Simpsons Wine Estate – ‘Derringstone’, Pinot Meunier Blanc de Noir – 2022

PRODUCER NOTE:
Charles and Ruth Simpson have been making award-winning wines in the South of France since 2002. In 2012, attracted by the quality of the terroir and the opportunity to become part of one of the most dynamic wine producing regions in the world, they brought their expertise back to the UK, establishing Simpsons Wine Estate. Aspiring to produce the finest quality English wine, they gradually planted 30 hectares of vineyards on the iconic chalk terroir of the North Downs and built a state-of-the-art winery. They are members of Sustainable Wines of Great Britain. In 2016, the Simpsons saw their first harvest. With a strong focus on provenance, they produce a highly acclaimed range of exclusively estate-grown still and sparkling wines, including the Chalklands Classic Cuvée 2016, which won a gold medal in the 2019 Champagne & Sparkling Wine World Championships.

VINTAGE:
The start of the 2022 growing season was cool so the vines were slow to shoot which meant frost damage was avoided. It was a warm sunny growing season with very little rain which led to excellent fruit flavours and ripeness. At one stage there was concern the dry conditions would lead to a smaller than normal crop, however the chalk soils provided the vines with adequate moisture to provide an ample harvest.

VINEYARD:
Simpsons Wine Estate is situated in the Elham Valley; an unspoilt seam in the North Downs of Kent where the contours of the land, the climate and the soil are excellent for viticulture. The intensely lime-rich chalk soil forms part of the same chalk ridge that stretches from southern England to Burgundy. The grapes come from the Roman Road vineyard, where the Guyot trained vines are trained on vertical foliage wires to help with canopy management. The Pinot Meunier vines are planted at a density of 4,200 vines per hectare from clones 791, 977 and 978 and yield 55 hl/ha. They are grown on south facing slopes, ensuring heat accumulation in the day and cold air drainage at night. The vineyard is less than eight miles from the coast, providing a crucial maritime influence insulating the fruit against intense temperature variations. Grass cover crops between the rows encourage biodiversity within the vineyard. Pruning and harvesting takes place by hand and Simpsons is signed up to the WineGB’s Sustainability Scheme.

WINEMAKING:
The hand-picked grapes were carefully whole bunch pressed. The juice was cold settled for 48 hours before being racked and undergoing a long, slow fermentation using aromatic yeasts. The wine went through full malolactic conversion, resulting in a creamy texture and then rested on its fine lees to build palate weight.

TASTING NOTE:
This unique, still, Pinot Meunier has a pale gold hue tinged with delicate pink. Exquisite aromas reminiscent of orchard pear and apple dance with white floral blossom through to a luxuriously mouth-filling texture and bright finish.

GRAPE:
Pinot Meunier 100%.

COUNTRY:
England

REGION:
Kent

SUB-REGION:
Kent