Red wine variety, and early-ripening selection of Pinot Noir. It is a dark, blue-black–skinned, variety of grape which is well suited to the English climate with small berries & bunches, providing concentrated flavour & aromas. “Précoce ripens about three weeks earlier than all the other Pinot Noirs. That means we stand a chance of ripening it. It also ripens to about 11-11.5% of potential alcohol, which is 2% more than the standard Pinot Noirs. We get ripeness and good color. Because it ripens so early, we avoid the botrytis risk, because we can harvest before the big autumn rains. That’s one of the big advantages.” - Emma Rice, Hattingley Valley, Hampshire Leaves are eaten cooked - rated very good in our taste tests, or added to pickles to retain crunch. Autumn display of vibrant foliage, turning shades of yellow, gold, and red.
