2021 Danbury Ridge, Pinot Noir

'The 2021s may well turn out to be the best wines we’ve released thus far'
Liam Idzikowski, Winemaker
2022 Danbury Ridge, Pinot Noir
£170 per 6 bottle case in bond

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I am delighted to offer you something a little bit different, a wonderfully fresh and vibrant 2021 Pinot Noir from the Danbury Ridge Wine Estate, based in the Crouch Valley, Essex.

Founded by husband-and-wife team, Michael and Heather Bunker, the first vines were planted in 2014. The focus from the outset was on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay with clones carefully selected to best exploit the unique climate of the Crouch Valley, which, as one of the warmest and driest parts of the country, has become widely regarded as a leading areas for quality grape production in England.

After trying a bottle of the 2021 Pinot Noir recently we were all in agreement that Danbury Ridge have set a new standard in terms of quality for English still wine production, that allows them to compete with the very best that the UK has to offer.
 
We are not the only ones who have been sampling a bottle of Essex’s finest Pinot in recent weeks. Neal Martin posted on Instagram following a vinous.com team gathering at New York’s Gramercy Tavern at which the 2021 Danbury Ridge Pinot Noir was pitted against a 2017 Ruchottes-Chambertin from Roumier. Neal commented that ‘The English Pinot brought one of us to tears of joy’. High praise indeed given the considerable price difference between the two wines and the exalted status of the wines of Domaine Roumier.
 
To be clear, I am not drawing a direct comparison between a top Grand Cru Red Burgundy and the Danbury Ridge on offer here today. However I will say that the 2021 Pinot Noir had a very pretty, expressive nose packed full of crunchy vibrant red fruit with a delicious richness and a touch of spice on the mid palate, followed up with a smooth, mineral acidity on the finish – in short a seriously enjoyable glass of wine, that will leave you wanting another.