Speedwell Rondo Pinot Noir 2022

Speedwell is a small family vineyard in Beckley, the next village along from our shop in Northiam. This 2022 is its very first wine, and only 1,000 bottles were made.

Nicole and Alec moved to East Sussex with a long-held dream of growing vines and making their own wine. They found the ideal location and in 2013 planted three and a half acres, which the family farms themselves using organic methods. Since their first harvest in 2017, Speedwell grapes have gone to some of the South East's best-known producers, including Bolney, Hush Heath and Tillingham.

With the 2022 harvest they decided to keep the grapes for a wine of their own. The result is this Rondo and Pinot Noir blend, made at nearby Oxney Organic Estate under the care of winemaker Salvatore Leone. It was lightly oak-fermented and given a long, slow malolactic fermentation before bottling, giving a deeply coloured, medium-bodied red with soft tannins.

Deep maroon red with aromas of cherry, strawberry and lavender, with white pepper and an appealing aroma we associate with warm Blu Tack. The palate has more English cherry and black pepper, with toning tannins and floral lavender. The finish lingers with blueberry, blackberry and lavender, with subtle black pepper and tannins.