Simpson’s Pinot Noir 2024 Review
Don’t Judge a Wine by Its Colour When I poured this into the glass my first thought was, Wow, that’s almost rosé! It’s one of the palest Pinot Noirs I’ve come across, almost translucent in the glass, but as we all know with Pinot, colour means very little. Tonight I paired it with haddock, goat’s…
Don’t Judge a Wine by Its Colour
When I poured this into the glass my first thought was, Wow, that’s almost rosé!
It’s one of the palest Pinot Noirs I’ve come across, almost translucent in the glass, but as we all know with Pinot, colour means very little.
Tonight I paired it with haddock, goat’s cheese salad, buttered pasta, basil, mixed sweet leaves, pomegranate seeds and a generous helping of extra creamy coleslaw. Not the most obvious pairing on paper, but I had a feeling it might just work.
First Impressions
Straight away on the nose it’s all red fruits with plenty of forest floor and a lovely umami character sitting underneath. It smells fresh but there’s enough savoury complexity to make you want to keep going back for another sniff.
In the glass it’s simply summer fruit in a glass. Bright strawberries and red berries with really good freshness. Then comes the finish, and this is where it got interesting.
At first I couldn’t quite put my finger on it. It wasn’t mushroom, it wasn’t soy and it definitely wasn’t oak. Eventually it clicked.
It reminded me of a reduced balsamic glaze drizzled over fresh strawberries.
Sweet, savoury, slightly earthy and incredibly moreish.
The Food Changed Everything
This is why I love food and wine pairing.
Before eating, the finish leaned much more towards that darker umami character.
As soon as the food came into play the wine completely transformed.
The goat’s cheese was absolutely superb with it. The tanginess seemed to brighten the fruit, while the pomegranate seeds brought little bursts of sweetness that echoed the strawberry notes in the wine beautifully.
Every sip after that became lighter, fresher and more expressive. The finish went from dark, savoury and umami-driven to something much closer to sweet balsamic over fresh strawberries.
The haddock never got overpowered either, which surprised me. It stayed delicate throughout and the Pinot simply complemented everything on the plate rather than trying to dominate it.
It was one of those meals where every component just seemed to belong together.
Final Thoughts
This is exactly why I enjoy Pinot Noir so much.
It isn’t about power or concentration. It’s about elegance and how it adapts throughout an evening.
At £13 from Booths I genuinely think this is excellent value. It has proper Pinot character, enough complexity to keep you thinking and, most importantly, it’s a wine I’d happily go back and buy again.
Sometimes you drink a wine and enjoy it.
Sometimes you pair a wine with the right food and suddenly the whole experience becomes something you’ll remember.
This was definitely the latter.
Score: 91/100
Would I buy it again? Without hesitation.
Through the Terroir Verdict
Simpson’s Pinot Noir 2024
Region: Kent, England
Grape: Pinot Noir
Price: £13
Tasting Notes
On the Nose: Red fruits leap from the glass straight away, with strawberry, raspberry and plenty of forest floor. There’s also a lovely umami character that adds complexity and keeps you going back for another smell.
On the Palate: Bright summer fruits with excellent freshness. The wine is elegant rather than powerful, with flavours that reminded me of fresh strawberries drizzled with a reduced balsamic glaze. It has a lovely balance between fruit and savoury character.
Finish: Before food the finish leaned towards dark umami and earthy notes. Once paired with food it completely transformed, becoming lighter, sweeter and much more reminiscent of balsamic strawberries. The finish lingers nicely and leaves you wanting another sip.
Verdict
This is a brilliant example of what English Pinot Noir can offer. Delicate, elegant and incredibly food-friendly, it paired beautifully with haddock, goat’s cheese, pomegranate, buttered pasta and salad. The goat’s cheese and pomegranate really brought the fruit to life without overpowering the delicate fish.
At just £13 from Booths, this is outstanding value for money and one I’d happily buy again. If you’re looking to explore English still wine beyond sparkling, this is an excellent place to start..
Score: 91/100
Where to buy:
Bought from Booths