March 20, 2025
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. Danbury Ridge Chardonnay 2023
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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.
Vinification: Fruit was handpicked and whole bunch pressed. With no settling, the juice was transferred to 228L Burgundian oak barrels with full solids for fermentation. The wine was then left on gross lees for 12 months, where malolactic fermentation took place. Bâttonage was performed once, as the wine was transferred out of barrels to tank to give the wine further time on gross lees before bottling 6 months later. The wine was bottled unfined.
The Vineyards: The grapes are sourced from the loamy, carbonite rich clay of the estate’s most easterly block, Sleipnir and Spar Hill, overlooking the Blackwater Estuary. The sites were picked for their ideal mix of London Clay, sand and silt providing rich and deep soils optimal for Chardonnay vine cultivation with excellent drainage and heat retention.
Weather: The 2023 growing season was bookended by warm weather in June and September, though there were multiple plot twists in between. On paper, the vintage appeared straightforward, but the vines had other ideas — oversized bunches demanded meticulous crop thinning, with each cluster assessed individually to retain only small, well-exposed fruit. The final challenge came with an unusually high incidence of Asian fruit flies, though Chardonnay and certain Pinot clones were largely spared. Careful netting and triage ensured only clean fruit was harvested. The wines now in bottle reflect September’s generosity: Chardonnay is ripe and expressive, while the Estate Pinot, softened by extended barrel ageing, may be our finest yet.
Technical Information:
Region: Crouch Valley, Essex
Sub Region: Danbury
Grape Varieties: 100% Chardonnay
pH: 3.10
TA: 7.4g/L
ABV: 13.5%
Production: 100 Barrels
Drink: Now for 5+ years
Tasting Note: Crisp and precise, with aromas of orange blossom, lemon verbena, and honeysuckle. A subtle touch of vanilla from barrel ageing complements the zesty citrus and stone fruits, adding structure and depth. Cooler growing conditions than 2022 have enhanced the wine’s bright acidity, framing flavours of lemon curd and green apple. The finish is balanced, refined, and harmonious.
Vinification: Fruit was handpicked and whole bunch pressed. With no settling, the juice was transferred to 228L Burgundian oak barrels with full solids for fermentation. The wine was then left on gross lees for 12 months, where malolactic fermentation took place. Bâttonage was performed once, as the wine was transferred out of barrels to tank to give the wine further time on gross lees before bottling 6 months later. The wine was bottled unfined.
The Vineyards: The grapes are sourced from the loamy, carbonite rich clay of the estate’s most easterly block, Sleipnir and Spar Hill, overlooking the Blackwater Estuary. The sites were picked for their ideal mix of London Clay, sand and silt providing rich and deep soils optimal for Chardonnay vine cultivation with excellent drainage and heat retention.
Weather: The 2023 growing season was bookended by warm weather in June and September, though there were multiple plot twists in between. On paper, the vintage appeared straightforward, but the vines had other ideas — oversized bunches demanded meticulous crop thinning, with each cluster assessed individually to retain only small, well-exposed fruit. The final challenge came with an unusually high incidence of Asian fruit flies, though Chardonnay and certain Pinot clones were largely spared. Careful netting and triage ensured only clean fruit was harvested. The wines now in bottle reflect September’s generosity: Chardonnay is ripe and expressive, while the Estate Pinot, softened by extended barrel ageing, may be our finest yet.
Technical Information:
Region: Crouch Valley, Essex
Sub Region: Danbury
Grape Varieties: 100% Chardonnay
pH: 3.10
TA: 7.4g/L
ABV: 13.5%
Production: 100 Barrels
Drink: Now for 5+ years
Tasting Note: Crisp and precise, with aromas of orange blossom, lemon verbena, and honeysuckle. A subtle touch of vanilla from barrel ageing complements the zesty citrus and stone fruits, adding structure and depth. Cooler growing conditions than 2022 have enhanced the wine’s bright acidity, framing flavours of lemon curd and green apple. The finish is balanced, refined, and harmonious.
