Harvest Date:

19 April 2009

Bottled Date:

August 2009

Wine Maker:

Jeff Sinnott

Alcohol:

14.5%

Residual Sugar:

7.8 g/L

Titratable Acidity:

5.8 g/L

Packing:

Case of 12 x 750ml bottle, screw cap closure

Variety:

Pinot Gris

Viticulture:

Grapes for this wine were sourced from a virgin crop in a new vineyard on the eastern slopes above the Waihopai Valley. First crop fruit is often said to offer a glimpse of the future of a vineyard and we believe this wine is no exception. Grown on a single cane, VSP training system, it allowed for an extremely open canopy resulting in the fruit to achieve full ripeness in the late autumn sun.

Winemaking:

The fruit was hand harvested, gently whole bunch pressed and fermented very slowly in tank. Keeping the fermentation rate down enabled us to preserve delicacy and freshness of an otherwise tricky variety to keep alive. Maintaining the wine on lees for 4 months after fermentation has allowed the wine to reabsorb some of the characters cleaved by the yeast. The result is a full bodied, gently expansive wine with convincing character.

Tasting Notes:

At bottling the colour is a pale straw green. It shows subtle aromas of pear compote laced with equally subtle spices such as clove, cinnamon and mace. The palate is essentially dry with a pleasing mouth-filling sensation. There is sufficient acid to balance concentrated fruit flavours and the wine finishes soft and deliciously smooth.

Cellaring:

Best enjoyed young with a cellaring potential of 3 to 5 years.

Food
Accompaniments:

Ideal with Asian cuisine especially aromatic spicy curries.