All the fruit for this wine come from a single vineyard, the highly regarded Martin's Lane Vineyard in the Crouch Valley, Essex. As one of the hotest and driest areas of the UK and thanks to its clay soils, the Crouch Valley is increasingly seen as the best place in the UK to grow grapes for still wines.
This Chardonnay is made from Burgundian clones which had the opportunity to fully ripen thanks to the hot summer of 2020. This has resulted in a wine full of flavour and body.
The colour is pale straw colour with flecks of gold. The nose is toasty with almonds, ripe fruit and an alluring smokiness. The palate is classic cold climate Chardonnay with a focus on richness and body. Apple and lemon predominate, with hints of white pepper, almonds and a long finish.
“Full screw capped bottle 1,302 g. From a well-known fruit source in fashionable Crouch Valley. Mainly Burgundy clones not picked till 15 October! Fermented in 400-litre French oak casks. Full malo and ageing for 10 months with regular lees-stirring” … “Really very nice texture and complexity with some real depth. French winemakers, beware! Quite an eye-opener. Long finish.” – Jancis Robinson
“Alluring nose of toast, minerals, spice, and pear and apple fruit. There’s lovely complexity here, showing a touch of nuttiness. The palate has some wood influence, with cedar, spice and vanilla supporting ripe citrus and white peach fruit, and also providing a bit of structure under the fruit. It has some richness, but also lively acidity. Youthful, but with the potential to be very fine when the oak begins to integrate better. 91/100” – Jamie Goode
Essex may be the best site for still wine grapes in England. The vineyards are concentrated in the Crouch Valley which is one of the driest and warmest parts of the UK.
Many of the vineyard sell their grapes rather than make their own wines, so often you may not be aware that the wine you are drinking is using grapes from Essex.
One of the world’s most popular grapes, Chardonnay is made in a wide range of styles from lean, sparkling Blanc de Blancs to rich, creamy white wines aged in oak.
Depending on how ripe the grapes get, the flavour ranges from crisp, clean citrus and green apple, to ripe peaches and tropical fruit. Notable Chardonnays can be found in France, California, Australia, England, and beyond.
