Single Vineyard Range
Discover all three of our Single Vineyard English wines, created as part of our long-term goal to demonstrate that the UK can be recognised as a benchmark for growing the highest quality, cool climate still wines. Delve into the making of the Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from Martin’s Lane Vineyard and the Pinot Noir from Crows Lane Estate below.
The Single Vineyard Range is available as a set of all three wines, beautifully displayed in a bespoke gift box. If you’d like a different variation of the three wines please call the office on 01297 551355 to place your order.
£105.00
Martin’s Lane Vineyard – Pinot Noir
A beautiful, long, hot summer in 2020 enabled the grapes to fully ripen on the vine, resulting in the intensity of flavour and body. Harvested on October 9th, 17th and 18th, using Spätburgunder still wine clones Fr1801 and F105(s), each clone underwent its own specific protocol. Small batch fermentations were undertaken with manual pigéage, every 8 hours, to gently maximise the extraction of colour, flavour and structure. After fermentation, the wine was left to macerate for 10 days before racking and light débourbage, for 24 hours to retain some fine lees. The wine was then transferred to 400-litre French barriques for 100% malolactic fermentation and ageing. Aged for 10 months in barrel, the wine has no fining or filtration to retain the delicate nuances of the fruit and oak. It demonstrates forward primary fruit character synonymous with young vines which will develop in intensity and potential even further with time.
“This is a serious Pinot Noir, and I sort of wish that I’d tasted it blind. There’s a touch of coffee, spice and woodsmoke on the nose supporting aromatic black cherries and blackberries. The palate has a lovely sleek cherry fruit core with a smooth, sweetly fruited mid-palate, and then finishes taut and focused, with some spicy framing. This is glossy, pure, alluring and fully ripe. Where would I place it, tasted blind? Probably Central Otago, as there’s freshness but also a dark fruit core. Perhaps the lively acid line on the finish gives its origin away, but I’m really impressed. 93/100” – Jamie Goode, WineAnorak.com
Winemaking notes
COLOUR: Deep ruby.
NOSE: Ripe cherry, dark chocolate and cedar.
PALATE: Dark fruit dominates the palate with cherries, blackcurrant and some lighter raspberry, underpinned by toasty vanilla and subtle spice.
Drinking window: 2023-2030
Style: Elegant, refined and complex red ABV: 12.5% Vol Acidity: 5.5g/L
pH: 3.63 RS: <1.0g/L Variants: 100% Pinot Noir PDO/PGI: Varietal MLF: 100%
Vineyards: Martin’s Lane Estate (Essex)
Fermentation vessels: Small parcel open-top fermenters with malolactic in barrel
Martin’s Lane Vineyard – Chardonnay
A beautiful, long, hot summer in 2020 enabled grapes to fully ripen on the vine, resulting in the intensity of flavour and body. This Chardonnay is made from predominantly classic Burgundian clones; Inra 76, Inra 95, Inra 96, Inra 809 and Fr 155, harvested on October 15th 2020 and fermented in new oak at cool temperatures using selected Burgundy yeast strains to enhance fruit, complexity and weight. Post-fermentation there was full malolactic fermentation and extended fine lees ageing for ten months, with regular bâtonnage to accentuate the natural weight and ripe fruit, creating a complex and textural style of Chardonnay.
“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, JancisRobinson.com
“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, WineAnorak.com
Winemaking notes
COLOUR: Pale gold.
NOSE: Toasted almonds, ripe fruit and a smoky edge.
PALATE: A truly classic style of Chardonnay, focussing on richness and body. Red apple and lemon citrus, with a long buttery and almond finish.
Drinking window: 2023-2030
Style: Elegant, dry and complex ABV: 12.5% Vol Acidity: 5.7g/L
pH: 3.48 RS: <1.0g/L Variants: 100% Chardonnay PDO/PGI: Varietal MLF: 100%Vineyards: Martin’s Lane Vineyard (Essex)
Fermentation vessels: New 400-litre French oak barriques
Crow’s Lane Estate – Pinot Noir
A beautiful, long, hot summer in 2020 enabled the grapes to fully ripen on the vine, resulting in the intensity of flavour and body. Harvested between the 8th and 17th of October, using Spätburgunder still wine clones Fr1801 and F105(s), each clone underwent its own specific protocol. Small batch fermentations were undertaken with manual pigéage, every 8 hours, to gently maximise the extraction of colour, flavour, and structure. After fermentation, the wine was left to macerate for 10 days before racking and light debourbage, for 24 hours to retain some fine lees. The wine was then transferred to 225 litre French, and one American, oak barriques for 100% malolactic fermentation and ageing. Aged for 18 months in a barrel, the wine has no fining to retain the delicate nuances of the fruit and oak. It demonstrates forward primary fruit character synonymous with young vines which will develop in intensity and potential even further with time.
“Tobacco leaf and pressed cherries, autumn smoke. Really elegant, translucent; beautiful juice, long and even languid in the mouth. Fine, fine tannins. A sweetness and tracing paper-fine press of blue ink and cherry tobacco. I was taken aback by the price of this wine but it is pretty damn impressive.” – Jancis Robinson, JancisRobinson.com
Winemaking notes
COLOUR: Deep ruby.
NOSE: Black cherry, black currant and smoke.
PALATE: A deep palate of damsons, mulberry, blackcurrant and raspberry, underpinned by toasty vanilla and spice.
Drinking window: 2023-2030
Style: Rich, refined and complex red ABV: 13% Vol Acidity: 5.7g/L
pH: RS: <1.0g/L Variants: 100% Pinot Noir PDO/PGI: Varietal MLF: 100%
Vineyards: Crow’s Lane Estate (Essex)
Fermentation vessels: Small parcel open-top fermenters with malolactic in barrel
Further reviews of the Single Vineyard Range
World of Fine Wine reviews of Single Vineyard Selection
Tom Stevenson, April 2024
Martin’s Lane Chardonnay 2020
“Lovely, toasty-oak aroma, with citrus notes, mostly ripe lime and fresh, and lime-rich fruit on the palate. A serious wine that is ready to drink.” 90/100
Martin’s Lane Pinot Noir 2020
“Good colour and depth. Nice core of cherry and damson fruit, with menthol aromas. Could be riper, with softer fruit and more supple tannins, but it has true varietal character. It is also very young and tight and should loosen up.” 88/100
Crows Lane Pinot Noir 2020
“A deeper colour than Martin’s Lane – not always a plus point for Pinot Noir, but in this case it is, and the extra 0.5% of ripeness makes all the difference to the structure, fruit and tannins. The fruit is much softer and richer, with velvety, luscious notes of blackcurrant, blackberry, mulberry, and plump morello cherry. Gone is the menthol, to be replaced by complexing hints of vanilla and cinnamon, while the tannins are nicely soft and supple, yet have more than enough grip to sustain this Pinot Noir for many years to come. This might be the same price as the 2020 Martin’s Lane, but it is ten times the wine. Or certainly this vintage is. It is also the only English red wine I have purchased by the case – ever. It’s that good.” 95/100
