2024 Sugrue Crouch Valley Pinot Noir

The Crouch Valley is making some serious waves in the world of English wine, and for very good reason. This corner of Essex, one of the warmest and driest parts of the country for growing grapes, is producing some seriously exciting still wines, with Pinot Noir very much leading the charge.

Following the success of the inaugural 2022 Pinot Noir, which sold out almost immediately, the 2024 vintage sees a slightly larger production, working with additional vineyards across the Crouch Valley.

Although cooler than the exceptional 2022 vintage, 2024 remained notably warm by English standards. The region's distinctive clay soils, rich in mineral smectite, help regulate water supply throughout the growing season while contributing body and structure to the fruit. A long, gradual ripening period allowed the grapes to develop beautifully, with fruit harvested from Mason's Point and Crows Lane vineyards in mid-November.

Made from fully destemmed fruit and gently extracted, the wine spent two winters maturing at the winery in East Sussex. One-third was aged in new French barriques, with the remaining two-thirds resting in a particularly characterful foudre from Tonnellerie Rousseau in Gevrey-Chambertin.

Decidedly classical in style, with more than a passing nod to Burgundy, this is a wonderfully sophisticated Pinot Noir. Cranberry and earthy nuances lead into a deeply flavoured palate, supported by fine-grained tannins and a long, peppery finish. A seriously accomplished English Pinot Noir with the structure and balance to develop beautifully over the next decade.