Woodchester Valley Pinot Noir 2018

It’s been fascinating to watch Woodchester Valley’s emergence as one of England’s premier still winemakers. Jeremy Mount has a knack for extracting bags of flavour and concentration from his Cotswold fruit – and that shows in spades in this 2018 vintage. He uses a combination of Burgundy and Germany Pinot Noir clones to produce an incredibly expressive and delicious red wine; the wine was aged in a combination of new and three-year-old oak barrels.

The nose: wow, does it make an impression with notes of ripe cherry, hints of bramble fruit, vanilla, dark chocolate and crushed black pepper. It’s intense and bright.

And to taste? The Woodchester has a generosity that is almost as much New World as it is Cool Climate. There’s ripe kirsch cherry, strawberry and raspberry, hints of plums, but that is all cut through rather efficiently with a burst of tangy cranberry acidity.

With understated spice and vanilla on the finish, it’s impeccably structured and so very drinkable. And the really exciting part? This is going to be even better in a year or two… Another standout from this selection.