Missing Gate Vineyard, Two Horse Pinot Noir, Essex, England, United Kingdom 2021

The name suggests it once took ‘two horses’ to till these clay slopes in the 1800s. Aged for 15 months, with 15% new oak, the wine opens with smoky vanilla and savoury dark fruit, with hints of confected cherry. Roasted coffee bean marks the attack, followed by exceptionally juicy wild red berries and depth of liquorice and dried cranberry. Layered and long, with plenty of character, caressed by polished tannins.