{"product_id":"danbury-ridge-estate-pinot-noir","title":"England: Danbury Ridge - Estate Pinot Noir 2022\/2023, Crouch Valley, Essex","description":"\u003cp\u003eRead Alex's Producer Profile on\u003cstrong\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/wineobsessed.co.uk\/pages\/danbury_ridge\" title=\"Alex's notes on Danbury Ridge\"\u003eDanbury Ridge\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGrape variety: 100% Pinot Noir. 13.5% alcohol, 2022 vintage; 13% alcohol, 2023 vintage.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\"The intensity of the work that goes into making these wines is next level.....whisper it....better value than Burgundy at the same price\" - Rosamund Hall, The Independent\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\"A lovely, disarming Pinot Noir\" - Anne Krebiehl, Master of Wine, Vinous \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCan Be Decanted For One To Two Hours But Also Drinks Well Straight Away! \u003cstrong\u003e \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDeep, concentrated, and while still youthful, it is already soft, silky, and sumptuous. While there are certainly tannins present to signal the wine's age worthiness, they are so fine and integrated. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGrapes for this wine were sourced from three of Danbury's deliberately very low-yielding vineyards and it spent 12 months in the very best new and older oak barrels. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e2022 was an extraordinary growing season; 41.43°C was recorded in Danbury's Polo vineyard on the 19th July, whilst cumulative precipitation June-August was a paltry 10mm. The memory of 2022’s long hot summer will live long in this wine, it is drinking so well now but will also age beautifully for at least a decade, while it certainly doesn't lack in fruit intensity and freshness. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e2023 was not as continuously warm as 2022 but was in many ways a more successful growing season particularly in terms of volume: it was a lot bigger than 2022, so big in fact that reducing bunches was important to optimise quality. 2022 is more concentrated and structured while 2023 is more immediately approachable and fruit-forward. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAs evidenced by the critic ratings and comments below, and by its reputation in wine circles, this is a very fine Pinot Noir, from a super-premium, world-class estate, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003elocated in the warmest, driest corner of England, between the Blackwater and Crouch rivers, and a few miles from Maldon (of sea salt fame). \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis south-facing ridge enjoys an exceptionally long and warm growing season, meaning the fruit can enjoy a long 'hang time' to achieve the required level of ripeness for concentrated still wines. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRenowned Master of Wine John Atkinson, an expert on cool-climate viticulture and geology, is very enthusiastically involved, while the winemaker, Liam Idzikowski, like me a graduate of Plumpton College in Sussex, boasts many years of experience in England as well as in California. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBacked by owners the Bunker family, the winery is an astonishing no-expense-spared jewel in the crown for top-quality English wine production. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eI worked the 2023 vintage at this estate, the work that is put in here is insane, they are really pushing the envelope and they have garnered huge respect for the quality of their wines both here and abroad - not least in Burgundy itself: both Domaine Duroché of Gevrey-Chambertin and Domaine Benoit Moreau of Chassagne-Montrachet will be making wine in the Crouch Valley as a result of the quality they have seen at Danbury Ridge. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFood Pairing:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDuck with cherry or plum sauce, venison, game, lamb or beef fillet, salmon, soft washed-rind cheeses such as Epoisses, Stinking Bishop, Rollright, Winslade, Tunworth. A match made in heaven with mushroom and\/or truffle dishes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat the critics say: \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e95\/100 (Classic, benchmark, truly exceptional)\u003c\/strong\u003e - Dr Jamie Goode, Wine Scientist, Wine Anorak.com\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e91\/100 (Exceptional Quality, Highly Recommended)\u003c\/strong\u003e - Neal Martin, Vinous\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e93\/100\u003c\/strong\u003e \"The 2023 Pinot Noir spent 16 months in oak and is scented and supple from the start, red-fruited and floral, yet with that beautiful Essex ripeness. The palate is sinuous, translucent and aromatic with tannins that crunch like starched silk. A lovely, disarming Pinot Noir.\" - Anne Krebiehl, Master of Wine, Vinous \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe intensity of the work that goes into making these wines is next level.....whisper it....better value than Burgundy at the same price - Rosamund Hall, The Independent\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0948\/7741\/7819\/files\/Danbury_Logo.png?v=1780344791\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0948\/7741\/7819\/files\/Danbury_Barrel_Hall.jpg?v=1780344722\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"#WineObsessed","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52139371102555,"sku":null,"price":40.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0948\/7741\/7819\/files\/DRPinotNoir.png?v=1759761424","url":"https:\/\/wineobsessed.co.uk\/products\/danbury-ridge-estate-pinot-noir","provider":"#WineObsessed","version":"1.0","type":"link"}