2021 Danbury Ridge Wine Estate, Pinot Noir, Essex, England

Pinot Noir is probably the most frustrating, and at times infuriating, wine grape in the world. However when it is successful, it can produce some of the most sublime wines known to man. This thin-skinned grape which grows in small, tight bunches performs well on well-drained, deepish limestone based subsoils as are found on Burgundy's Côte d'Or. Pinot Noir is more susceptible than other varieties to over cropping - concentration and varietal character disappear rapidly if yields are excessive and yields as little as 25hl/ha are the norm for some climats of the Côte d`Or.

Danbury Ridge Wine Estate is a vineyard and winery located in Essex, in South East England. The estate takes its name from the nearby village of Danbury. Owners Michael and Heather Bunker planted their first vines in 2014, with a focus on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay varieties. The team produces wine using both their own estate-grown fruit and grapes sourced from other growers in Essex. Danbury Ridge has gained recognition for its exceptional English still wines.