Leonardslee Brut Reserve 2021

Leonardslee Wine Estate

The 2021 vintage marks a stellar year for the Leonardslee vineyard, perfectly positioned on a sheltered, south-facing slope that capitalised on the exceptional conditions of the season. Benefiting from a challenging yet fruitful cold and wet winter that delayed bud burst, followed by ideal conditions at flowering and a record-breaking long summer, the vines yielded fruit of outstanding quality.

The winemaking process, tailored to enhance the unique characteristics of the 2021 harvest, involved hand-harvesting grapes in the cool of the morning, followed by a combination of stainless steel and French oak barrel fermentation. This approach, along with a careful blend including 6% reserve wine and a patient 36-month bottle maturation, has resulted in a wine that embodies the essence of the vintage.

It presents a vibrant intensity, balanced acidity, and a symphony of green apple, berry, and subtle brioche notes, culminating in a tangy finish with a fresh floral aftertaste.

Tasting Notes

"Stewed apple, evocatively smoky aromas. Fine mousse. Tangy acid. Nice biscuity, toasty and yeasty autolysis. Succulent, umami-opulent palate. Complex and harmoniously rounded. Saline finish. Lovely energy and core focus, steely but also lots of joy here. Smart stuff. Hard to criticise." - WineGB Awards 2025

"Really savoury, a rich, bready, hedonistic style that has lovely mouthwatering acidity too. Long, layered and toasty." - Susie Barrie, MW, Decanter Vintage English Sparkling panel tasting, July 2025

"Some mayblossom notes and deeper, more mushroomy, creamy layers. The mousse is fine and creamy, and the wine offers impressive depth of flavour. Expansive on the finish." - Rebecca Palmer, Decanter Vintage English Sparkling panel tasting, July 2025