Tasting Notes
Pale straw in colour, this Pinot Gris has a special nose of ripe pear and apple. The palate is rich and intense with pear and quince flavours, and is supported by well-integrated acidity. The finish is superb - long and seamless, with excellent balance and flavour. Terrific with food or just on its own, this is an absolutely delicious Pinot Gris reflecting great value for money.
Food Matching
Take a picnic to the beach with some friends. Serve them some herbed wraps filled with grilled spicy salmon, cucumber slivers, lettuce leaves, grated carrot, gouda and top it off with lashings of salsa verde. A jumble of wonderful flavours, topped off with a chilled glass of Pinot Gris straight from the chilly bin.
Viticulture and Winemaking
The 2011 vintage in Marlborough continued on the fine run of vintages from this region. Bud burst was earlier than 2010 due to a warm September. Fruit set was just above average, leading to slightly higher than normal crop levels. Some careful fruit thinning early in the season brought the vines into perfect balance. By late January the summer had cooled with some rain leading into March, however the grapes remained in perfect condition. By mid to late March those typical cool Autumn nights and sunny cloudless days allowed the vines to reach full ripeness, being harvested right on schedule at the end of the month.
The grapes were machine harvested early in the morning to help preserve fruit flavour, then destemmed, lightly crushed and pressed, with minimal skin contact. The clear juice was then fermented at low temperatures in stainless steel tanks with a selected yeast strain that helps to preserve the varietal character. Following a long, slow fermentation, the wine was left on light lees for 4 months to enhance texture and add complexity. It was then prepared for bottling in early November.
The fruit for this Pinot Gris came from our Brookdale vineyard, nestled in the renowned Omaka Valley.