Marbury Crouch Valley Pinot Noir 2024
Marbury Crouch Valley Pinot Noir
Region: Crouch Valley, Essex, England
Vintage: 2024
Bottle size: 75cl
Grape: Pinot Noir
ABV: 12.5%
Aromas of red cherry and wild strawberry are complemented by lifted notes of violet, tobacco and wild herbs. The palate moves into darker blackberry and cassis fruit, underpinned by silky tannins and a long, savoury finish.
Perched above the River Crouch estuary where it meets the North Sea, this historic vineyard sits on land that has cultivated grapes for over 1,000 years. The site benefits from England's warmest and driest growing season climate, with distinctive coastal conditions featuring long sunshine hours, extended autumn light, and critically low September-October rainfall that allows extended hang-time for optimal ripening. The challenging London Clay soils, while historically poor for agriculture, prove exceptional for viticulture through their high smectite content, which provides excellent water retention during drought and prevents berry swelling during late-season rains. This unique site has established the region as England's premier still wine area, with a proven track record of fully ripening grapes even in the most difficult vintages.
The grapes were hand harvested and gently destemmed, leaving most berries intact. A five-day cold soak preceded fermentation, followed by gentle punch downs and pump overs to ensure restrained extraction. After fermentation and full malolactic conversion, the wine was aged on lees for 10 months in a mix of oak, comprising 65% seasoned barrels and 35% new oak, ensuring structured yet integrated tannins to balance the depth of fruit. The wine underwent light filtration before bottling.
A new project in Essex’s Crouch Valley, Marbury is a testament to the bright future of English Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Described by wine writer Tamlyn Currin as “England’s Côte d’Or”, the area is quickly gaining recognition as one of the finest sources of English still wine. Renowned winemaker Charlie Holland has been instrumental in driving the quality of English wine in recent years, with a decade of experience at Gusbourne. He has led the winemaking and viticulture at Marbury since its inception, describing his approach in the cellar as ‘hands-off’ to retain a distinct sense of place.
https://marburywines.com