2020 Watchtower
2020 Watchtower
A direct-pressed, amphora aged Pinot Meunier with fruit sourced from a small plot on chalk soils in Dorchester.
Cuvée: Watchtower
Style: Still
Colour: Rose, mostly
Grapes/Blend: Pinot Meunier
ABV: 11%
Vintage: 2020
Winemaking: The quantity of available fruit was just a bit shy of what's needed to fill a traditional basket press, so Dan left in some just-pressed Pinot Noir and threw the Pinot Meunier on top. Pressed directly -with that second squeeze of the Pinot Noir-he extracted a fair bit of colour, a coppery peachy juice that was sent straight to an 800l amphora for the winter.
As the cellar warmed through spring, the wine underwent a brief malolactic fermentation to fill out the frame, and was bottled under crown cap with no sulphur on the 21st of June.
Fruit for Watchtower was sourced from a grower Dan has known since his days at Langham: Colin Hawkins, whose vines are planted on chalk soils outside Dorchester. Now into his 70's Colin works conventionally but diligently in the vineyard, with every process undertaken himself, by hand.
Sulphur: None added
Soil: Chalk
Offbeat wines is the inspiring project started by Daniel Ham in 2018. Using organic fruit from vineyards in Hampshire and Devon. Joined by his wife Nicola in their own cellar in 2020, these former marine biologists are about as close as you will get to garage winemaking in the UK. Wines are made with no additions and are among the most exciting being made in England.