The English pinot noir that rivals Burgundy
England is now and history. The other day, in the Weald of Kent, now was England and pleasure. We were visiting the Balfour Winery, near Staplehurst, on an enticing midsummer day. This was a quintessential English landscape. To the left, a wood with classically English trees. To the right, a country house. In the distance, an oast house. We were viewing all this from a balcony, after an excellent lunch based on local ingredients, with wine pairings, that I reckon was worth a Michelin star. The scallops were as good as I have ever tasted. The locals are aware of the neighbouring asset: the previous Saturday, the restaurant had served
