A beautifully fragrant, cool-climate Pinot Noir that feels tailor-made for crisp evenings. Silky, lightly spiced and full of bright red fruit, Lyme Bay’s Pinot Noir shows just how elegant and expressive English reds can be when handled with real care.
Lyme Bay Pinot Noir, Producer
Lyme Bay Winery has become one of the most forward-thinking producers in the English wine landscape. Based in Devon, the winery works with an exceptional network of growers across the South and East of England, selecting vineyard parcels that offer the best possible balance of ripeness, flavour and acidity. Although Lyme Bay first gained recognition for its aromatic whites, the team has increasingly turned heads with its sophisticated still reds, especially Pinot Noir, the most demanding of all cool-climate grapes.
Their philosophy is built on precision and patience: small-batch ferments, gentle extraction, minimal intervention and a relentless focus on fruit purity. English Pinot Noir is notoriously challenging to ripen, but Lyme Bay has embraced this challenge, collaborating with growers in warmer pockets of Essex and Kent where Pinot Noir can achieve depth while retaining its trademark freshness. The result is a style that is elegant, vibrant and distinctly English: a graceful answer to Burgundy, Oregon or Tasmania.
Lyme Bay Pinot Noir, Terroir & Winemaking
The grapes for Lyme Bay Pinot Noir typically come from Essex and Kent, two of England’s warmest, driest growing regions. Long daylight hours, extended hang time and shelter from maritime winds mean grapes can ripen fully — crucial for developing colour, tannin and flavour in Pinot Noir. The soils vary from chalk and clay-limestone to gravelly loams, giving the wine its mix of minerality and supple texture.
Winemaking is deliberately gentle:
- Hand-picked fruit
- Partial whole-bunch fermentation for lift and floral complexity
- Native yeast ferment where possible
- Low-temperature maceration for delicate extraction
- Ageing in a combination of stainless steel and old French oak, adding subtle structure without masking fruit
This thoughtful approach creates a wine that is silky, bright and aromatic — a genuinely impressive expression of English red wine.
Lyme Bay Pinot Noir, Tasting Notes
Light ruby in the glass. Aromas of wild strawberry, red cherry, raspberry and rose petal mingle with hints of cranberry, white pepper, forest floor and soft oak spice. The palate is elegant and medium-bodied with silky tannins, showcasing flavours of juicy red berries, pomegranate, subtle baking spice and a gently earthy undertone. Fresh acidity carries the wine into a long, pure, softly spiced finish.
Did you know?
Essex is now considered England’s most reliable region for ripening Pinot Noir, thanks to its dry climate and shelter from Atlantic weather systems.
Food pairing suggestion: Mushroom, Thyme & Gruyère Tart. The earthy mushrooms and savoury cheese mirror the wine’s subtle forest-floor notes, while its acidity cuts beautifully through the richness of the pastry.
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