Hush Heath releases extra-dry cuvée

English wine producer Hush Heath has expanded its range with the release of an extra dry, non-vintage cuvée, ‘Leslie’s Reserve’.

Made using the classic three Champagne grapes (55% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay and 5% Meunier) and aged for 15 months on its lees, the dosage was 19 grams of sugar; a higher than usual dose, as the estate explained, “to balance out the wine’s natural acidity, softening its structure, and enhancing fruit character to ensure Leslie’s Reserve is easy and approachable for consumers inexperienced with English wine.”

With a production of 40,000 bottles, its output is higher than the flagship ‘Balfour Brut Rosé’. It also has a “more accessible” price and it is hoped it can become a regular fixture with independent merchants and become a ‘by-the-glass’ option in on-trade accounts.

Richard Balfour-Lynn of Hush Heath explained: “Leslie’s Reserve was created to fill a gap for high quality, soft, fruity, and approachable

English sparkling wine at an accessible price point. We wanted to introduce a wine that serves as a typically English, elegant introduction to consumers switching from Prosecco or Champagne”.