Bolney Estate Pinot Noir 2020 West Sussex England 75cl

Bolney Wine Estate near Haywards Heath in West Sussex was founded in 1972 and is one of the oldest commercial vineyards in England. Its Pinot Noir is arguably the wine that made its name, a rare English still red with genuine pedigree and a long list of competition medals behind it.

Pinot Noir is one of the hardest grapes to ripen in a cool climate, which makes Bolney’s success with it all the more impressive. Only a handful of English estates make a red this convincing. Grown on the estate’s warm, free-draining Sussex slopes and made from 100% Pinot Noir, this is a serious take on England’s most sought-after red variety.

The 2020 growing season brought a warm, dry summer to southern England, helping the Pinot Noir ripen well and build gentle colour and depth. It was a vintage that favoured ripeness across the board and suited the estate’s reds particularly well. Ripe seasons like this help English Pinot Noir show real charm.

In the glass expect a light-bodied, pale red with bright red cherry and redcurrant fruit, a savoury, earthy undertone and soft, supple tannins. A gentle spice and a touch of woodland floor add interest on the finish. At 12% it is fresh and elegant rather than heavy, in the delicate cool-climate style.

Serve it lightly chilled with duck, salmon, roast chicken, mushroom dishes or a charcuterie board. Chilled slightly on a warm day, it is a genuine talking point at the table, and a flag-bearer for English still red wine from one of Sussex’s most historic estates.