This is Albourne’s second vintage of Red Pinot Noir and displays a deeper, richer ruby colour and a more complex nose than their 2018 version.  This is partly due to the vintage and partly due to increased use of the ‘saignee’ method during winemaking. The nose offers aromas of rich dark berries including black cherries backed by notes of cigarbox, black olives and dark chocolate.  On the palate it delivers excellent body for a cool climate Pinot Noir with mature soft tannins, a balanced mouthfeel and a harmonious lingering finish. All of this wine has spent 12 months in a mix of new and old French oak barrels before being bottled by hand, unfined and unfiltered, under cork to allow gentle ageing. Whilst ready to drink now it will evolve and improve over the next 3 to 5 years becoming even smoother and more elegant. Alison Nightingale began her working life in multi-national marketing before changing to a more creative, fulfilling and balanced path, setting up Albourne Estate. She selected the site of the vineyard not only for its stunning views of the South Downs, but for its slope, aspect, altitude and geology: tracing the beautiful south-facing slope of a low ridge created by underlying Cretaceous green sandstone. These features provide excellent drainage, low frost risk and maximum sun exposure. Albourne grow seven grape varieties planted across multiple clones and rootstock.