Esk Valley, Hawkes Bay

Pinot Gris

This wine utilises fruit from three Hawkes Bay vineyard sites. The Kaybay and Barber vineyards in the Esk Valley in the north of the Bay are planted on river silts, while the Keltern Vineyard at Maraekakaho is planted on a shingle river terrace of the Ngaruroro River.  All the vineyards are trained on a VSP trellising system and are intensively managed to provide ripe fruit at low yields.

WINEMAKING

All fruit was handpicked and whole cluster pressed in a pneumatic press. Early picks from the Barber and Kaybay vineyards in the Esk Valley provided acidity and freshness to the finished wine, while later picks provided body and aromatics. The late pick from the Barber vineyard had a high proportion of noble rot and this has given the finished wine complexity and richness. The individual vineyard parcels were fermented in a mix of old oak and tank and with both wild and cultured yeasts.

WINEMAKER'S COMMENT

This is a full bodied and rich style of Pinot Gris. Barrel fermentation has provided the wine with richness but without oak characters and the early picked sites have provided fresh, natural acidity to the finished blend. Aromatics and flavours of stone fruits, honey and pears dominate with a hint of spice providing complexity. This wine finishes dry making it an ideal accompaniment to good food.

FOOD MATCH

Try with soft cheeses, pork dishes, or seafood.

IDEAL DRINKING

Enjoyable as a young wine, but will continue to gain complexity and richness for two to five years.