2012 Whitehaven Pinot Gris
Accolades
Pure Elite Gold - Air New Zealand Wine Awards 2012
Tasting Note
Colour / Appearance:Mid straw-gold. Aroma / Bouquet:A complex blend of bottled pears and quince paste, with hints of nougat and figs. Palate:This wine is a full-flavoured, lush wine with a rich, supple mouth-filling texture, soft acidity and an off-dry finish. Pear flavours and some ripe stone fruit dominate the fresh and weighty palate. Cellaring:The wine is in good balance and can be enjoyed immediately. With cellaring for a year or more the wine will gain texture and complexity to augment the varietal characters exhibited now. Food Match:Our Pinot Gris is best enjoyed with food. We recommend dishes featuring smoked salmon, mushrooms or light game. Pasta and egg dishes are also a good match. Serve:Slightly chilled.
Wine Analysis
Alcohol:13.0%Residual Sugar:7.0 g/L Titratable Acidity:5.2 g/L pH:3.59
Viticulture
Harvest Date:3rd – 14th April 2012 Climate:The early part of the season was cool and wet, resulting in lower yields and a late harvest period. Long dry spells over the final part of the ripening season lead to an accumulation of intense varietal flavours, high natural acidity to retain these flavours and clean fruit. Vine Management:Vines are trained to two canes on a vertical trellis, with balanced pruning, shoot thinning, tucking and trimming to achieve an open, healthy canopy.
Vinification
Winemaking:Some of the fruit was hand-picked and whole cluster pressed. The balance was machine harvested in cool evening conditions, and pressed with minimal skin contact and a press cut taken. The clear juice was fermented at very low temperature with selected yeast strains to preserve the inherent fruit flavours. After fermentation, the wine was regularly stirred on the yeast lees to aid the creamy texture and mouth feel. Winemaker:Sam Smail and Rowan Langdon.