2021 - Field Notes 3
2021 - Field Notes 3
The third edition in the Field Notes series - a series celebrating fruit sourced primarily from a mineral-rich blue clay parcel farmed organically by Duncan McNeill in the Crouch Valley.
Working with Duncan’s Pinot Blanc in a variety of methods, fleshed out with a little Chardonnay from Ham Street. A textural, pithy white from the leaner 2021 vintage, lively with acidity and tension.
Cuvée: Field Notes 3
Style: Still
Colour: White
Grapes/Blend: Pinot Blanc (92%) Chardonnay (8%)
ABV: 10%
Vintage: 2021
Winemaking: Both the Pinot Blanc and Chardonnay were organically farmed, the Pinot Blanc by Duncan McNeill on mineral-rich blue clay in the Crouch Valley, Essex (non-certified) and the Chardonnay by Jules and Lucie of Ham Street Vineyard on a mix of clay, silt and loam in Kent (2021 in conversion, now certified).
The Pinot Blanc was initially handled in three different ways: direct press, 24-hour whole bunch maceration and hand-destemmed with a 10-day maceration. The Chardonnay was all hand-destemmed and underwent a 10-day maceration. A total 10 months of fermentation and ageing in a mixture of used oak barrels, amphora and stainless-steel vat. The various components were bottled via gravity with zero additions and in line with the lunar calendar.
Sulphur: None added
Soil: Clay, silt, loam