The Danbury Ridge wines are no flash in the pan however, but continue the phenomenon of superlative viticulture and promise for wines from the Crouch Valley in Essex identified by Jancis Robinson and her colleagues 4 or 5 years ago. Back then, taking note of the reduced rainfall, greater sun hours and intriguing terroirs Jancis and her team almost foresaw the success here. Just a couple of years ago they actually titled one of their reports ‘Crouch Valley – England’s Côte d’Or?’ They were clearly onto something!
At that time reporting on the work of viticulturist Duncan McNeil specific clonal planting Jancis was among the first to point out immense potential here: ‘The new English vineyard Danbury Ridge… in a particularly warm corner of Essex, has produced some still Pinot Noir and Chardonnay that surely break new ground…The results are really very impressive.’
Fast forward to now and the newest release 2022 Danbury Ridge Pinot Noir with several years further experience topped off by a topper of a summer. Exceptionally low rainfall and gorgeous summer weather with a fine September and October led the winery itself to comment ‘The memory of 2022’s long hot summer will live long in the wines.’
The winery, named after unique geological feature known as the Danbury to Tiptree gravel ridge, the Pinot comes from a complex array of soil types from distinctly sites sandy gravel dominate the easterly situated Polo Field whereas a carbonate rich clay and loam are favoured in the more westerly Sleipnir Block. The grapes are gently handled, destemmed and gravity-fed fermenters in the purpose built winery where winemaker Liam Idzikowski from Williams Selyem in California works his magic. The resulting wine is unfined and unfiltered and just begging to be purchased!
There certainly will never be a better time to sample the wines of Danbury Ridge. Never mind that are the hottest ticket in English wine scene currently – they have become the must-have wine for some of the finest restaurants in the UK – so allocations are extremely limited to restaurants and merchants alike. But the ‘annus mirablis’ of 2022 is surely the perfect time to taste just what all the fuss is about!
Please find below the wines we are currently offering
Orders can be placed directly on the site or by making contact with the team. Offers subject to remaining unsold E&OE.14/10/2026
Image | Region | Vintage | Name | Pack Size | Status In Bond (IB) wines have had no UK Duty or VAT paid on them. If In Bond wines are purchased for storage in a bonded warehouses or for export - no UK Duty or VAT will be payable. If In Bond wines are purchased for delivery to a UK address - UK Duty and VAT is required to be paid before any the delivery can take place. Duty Paid (DP) wines have been removed from the Bond and cannot subsequently be returned to the Bond. Meaning that if you purchase a Duty Paid wine, VAT will be payable. However, the UK Duty has already been paid on the stock so there will be no additional duty charged. En Primeur (EP) wines can only be offered and purchased In Bond whilst the wines are still in barrel. En Primeur wines will be shipped and imported in due course and upon arrival in the UK can either be stored in your Brunswick reserves, delivered to the bonded warehouse of your choosing or delivered directly to you. Should you decide to take delivery of En Primeur wines to a UK address, UK Duty and VAT at the current rates will become payable. | Price The IN BOND pricing view will show prices excluding UK Duty and VAT. Please select the IN BOND view if your purchase is for storage in a bonded warehouse or for export (where no UK Duty or VAT will be payable). Please select the RETAIL pricing view if you would like to purchase wines for UK delivery, so the prices will include UK Duty and VAT. Please note that wines that have the Duty Paid (DP) status have been removed from the Bond and cannot subsequently be returned to the Bond. These wines must remain Duty Paid, they can be purchased for storage or delivery to the UK but the VAT will be payable. The UK Duty has already been paid on the stock so there will be no additional duty charged. Please note that wines that have the En Primeur (EP) status can only be offered and purchased In Bond whilst the wines are still in barrel. So the RETAIL pricing view is not applicable to EP wines. | Availability The wines showing availability Immediate are available for immediate delivery, transfer or collection. The wines showing availability Future Arrival are not yet available for delivery. Please refer to the indicated ETA shown on the wine page. Our Logistics team will get in touch as soon as the wines become physical with us and will arrange to deliver, store or transfer the wines as per your instructions. The wines showing availability En Primeur are still maturing in barrel at the producer, and will be available in due course. Our Logistics team will get in touch as soon as the wines become physical with us and will arrange to deliver, store or transfer the wines as per your instructions. | Score | Qty | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
New  | 2022 | 1x75cl | IB | £30.23exc. UK Duty & VAT | Immediate | 92 NM | 6 |
