Sugrue South Downs Crouch Valley Pinot Noir 2024

Made from fruit sourced from two of Dermot Sugrue’s favourite vineyards, Mason’s Point and Crow’s Lane in Essex (and harvested in mid-November!), one third was matured in French oak barriques and another third in a foudre from Tonnellerie Rousseau. It has a remarkably dark colour for an English Pinot and a density that belies what we all remember of the 2024 summer with ripe cranberry, black cherry and earthy nuances, a certain pepperiness and fine-grained tannins. It is drinking now but will evolve over the next 10 years.