champagne and Sparkling Wines, non-vintage or simply “NV” on a label indicates a blend of finished wines from different vintages (years of harvest). To make non-vintage Champagne, typically the current year’s harvest (in other words, the current vintage) forms the base of the blend. Finished wines from previous years, called “vins de reserve” are blended in at approximately 10-50% of the total volume in order to achieve the flavor, complexity, body and acidity for the desired house style. A tiny proportion of Champagnes are made from a single vintage.
There are also some very large production still wines that may not claim one particular vintage. This would be at the discretion of the winemaker’s goals for character of the final wine.
The limestone soils of England’s southern end have proven ideal for the production of British sparkling wine. While it might seem too damp and cold for grape growing in England, recent warm summers and the onset of global warming signify great future growth for the British wine industry.