Freedom of the Press, Pinot Noir 2022, Essex

Freedom of the Press is an exciting urban winery perched on a hill above Minster Lovell in the Cotswolds, just 15 miles from Oxford. If this seems unexpected, the winery’s mission is equally unconventional. Founder Gavin Carver doesn’t own vineyards but instead sources premium grapes from Essex, specifically from Martin’s Lane in the Crouch Valley and Bromley Brook near Colchester. He then crafts the wine on a picturesque farm in the Cotswolds, following a model similar to the négociants of Champagne and Burgundy—though on a much smaller scale.

The Crouch Valley is widely regarded as one of the UK’s best regions for growing still wine grapes. Its climate, warmer and drier than most of the country during a typical summer, is crucial for achieving optimal ripeness. The proximity of the Crouch Estuary mitigates frost risk, thanks to its protective wind currents, while the London clay soil imparts complexity and power to cool-climate wines. These characteristics are echoed in the Bromley Brook vineyard as well.

Concentrated yet elegant fruit flavors with impressive focus. Light to medium-bodied, this wine has a silky texture and gentle tannins, leading to a finish of great length and finesse.