Advanced Search
Furleigh Estate
Website: http://furleighestate.co.uk/
The Furleigh Estate is set in the stunning Dorset countryside, just five miles from the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site. Those dinosaurs who wandered this land millions of years ago have laid down their bones to make the perfect mineral-rich soil to grow world-class still and sparkling wines and this unique terroir is a major factor that contributes to the quality of their wines. The estate was established in 2005 when Ian and Rebecca Hansford purchased the farm and meticulously turned it into the world-class vineyard and winery it is today.
The Furleigh Estate consists of 80 acres of rolling fields, lakes and woods set in an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The vineyard has 22,000 vines each tended individually by the Furleigh Estate team. Grape varieties are mostly the Champagne ones of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, but there are also some Bacchus and Rondo planted for the Furleigh still wines. The estate excels at sparkling wines made traditionally from Champagne grapes, all estate-grown. Its Classic Cuvée 2009 (their maiden vintage) won the International Wine Challenge English Trophy and Furleigh have won 10 medals at major London competitions. Also, their award winning sparkling Rosé 2010 was mistaken for Champagne by French judges in a blind tasting held in Paris!
Their range consists of 7 wines of which The Oxford Wine Company lists 6: Furleigh Estate Classic Sparkling, a traditional, bottle-fermented, quality sparkling wine is made from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. These classic French varieties give this wine a creamy mousse, a fruity and harmonious taste and good length focussed on freshness. Rich style with gently yeasty notes of biscuits and toast. The creamy palate has a soft mousse and is packed with citrus and orchard fruit flavours all finely balanced by a clean acidity. The Furleigh Estate Rosé Sparkling is fermented at a cool temperature to retain the natural aromas. A tiny amount of Furleigh Estate's Tyrannosaurus Red is added to the expedition liqueur at tirage. This results in a delightful soft pink sparkling rosé wine. A dry, refined sparkling wine with subtle fruit flavours of red berries - strawberry, raspberry and cranberry.
Furleigh Estate Bacchus Dry is produced using Bacchus grapes which are hand-picked, crushed and macerated to enhance the extraction of varietal character. The temperature of the fermentation is kept cool to retain the juice's natural aromas. The wine, made from first run juice, is partially malolactic fermented and then matured for 6 months before bottling. Crisp, still white wine with aromas of elderflower, lychees and citrus fruits, a refreshing crisp palate and long lasting finish.
Furleigh Estate Bacchus Fumé is made in a similar way to Bacchus Dry, but using the pressed juice with the strongest varietal character. Following fermentation the wine was matured in American oak barriques for 7 months to provide richness and vanilla flavours. Fresh fruit flavours of citrus and greengage, underpinned by elderflower notes and the vanilla contributed by 7 months in American oak barrels. The Furleigh Estate Sea Pink Rosé is fermented at cool temperatures to retain the natural aromas. Wonderfully fruit driven dry rosé with almost a sweet and sour feel about it and the most fruit we have ever tasted in an English rosé. Delicious - and very moreish!
