Martin’s Lane

Martin’s Lane is our main source of fruit, and I am fortunate and delighted that I met owner Roy Martin at just the right time to snaffle an allocation from this highly desired vineyard location. Roy is totally dedicated to ensuring every detail of vineyard husbandry is aligned to the goal of achieving perfect grapes for still wines. The vineyard - which is truly beautiful - is some 30 acres of hillside facing south and west in the Crouch valley. A warm, dry microclimate on London clay enhances ripeness, and the slope down to the estuary greatly reduces risk of frost damage. The vineyard consultant is the legendary Duncan McNeill who is responsible for overseeing some of the ripest fruit harvested in England. In 2020 Martin’s Lane provided our Bacchus, Chardonnay and Pinot Gris. For 2021 we will be adding Pinot Noir - I can’t wait.

Martin’s Lane website.

Clayhill

Another Crouch valley estate a few miles from Martin’s Lane Dale Symons oversees a south facing clay slope of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Bacchus and some experimental rows of other varieties. He sells grapes to a number of major wineries across the country, and we sourced our beautiful 2020 Pinot Noir (Dijon clones) from this lovely spot. There’s a great cafe on site too.

Bromley Brook

Bromley Brook is a new vineyard near Colchester, currently of around 6 acres on prime fruit-growing land, with further plantings planned for 2021 and beyond. It is run by Matt Kempson who, like Roy, has a background in engineering and a fastidious eye for detail. He is on a mission to grow the finest grapes with as little chemical intervention as possible. In this task he is also using the wisdom and magic of Duncan McNeill. For 2021 we will take his entire crop of Pinots noir and gris, and possibly a bit of Bacchus. The soil and the climate is a little different from Crouch valley, though still with a dominance of that clay but it’s more loam, so it will bring further layers of complexity to the mix.