One of Burgundy’s most prestigious wine estates, Domaine Duroché, has formed a joint venture with Danbury Ridge Wine Estate in Essex. The partnership came about after Pierre Duroché, fifth-generation winemaker of the family-run Domaine, tasted Danbury’s 2021 Pinot Noir. So impressed by the wine, he decided to collaborate on a “small batch cuvée” to be released in 2028. Climate change is clearly helping the UK become a more compelling location for producing grown up still wines. It is now probably close to where Burgundy was 20 years ago in terms of climate.
Pierre Duroché is one of Burgundy’s most exciting young winemakers. His classically styled wines reflect the domaine’s exceptional terroirs and his wines are often available in only tiny quantities, driving demand further. The Duroché family’s vineyard holdings are nothing short of exceptional. Among them are four grands crus — Clos de Bèze, Griotte-Chambertin, Latricières-Chambertin, and Charmes-Chambertin — as well as several top-tier premiers crus plus a benchmark range of villages red Burgundy. Everything is farmed organically, with a focus on minimal intervention and maximum transparency of terroir.
Duroché will travel to Danbury Ridge for the 2025 harvest and winemaking season to help craft the wine. He told The Times that the quality of the Essex Pinot Noir was such that he felt compelled to work with the estate.
The Octagon Block is the most established vineyard on the estate, planted in 2014
For Duroché, the Crouch Valley offered a terroir both parallel and distinct – a marginal, maritime-influenced climate with a long growing season and slow, even ripening, increasingly reminiscent of historical Burgundy vintages. This area is garnering quite a lot of attention for being a perfect site for creating still wines, especially pinot noir and chardonnay. Its proximity to the River Crouch gives it protection from extreme frosts and cold winds; the moisture and nutrient-retaining rich, heavy clay soils; and last, but definitely not least, its wonderfully dry and sunny microclimate. This is one of the sunniest and warmest spots in the UK.
However, it is the team at Danbury Ridge that, by combining deep local knowledge with precision and commitment, fully unlock the potential of the region’s distinctive climate and complex geology. This collaboration marks Pierre Duroché’s first winemaking project beyond Gevrey-Chambertin, where his domaine has earned a reputation as one of Burgundy’s most respected.
Danbury Ridge winemaker Liam Idzikowski
The wine will be vinified and matured at Danbury Ridge by Pierre Duroché and winemaker Liam Idzikowski, who will oversee the fruit throughout the growing season. Liam brings an understanding of the site and a quietly meticulous approach that has helped establish Danbury Ridge as a benchmark for English still wine. Both embrace a low-intervention approach, viewing their role as one of guidance rather than control, allowing the vineyard and vintage to be expressed.
Though produced in very limited quantities, the cuvée represents a broader convergence of regions, traditions, and philosophies. Above all, it is a celebration of shared passion – for English terroir, for Pinot Noir, and for the commitment to exploring potential.
We recently met up with winemaker Liam Idzikowski to discuss their latest release from their Octagon Block, Pinot Noir 2022 and Chardonnay 2022.
Allocations will be extremely limited and offered to selected clients. To see the price and buy the current Danbury Ridge Single Vineyard wine please login to My Account.
Pierre Duroché
