Just arrived from Offbeat, Field Notes 1 & 2 are here!
A pair of sibling-wines, with fruit sourced from one vineyard on clay soils in Crouch Valley, Essex. These two are a neat example of the cyclical circuit of winemaking and blending Dan & Nic have been perfecting recently, with one ferment leading into another, or sparking the idea for a different blend.
Field Notes 1, which we first released in November last year, began as an infusion-style maceration of whole bunch Pinot Noir topped up with Pinot Blanc juice. The free-run juice from this 3 week process was aged in a combination of a glass carboy, a 5th fill Burgundy barrel and an Acacia barrel for 11 months before blending and bottling with zero sulphur.
The press-juice from that fermentation was aged in barrel for 11 months and saved for half of Field Notes 2. Dan & Nic also experimented with a carbonic infusion of Pinot Meunier, whole bunches topped up with their own direct-press juice for a 3 week maceration. The free-run Meunier from that tank was aged in a combination of neutral barrels for 11 months before blending with the FN1 press-juice and bottling via gravity with no additions. Following so far? This hastily scribbled diagram may or may not help...
The vineyard for Field Notes is farmed by Duncan McNeill, who in 2020 was working with a lutte raisonée approach, but following many conversations with Dan & Nic, went organic at the beginning of 2021. Speaking with them recently, they were heartened that even despite a tricky first year, Duncan had called them to say he would "never go back" to conventional agriculture.
Dan & Nicola are really at the forefront of what is possible in the UK for wine, producing clean, characterful, zero-sulphur (and still!) wines on our own doorstep. We count ourselves very lucky at being able to watch the process unfold so closely, and play a part in sharing their process with you.
p.s Those following along at home might wonder where the press juice from that Pinot Meunier ferment ended up? It'll be making an appearance this summer as one third of a new wine, another we can't wait for you to try.
You’re not seeing double- spot the difference. l-r, Field Notes 1, Field Notes 2
Now Available
RED
2020 - Field Notes 1 - Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc
NEW 2020 - Field Notes 2 - Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier
