Esk Valley, Hawkes BayVerdelhoThis Verdelho is a blend of two Hawkes Bay vineyard sites. The over 10 year old vines in our stony Omahu Gravels Vineyard provide the wine with a mineral infused note and flavours of orange citrus. The Joseph Soler Vineyard on more fertile silty gravels produces a richer and fuller wine style with flavours of tropical fruit. Both vineyards are intensively managed and cropped at low yields.
WINEMAKING The fruit was hand picked and whole cluster pressed, then fermented in both tank and aged French oak barriques. The wine in barriques was fermented with indigenous yeasts and left on lees till blending and bottling, while the portions in tank were cool fermented to capture the pure vineyard derived aromatics and flavours. WINEMAKER'S COMMENTVerdelho is a traditional and famous variety from the Portuguese island of Madeira where for many centuries it has been used in the production of fortified wine. Esk Valley has been New Zealand’s pioneer of this variety, producing a dry style Verdelho from our Hawkes Bay vineyards since 2002.
This is a full bodied and dry style wine, rich but with a fresh acidity. Aromas and flavours of peach, musk and orange citrus predominate with a grapefruit like acidity providing length. FOOD MATCH Enjoy chilled with seafood and Asian inspired dishes. IDEAL DRINKING Enjoy in the first few years while young and fruity. |