pinot gris 2006

The wine displays delectable suggestions of white nectarine and pear along with exotic spice and a lovely mealy complexity. The mouthfeel is rich and full in texture with fine balance and persistent length. Enjoyable early, our Pinot Gris will develop further complexity and interest for those with patience to cellar it.

Vineyard
Our Pinot Gris blocks are hand harvested from vines ageing up to 13 years. A range of 4 clones are planted, each lending its own complexity to the final blend. The vineyards are situated on and around the Martinborough Terrace. The region has a cool, maritime climate along with other beneficial climatic drivers including a rain shadow, one of the country's largest diurnal temperate differentials, windy Springs and a long warm ripening period through Autumn. All this results in a natural low-vigour site regulating crops and enabling high quality, consistent, ripe fruit.

Winemaking
All fruit is picked by hand allowing careful sorting in the vineyard at harvest. It is then sorted again in the winery before being processed. The fruit is predominantly whole bunch pressed for finesse. A portion is fermented in old oak barrels to add complexity and fermentation with indigenous yeasts is encouraged. The remainder is fermented in stainless steel where ferment temperature is cooler preserving the fresh varietal character. Our Pinot Gris does not undergo malolactic ferment and retains a fine acidity balance. The wine is kept in barrel and tank for 7 months and is lees stirred periodically.

14% alcohol