Leonardslee, a new sparkling wine producer from Sussex, England
Website: https://leonardsleefamilyvineyards.com/leonardslee-wine-estate
Leonardslee is the project of Penny Streeter and her family. It’s a Sussex estate that she acquired in 2016, and has 38 acres of vines, planted with the three main Champagne varieties, but also (and somewhat bizarrely) with a bit of Pinotage, which finds its way into the rosé.
Streeter was born in Zimbabwe, but moved to the UK aged 12. She became a successful entrepreneur, making her fortune with a nursing agency business. In 2013 she purchased Benguela Cove, a coastal winery in the Walker Bay, South Africa. This clearly ignited the viticultural spark, and Leonardslee, a historical listed property near Horsham, seemed like a good bet for planting vines (these went into the ground in 2017. The altitude is 89 m and the soils are a silty loam over silty clay loam. The first sparkling wines from the property have just been released, and from young vines this is an impressive debut.

Leonardslee Blanc de Blancs 2020 Sussex, England
12.7% alcohol. The base wine was fermented in a mix of 25% oak barrels and 75% stainless steel. This was disgorged in April 2026 with a dosage of 6 g/l, and the pH is 2.99, with a TA of 8.5 g/litre. This is really rich with bold, spice-laden citrus fruit, showing some notes of toast and aniseed, as well as a slight saltiness. It’s a rich, impactful Blanc de Blancs with peach and pear as well as lively citrus, finishing with some pithiness and structure. Impressive in this richer style, with the potential for some further development in bottle. 91/100 (UK retail £60)
Leonardslee Brut Reserve 2021 Sussex, England
11.9% alcohol. 70% Chardonnay, 20% Pinot Noir, 10% Pinot Meunier. Base wines are 20% fermented in oak, and 6% reserve wine is added. 30 months on lees, disgorged in May 2024 with a dosage of 7.5 g/l, pH 3.08, TA 8.9 g/l. This is quite rich with some toast and cherry notes as well as pear, white peach and citrus. Nice acid line integrates well with the bold fruit. This is a rich style, but has nice balancing acidity. Very stylish and impactful, finishing with some sour cherry. 90/100 (UK retail £45)
Leonardslee Brut Rosé 2021 Sussex, England
11.85% alcohol. 56% Chardonnay, 31% Pinot Noir, 3% Pinot Meunier, 10% Pinotage. Stainless steel ferment. Dosage 9 g/l, pH 3.06, TA 9.1 g/l. Pale pink in colour, this has bold, bright flavours of cherry, pear and citrus. It’s fruit-driven with keen acidity as well as a touch of sweetness. Bright, lively and energetic with nice intensity to the fruit. Finishes nicely tart. 90/100 (UK retail £45)