Mayfield Expression Brut Rosé

Today I received in the post a bottle of Mayfield Expression Brut Rosé which was my prize for my suggestion for the of Albion for English Sparkling Wine in a competition run by wine educators Susie and Peter.

You can read my reasons if you follow the Albion link above. It seems that the debate is still rumbling on and that nothing has caught on. Personally, I don’t have a problem calling English Sparkling Wine simply English Sparkling Wine. I suspect geographical delineations will come later.

Back to my prize. Mayfield Expression Brut Rosé is an English sparkling rosé made by Hobdens Vineyard which is located in the Sussex High Weald. The owners of Hobdens Vineyarda are Jonica and Gerard Fox. Jonica quit her job in media and public services and decided to retrain in wine. She graduated from Plumpton College with a degree in viticulture and winemaking and set up their own vineyard with plantings on either side of the village of Mayfield in East Sussex.

Mayfield Expression Rosé is a blend of 56% Pinot Noir, 19% Pinot Gris, 16% Chardonnay and 9% Pinot Meunier. The 2009 is the first vintage. The grapes were de-stemmed and lightly crushed prior to maceration in tank for 38 hours. After maceration the grapes were lightly crushed and the run-off juice was then fermented in temperature-controlled vat for 17 days. The resulting wine was left on the lees for 24 months prior to disgorgement and is then left another 8 months before release. The dosage is 10g/l.