A complex, layered nose reveals quince, dried pear and citrus zest aromas. A luscious palate of dried pears and figs with a silky texture and a balancing peak of acidity finishes with a subtle minerality.
Technical Information
WINEMAKING NOTES Hand harvested grapes were whole bunch pressed. A gentle slow pressing program was used to extract juice whilst minimising astringent harshness. The juice was cold settled overnight then racked as clear juice before inoculation for fermentation, with temperatures kept cool to conserve the fruit aromas in the wine. A portion of wine was held in barrel after fermentation for some lees stirring to contribute to the texture of the wine. The finished wine was bottled using gravity.
pH 3.53 T.A 5.4 R.S 8.0 Alc 14.4
VITICULTURE 2 cane vertical shoot positioned vines (VSP). Bud rubbing, shoot positioning, crop reduction and some leaf plucking were all carried out by hand to ensure the canopies were open and even and the crop load was balanced to the vine. Grapes were hand harvested.
Awards & Reviews
Bob Campbell, Oct 08 Attractive Pinot Gris with impressive (for Pinot Gris) flavour concentration in a truly dry style. The wine has a good savoury (yeast, toasted nuts and hay straw) influence to subtle pear and mineral fruit flavours. Very impressive. 90 points.
Truewines, David Steward, June 09 Prominent pear and fig aromas are backed with hints of lily and white peach in a full, quite generous nose. A broad, quite substantial front carries tasty white peach, pear and clover honey characters, drawn out with well balanced acidity in a moderately lush, but together sort of mid palate. The finish is warmish but long, with a final flick of nutty complexity.
Winestate, March/April 09 Rich, single-vineyard wine, grown at Hope, hand-picked and partly barrel-fermented and lees-aged. Alsace style, with concentrated stone-fruit and spice flavours, still fresh and vibrant, mouthfilling body, and impressive delicacy, complexity and depth. Refined wine, opening out well. 4 stars.
Neil Hodgson, Nelson Mail, 7 Oct 2008 Bursting with ripe pear and quince aromas and with intense pear and ginger flavours that punch their way out of a full, luscious mouth-feel this is a powerful off-dry style wine that demands your full attention. A cracking good wine.
Vinoté Cellar Notes, Glenda Neil, 19 Oct 08 Lovely aroma of summer fruits, richly textured wine with good palate weight and plenty of body, a portion of the wine was given a little time in barrel which gives the wine a lovely creamy finish.
Food & Wine
Chicken & pear salad, pork with apple, hard cheeses (pecorino, parmesan), avocado, Thai dishes, smoked/cured fish.
