Lyme Bay, Pinot Noir, 2024
Lyme Bay, Pinot Noir, 2024
- 75cl
- 12.5%
- Red Still
- Pinot Noir
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Optimal drinking window: 2026 - 2030
Bright cherry red in the glass, this 100% Pinot Noir is packed with vibrant red fruits, layered with a touch of vanilla oak, soft herbs and gentle spice. Cherry, raspberry and redcurrant lead the way on the palate, with a hint of mulberry and a subtle earthy, mushroom note adding depth. It’s concentrated yet refined, with a smooth texture and a nicely lingering finish.
Made from fruit sourced across several top Essex sites — Crouch Ridge Estate, Tudwick Hall, Riverview, Crows Lane and Martins Lane — it shows just how far English Pinot has come.
Great with lamb and spot-on with game dishes.
This 2024 Pinot is drinking beautifully now with its vibrant primary fruit well-integrated with the oak. Over the next couple of years, expect the vanilla notes to soften further and the earthy complexity to become more pronounced. It should hold at this pleasant drinking plateau until around 2030, when the fruit may start to fade. This isn't a wine for long cellaring - enjoy its youthful charm.
Tasting Notes
AppearanceBright cherry red with good clarity and a youthful rim.
NoseCherry and raspberry dominate, with vanilla oak providing a sweet backdrop. There's a hint of soft herbs and a subtle spice that adds interest without overwhelming the fruit. Clean and inviting.
PalateThe red fruit carries through beautifully, with cherry, raspberry and redcurrant leading the way. A touch of mulberry adds depth, while that earthy mushroom note provides complexity. The texture is smooth and refined, with well-integrated oak.
FinishNicely lingering with the fruit and earthy notes persisting well.
Overall impressionA concentrated yet refined Pinot that shows English winemaking at its most confident.
Food Pairings
In England, Pinot Noir like this would traditionally accompany game dishes during the shooting season - think roasted pheasant, venison, or rabbit. The wine's bright acidity and earthy undertones make it perfect with slow-cooked lamb, while its elegance suits the kind of Sunday roasts that define English dining. Mushroom dishes would be particularly good given the wine's own earthy notes.
We think this wine would go well with
Serve at 14-16°C to preserve the bright fruit character. No need to decant - this is ready to drink straight from the bottle. Use a Burgundy glass to concentrate the delicate aromatics and allow the wine's elegance to shine through.
The Essex sites used for this Pinot benefit from well-draining soils and a relatively dry climate that suits Pinot Noir's preference for stress. The combination of different vineyard sites adds complexity, with each contributing different elements to the final blend while maintaining the variety's characteristic elegance.
Devon's 2024 vintage delivered exactly what English sparkling wine producers dream of: a long, steady ripening season that allowed the grapes to develop proper flavour intensity whilst retaining the crucial acidity. The growing season benefited from a relatively mild winter followed by consistent temperatures through summer, avoiding the dramatic swings that can wreak havoc on these marginal sites. Harvest stretched well into October for many producers, giving them the luxury of picking each block at optimal ripeness rather than racing against the weather.
The resulting wines show remarkable poise, with Chardonnay displaying proper weight and texture alongside bright citrus definition, whilst Pinot Noir contributes genuine red fruit character rather than the thin, tart profile that can plague cooler years. Bacchus performed particularly well, producing wines with the variety's characteristic elderflower and gooseberry aromatics but with more generous fruit than we often see. Most 2024 Devon whites are drinking brilliantly now and should continue until 2028, whilst the sparkling wines will reward those patient enough to give them another year or two in bottle.
FAQs
What does this wine taste like?
Bright and elegant with cherry and raspberry fruit, vanilla oak, and an earthy complexity that adds depth without heaviness.
When should I drink this wine?
It's drinking beautifully now and will remain at its best until around 2030. This isn't a wine for long cellaring.
What food pairs well with this Pinot Noir?
Perfect with lamb dishes and game like pheasant or venison. Also excellent with mushroom-based dishes and Sunday roasts.
How should I serve this wine?
Serve at 14-16°C in a Burgundy glass. No need to decant - it's ready to drink straight from the bottle.
Is this wine worth cellaring?
While it will hold well for a few years, this is made for drinking rather than cellaring. Enjoy its youthful fruit and elegance now.
How does this compare to other English Pinot Noirs?
This shows how far English Pinot has come, with genuine concentration and refinement that holds its own against more established regions.
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