Kaituna Valley

PINOT GRIS Marlborough 2008

The Awatere Vineyard

The grapes for this wine came from our high density (closely planted) vineyard in the Awatere Valley, Marlborough.  Planted to a mix of clones (Selection Ovielle, Gm 2-15, Gm 2-21 and Gm 2-16) and grafted on low vigour rootstocks.

The 2008 Pinot Gris is a wine of elegant beauty.  Perfumed nose of spiced peach, apricot and pear leads to a richly textured palate with fruit and mineral flavours.  A seductive and approachable wine with a suggestion of sweetness (12 grams/litre residual sugar) and a fine thread of acidity.

Technical Notes:

Grapes were harvested at 25.2 ºBrix in the cool of the morning on 15 April 2008 and de-juiced with delay.  Cold settled juice was inoculated with cultured yeasts and fermented at a range of temperatures to accentuate fruit flavours and introduce complexity.  The wine was stop fermented at 12 grams/litre residual sugar and blended prior to bottling in August 2008.

Results:

• 4 & 1/2 star  91/100  “Hand-harvested grapes provided elegance and purity in this gorgeous wine.  The nose is gently perfumed showing ripe peach, tropical fruit and subtle spice characters.  The gentle sweetness (12g/l) on the palate leads to richly textured mid range and a lingering finish with nicely balanced acidity.  It has the immediate appeal but will improve with further aging.”  Wine Orbit  Issue 8  2008

Previous Results: 

2007 vintage: 

• 4 & 1/2 star   Michael Cooper’s Buyer’s Guide to New Zealand Wines 2008
• 4 star    91/100   Australian?Gourmet Traveller WINE Feb 2008 
• 4 star    Wine Orbit Issue 5 2008
• Best of the Best    Peter Saunders  Food & Beverage Magazine Dec 2007

2006 vintage:

• “Wine of the Year”   Peter Saunders Food & Beverage Magazine Dec 2006  
• “Top Pinot Gris of the Year”  93/100 (Gold)  Bob Campbell Taste Magazine October 2007 
• 5 star   Australian Gourmet Traveller WINE Dec 2007
• 4 & 1/2 star   Michael Cooper’s Buyer’s Guide to New Zealand Wines 2006 
• 4 & 1/2 star   Winestate Magazine Feb 2007 
• Silver Medal    Bragato Wine Awards 2006
• Silver Medal    New Zealand International Wine Show 2006

2005 vintage:

• GOLD Medal  NZ Home and Entertaining  Dec 2005
• 5 star   Gourmet Traveller WINE  Dec 2005
• 4 & 1/2 star   Michael Cooper’s Buyer’s Guide to New Zealand Wines 2006

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