Average rating 4.9/5 stars across all Google and external reviews
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Danbury Ridge was founded by two generations of the Bunker family: Michael and Heather Bunker and, their daughters Janine and Sophie. While walking with friends on the estate it was suggested that some of the agricultural land owned by the Bunker family may prove an ideal location for growing vines. The fields had long been scorned by local farmers for being lean and arid - a good training ground for racehorses over wet winters, but far from ideal for summer cereal crops. A detailed feasibility study was undertaken, and the conclusions formed the outline of a plan that the family expanded upon over the following years. The first vines were planted in 2014 with a focus on identifying Pinot Noir and Chardonnay clones which could best exploit the unique mesoclimate. After just a few seasons the vines were producing grapes of a quality and ripeness previously unseen in the UK; surely England's finest still Chardonnay producer.
Solstice is a multi-vintage blend of barrel-fermented Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Meunier, a proportion of which passes through the perpetual solera. The label was designed by Sophie Bunker and her father Michael penned the "Solstice" script and a conscious decision was taken not to include a wasteful foil.
Vinification: Grapes are handpicked and whole cluster pressed in a Coquard PAI, with the wash and tailles removed. The musts receive no SO2, fining, or enzymatic treatments during a very short settling period, which are then transferred to about 90% old neutral oak barriques and 10% young oak barriques. After primary fermentation the barrels are turned for up to 6 months without any topping, which are then blended with a proportion of our foudre aged perpetual Solera. Tirage takes place just before the next vintage with a low targeted pressure of 4.5 bar. Post sur lie ageing the wine is disgorged with less than 4.8 g/L dosage, and given further time under cork before release.
Technical Information:
Region: Crouch Valley, Essex
Origins: 1/3 Danbury Ridge, 1/3 Blackwater Estuary & 1/3 Crouch River
Grape Varieties: 75% Chardonnay, 20% Pinot Noir & 5% Meunier
Base wine: 2019 (60%)
Reserve wines: Solera Reserve from 2018, 2019 & 2020 (40%)
Dosage: 4.8 g/L
Disgorged: September 2023
Drink: Now to 2032
Tasting Note: Very rich nose, baked apple with cinnamon, orange peel, lemon with yeast and toffee – manages to be fresh and opulent at the same time. Ripe and round on the palate with a nice tension between richness, fruit and acidity. Notes of toffee, baked goods, walnuts and spices. Hints of sherry. Very long. - Tasting note via Jancisrobinson.com
Danbury Ridge was founded by two generations of the Bunker family: Michael and Heather Bunker and, their daughters Janine and Sophie.
For Michael and Heather, there really was no place like home, and having spent several years living in Asia they returned to Essex, settling in the village of Danbury, just a few miles north from where they had grown up.
While walking with friends on the estate it was suggested that some of the agricultural land owned by the Bunker family may prove an ideal location for growing vines. The fields had long been scorned by local farmers for being lean and arid - a good training ground for racehorses over wet winters, but far from ideal for summer cereal crops. A detailed feasibility study was undertaken, and the conclusions formed the outline of a plan that the family expanded upon over the following years.
The first vines were planted in 2014 with a focus on identifying Pinot Noir and Chardonnay clones which could best exploit the unique mesoclimate. After just a few seasons the vines were producing grapes of a quality and ripeness previously unseen in the UK.
Inspired by the possibility of what could be achieved with expert advice, capital investment and patience the family decided to grow their ambition further and commenced construction of one of the most well-equipped wineries in Europe.
While most UK estates look to Reims and Epernay for inspiration, scaling their activities and ambitions to compete with the vast brands of the Marne, the focus at Danbury Ridge is directed toward grower wines and smaller domaines.
Now, just a few vintages into the project, and that early aspiration is being realised: Danbury Ridge is bottling wines that critics have already favourably compared to some of the finest addresses in the world.
Wine-maker: Liam Idzikowski - 2017 to current
Liam joined DR in 2017, a year after he made some Pinot Noir from the DR grapes while working at Lyme Bay winery. Once the Bunker family tasted the 2016 wine Liam made, the family offered Liam a job, with the role of designing and creating the winery we see today, completed in 2019. He grew up in Northern Ireland and travelled to learn his trade in California, Australia, South Africa and the Rhone, working for world-renowned wineries like Tyrrells Estate in Australia’s Hunter Valley and Williams Selyem in the Russian River Valley.
Since passing his degree in Viticulture and Oenology with First-Class Honours, Liam has built a reputation for crafting some of the finest still and sparkling wines yet released by UK vineyards. At Danbury Ridge, Liam has been instrumental in the design and creation of the winery and has full autonomy to create exceptional quality wines.
Expert Reviews
17.5/20
Henry Jeffreys
“Very rich nose, baked apple with cinnamon, orange peel, lemon with yeast and toffee – manages to be fresh and opulent at the same time. Ripe and round on the palate with a nice tension between richness, fruit and acidity. Notes of toffee, baked goods, walnuts and spices. Hints of sherry. Very long. England’s answer to Krug. ”
Today we are back at Danbury Ridge Winery in Essex with Richard Bampfield MW and winemaker Liam Idzikowski tasting their latest release from their Octagon Block, Chardonnay 2022.
