The Dark End of the Street Pinot Noir

Single-site Pinot Noir was hand-picked in late October. The bunches were destemmed and cold-settled for 48 hours before fermentation in open-topped bins. Daily punch-downs ensured good extraction from the delicate skins adding bright red-fruit notes and a dash of black pepper spice to the juice.

Fermentation took 18 days, and after completion the wine was racked into 228-litre French oak barrels where it underwent malolactic fermentation which helped to soften the acidity and add a slight creaminess. The wine was matured for 13 months in oak before bottling, adding earthy undertones and roundness.

The wine was bottled on 26th November 2024. 500 bottles were produced.

The Dark End of the Street is bottled unfined and unfiltered making it vegan friendly. Due to this hands-off approach the wine may throw a delicate, harmless sediment.

This pretty and precise Pinot drips with pomegranate and black cherry notes. A focussed spiciness and defined tannic line keep all that fruit in tow, adding mouthfeel and a textural bite on the finish. A dreamy, moody English red wine that's good for the soul.

Artwork: Brown Rocky Mountain by Eberhard Grossgasteiger (2019)

Wine name: The Dark End of the Street is a 1967 soul song, written by Dan Penn and Chips Moman and first recorded by James Carr. The much-covered soul staple featured in Alan Parker's 1991 film The Commitments, which followed the highs and lows of the titular 'hardest working band in the world'.

Bottles produced: 500, each one individually numbered

• Variety: Pinot Noir
• Clones: GM1, F105S
• Vineyards: Missing Gate Vineyard, Essex
• Harvest Date: 31st October, 2023
• Alcohol: 11% abv
• pH: 3.48
• Titratable Acidity: 8.02 g/L
• Bottled: 26th November, 2024
• Released: 14th February, 2025

--- Gutter&Stars