“If one chapter of English winemaking began with Nyetimber in 1992, then another arguably started with the arrival of the still wines of Danbury Ridge from 2018.” — (TH), Wine Advocate, July 2025

Some of the most compelling Burgundy-style Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays now come from what has been described as “England’s Côte d’Or” — the Crouch Valley in Essex — and foremost among them are those of Danbury Ridge Estate, which we are delighted to offer for the first time: 2023 Chardonnay (£170 per six in bond) and 2022 Pinot Noir (£195 per six in bond).

Both wines have already attracted critical acclaim, scoring 92 and 95 points respectively. Having tasted them yesterday, we are very comfortable comparing them in style and quality with leading villages like Puligny-Montrachet and Chambolle-Musigny — a view supported by the scores.

With over 500 acres now planted, the Crouch Valley is rapidly establishing itself as one of England’s most promising sites for still wine. Its relatively warm, dry, maritime climate — low rainfall and minimal frost risk — increasingly allows reliable ripening of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. As Jamie Goode observes, heat accumulation here now resembles Burgundy in the 1980s and 1990s, with the added advantage that botrytis pressure is negligible.

The soils are equally important.  Unlike the chalk downs of southern England, which favour sparkling wine, the London Clay of the Crouch Valley — rich in smectite — retains water and exchanges mineral ions efficiently with the vine roots, supporting full ripening and contributing to depth and complexity. As John Atkinson MW notes, clay may lack the “limelight” of limestone, but it underpins many of the world’s great wines.  You can read more about how Danbury Ridge was established with a serious ambition to make fine wines, below.

As mentioned previously, I grew up on the River Crouch, in the sailing town of Burnham-on-Crouch, and would never have imagined it becoming the centre of a fine wine region. At the time, its reputation rested largely on oysters — now enjoying a revival nearby at Maldon — rather than vineyards, but that is changing rapidly.

The 2023 Chardonnay comes from a season requiring careful crop selection, with a warm September delivering ripe, expressive fruit. It shows an attractive reductive note of struck match and flint, alongside citrus and delicate florals. What sets it apart is its weight and the complexity of its oak ageing, giving it a depth and richness reminiscent of the Côte d’Or. The 2022 Pinot Noir reflects a hot, dry year, with small berries, no botrytis, and excellent concentration, refined through extended élevage. Dark elderberry fruit and a notably ambitious oak regime lend it a structure and substance more akin to the Côte de Nuits.

These are serious, site-driven wines, and an important step forward for English still wine.  Please let us know if you would like to order.

Offered duty paid, excluding VAT. Delivery available from April 2026.