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£100.00

Inspired by the international acclaim achieved by the iconic Rabbit Hole Pinot Noir, Simpsons’ Wine Estate is committed to maintaining an exceptional level of still wine production, always seeking to deliver beyond expectations.

The idyllic 2020 harvest conditions, together with an outstanding parcel of Pinot Noir on the Railway Hill Vineyard site, presented the perfect opportunity to push the boundaries of world class still wine production even further.  Combining unique terroir with meticulous viticulture and wine-making expertise, the Q Class wines will only be produced in exceptional years, in order to showcase the Simpsons’ hallmark of quality, luxury and finesse.

The Simpsons’ Railway Hill Vineyard is so called because the Canterbury to Folkestone light railway passed through this site in the late 19th and first half of the 20th Century. The Q Class engines, which traversed this line, were powerful yet elegant, qualities that are exemplified in this wine. We hope this range will herald a golden era for still English winemaking.

£100.00 per magnum bottle 

Tasting Notes

First released in November 2021, this powerful, deep purple-hued Pinot Noir displays dark fruit notes of damson and blackcurrant, with hints of exotic spice and Darjeeling tea. It has an opulent mouthfeel with velvet tannins and a lingering finish.

Technical Details

Grape Variety: 100% Pinot Noir

Alcohol: 13% Vol

Harvesting & Vinification: A specially selected parcel comprising of four rows of vines, evenly split between the 115 and 777 Pinot Noir clones, was hand-harvested on 20th October 2020. This was the optimum harvesting window for the grapes, when they were presenting rich black fruit flavours and ripe tannins. They were carefully hand-sorted and de-stemmed directly into fermenters via gravity.  Once inoculated, the grapes were gently pumped over once a day over the period of a fortnight. A small component of the blend was vinified using the traditional technique of pigéage (punch-down).

Secondary Fermentation & Ageing: Once the primary fermentation was complete, the wine was drained off its skins into eight lightly-toasted, one-year-old French oak barrels, where it underwent malolactic fermentation. This decision was made in order to complement the rich fruit flavours of the Pinot Noir with the delicate spice characteristics of the French oak. In Spring 2021, after six months ageing in barrel, the wine was lightly filtered and bottled in Magnum format.

Reviews

"I was one of the very first to try the Q Class and can vouch for their incredible flavour and complexity. The Pinot Noir felt like sinking into a soft pillow of cherries, plums and dusky rose petals." 

Libby Zietsman-Brodie, CityAM

Delivery

1 - 3 magnum bottles: £10

4 + magnum bottles: Complimentary Delivery

Deliveries available on working weekdays only. 

Please leave "safe place" instructions at the checkout in case of need.

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