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. - Frequently Searched
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Average Review Score: 4.9
Average Review Score: 4.9
Danbury Ridge Pinot Noir 2021
Bottles Available:
6 × 75cl - 60+ from 17th Sep We keep some stock in our London Warehouse. Large volumes take 24 hours from our out of London warehouse.
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 Pinot Noir producer.
Vinification: After handpicking and sorting, the fruit was gently destemmed without crushing to maintain whole berries. The grapes were then gravity-fed into open-top oak and concrete fermenters for 3 to 5 days cold soak. Temperatures were allowed to increase naturally, and the cap received just one to two punch downs per day. Some vats also received extended skin maceration. The wine was transferred to French oak barrels for MLF, battonage and 12 months ageing, before being bottled unfined and unfiltered.
The Vineyards: Fruit for the 2021 Pinot Noir was carefully selected from across the Danbury Ridge estate. Despite their close proximity, the three estate vineyards display a rich and varied geology with individual mesoclimates. Glaciofluvial deposits of sandy gravel dominate the easterly Polo Field while loamy, carbonate rich clay of the estate’s Sleipnir Block reins exclusively to the west.
Weather: 2021 was a tale of two halves. Low yields and extremely vigilant vineyard management were essential due to the cool start to the growing season along with Spring frosts. Recorded highs were needed in September and October, and Danbury got them. On the Danbury Ridge estate, growing degree days were higher than 2018 and 2020 at picking. Sugar levels were lower than usual because of a cold summer, but phenolic ripeness and flavour profiles were extremely good resulting in a delightful balance of acidity and sugar. With gentle vinification, respectful of the vintage, the wines will retain their freshness and bright fruit.
Technical Information:
Region: Crouch Valley, Essex
Sub Region: Danbury
Grape Varieties: 100% Pinot Noir
pH: 3.59
TA: 5g/L
ABV: 13%
Production: 8251 Bottles
Drink: Now to 2032
Tasting Note: Pure, fresh mid crimson. Nose is positively rich! Then very fresh (but not tart) and almost mineral on the end. Really pretty and fresher than the 2018. Hint of cinnamon. - Tasted by Jancis Robinson
Vinification: After handpicking and sorting, the fruit was gently destemmed without crushing to maintain whole berries. The grapes were then gravity-fed into open-top oak and concrete fermenters for 3 to 5 days cold soak. Temperatures were allowed to increase naturally, and the cap received just one to two punch downs per day. Some vats also received extended skin maceration. The wine was transferred to French oak barrels for MLF, battonage and 12 months ageing, before being bottled unfined and unfiltered.
The Vineyards: Fruit for the 2021 Pinot Noir was carefully selected from across the Danbury Ridge estate. Despite their close proximity, the three estate vineyards display a rich and varied geology with individual mesoclimates. Glaciofluvial deposits of sandy gravel dominate the easterly Polo Field while loamy, carbonate rich clay of the estate’s Sleipnir Block reins exclusively to the west.
Weather: 2021 was a tale of two halves. Low yields and extremely vigilant vineyard management were essential due to the cool start to the growing season along with Spring frosts. Recorded highs were needed in September and October, and Danbury got them. On the Danbury Ridge estate, growing degree days were higher than 2018 and 2020 at picking. Sugar levels were lower than usual because of a cold summer, but phenolic ripeness and flavour profiles were extremely good resulting in a delightful balance of acidity and sugar. With gentle vinification, respectful of the vintage, the wines will retain their freshness and bright fruit.
Technical Information:
Region: Crouch Valley, Essex
Sub Region: Danbury
Grape Varieties: 100% Pinot Noir
pH: 3.59
TA: 5g/L
ABV: 13%
Production: 8251 Bottles
Drink: Now to 2032
Tasting Note: Pure, fresh mid crimson. Nose is positively rich! Then very fresh (but not tart) and almost mineral on the end. Really pretty and fresher than the 2018. Hint of cinnamon. - Tasted by Jancis Robinson
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.
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.
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.
94/100
“This was a really cool year. Quite a few sparkling producers didn’t get through veraison. They finished picking on 10 November: there was no summer, and mean temperatures were 2 C below average in July and August. Lovely aromatics here: fresh, floral red cherries and redcurrant and some fine spices. Some savoury, spicy notes with silky red cherry and plum fruit, with real elegance on the palate: fine spices and a bit of tannin, finishing bright and with a long tapering finish.”
17/20
“Pure, fresh mid crimson. Nose is positively rich! Then very fresh (but not tart) and almost mineral on the end. Really pretty and fresher than the 2018. Hint of cinnamon.”
91/100
“The 2021 Pinot Noir has a lucid color. This has a superb bouquet, more transparency and complexity than the 2020. Vivid red fruit mixes with a touch of sous-bois and tomato vine. It's probably my favorite of the Pinots so far. The palate has exquisite balance with slightly edgy tannins, impressive transparency, vivid cranberry and wild strawberry notes, and a sense of symmetry towards the finish. This is a Pinot Noir that I would be happy to drop blind in any Burgundy tasting. N.B. A bottle poured blind in New York showed more red fruit, Gamay-like characteristics. ”
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Tasting New Release Danbury Ridge Chardonnay Octagon Block 2022 vs 2018 with winemaker Liam Idzikowski & Richard Bampfield MW -
Tasting Danbury Ridge Chardonnay & Pinot Noir 2022 with Winemaker Liam Idzikowski November 8, 2024Today at Danbury Ridge Winery with Richard Bampfield MW & winemaker Liam Idzikowski tasting Danbury Ridge Chardonnay 2022 & Pinot Noir 2022.
Single Price £40.00 Mix 6 Price £38.00 each Mix 12 Price £36.00 each |
England's Best Still Wines With Touch of Oak
Single Price £42.00 Mix 6 Price £40.00 each Mix 12 Price £39.00 each |
England's Best Still Wine Producer
Single Price £43.00 Mix 6 Price £41.00 each Mix 12 Price £39.00 each |
England's Best Still Wines w/ Touch of Oak
