{"product_id":"crouch-valley-pinot-noir-2024","title":"CROUCH VALLEY PINOT NOIR 2024 (CASE PRE-ORDER)","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Crouch Valley is the most exciting emerging wine region in the world. What we can achieve as winemakers in this remote corner of Essex – overwhelmingly one of the warmest and driest part of England for viticulture – is nothing short of astonishing.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt's no secret that Crouch Valley still wines are the talk of Burgundy and beyond.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur own inaugural Pinot Noir from the outrageously ripe 2022 vintage was a great success. We made 1,000 bottles which, rather amazingly, sold out in just three hours last October. Now we are working with additional vineyards in the Crouch Valley, the 2024 vintage gave us the opportunity to make rather more, and we're thrilled to now offer it to you on pre-order.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhile cooler than 2022, 2024 was still remarkably warm compared with the rest of the country. The clay soils in the Crouch Valley are rich in mineral smectite, helping regulate water in both dry and wet spells, and building body and structure in the fruit. Ripening was long and slow, and we harvested our grapes from Mason's Point and Crows Lane vineyards in mid-November. Very late by anyone's standards!\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFermented from fully destemmed fruit, gently extracted, one-third matured in new French barriques, and two-thirds in a stunning \u003cem\u003efoudre\u003c\/em\u003e called Marion that we liberated from Tonnellerie Rousseau in Gevrey-Chambertin, the 2024 was bottled after two winters at our winery in East Sussex.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThose of you who have visited us recently and tasted a sample will know just how excited I am about this Pinot Noir. Decidedly classical in style, and, dare I say it, more than a little Burgundian, it's scented with cranberry and earthy nuances, and deeply flavoured, with fine-grained tannins and a long, peppery finish. I would start drinking this from late 2026, but expect it to evolve beautifully over the next decade.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Pre-Order Six Bottles (15% Off Release Price)","offer_id":55728974823809,"sku":"ESSEX24-6","price":249.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0815\/9566\/2612\/files\/2022CrouchValleyPinotNoir-A_2.jpg?v=1759409188","url":"https:\/\/www.sugruesouthdowns.com\/products\/crouch-valley-pinot-noir-2024","provider":"Sugrue South Downs","version":"1.0","type":"link"}