2011 Whitehaven Pinot Grigio
Tasting Note
Colour / Appearance:Mid-straw.
Aroma / Bouquet:Delicate aromas of freshly cut pear and quince with almond and spice undertones.
Palate:A medium-bodied wine with a harmonious palate showing baked apples, almonds and a subtle spice. It has a finely balanced acidity that lends to the clean, lengthy finish.
Cellaring:At its best in the first 2-3 years.
Food Match:Our 2011 Pinot Grigio is a drier style, made to be enjoyed best with food. We recommend dishes featuring smoked salmon, mushrooms, poultry or light game. Pasta dishes are also a good match.
Serve:Serve lightly chilled.
Wine Analysis
Alcohol:13%
Residual Sugar:4.2 g/L
Titratable Acidity:5.3 g/L
pH:3.44
Viticulture
Harvest Date:25th March – 2nd April 2011
Climate:The early ripening season was mild and dry. Favourable conditions over budburst lead to a good fruit set. Wetter weather over late December caused rapid growth and a need for careful canopy management. The later part of the season was both warm and dry, with cool nights to retain acid freshness and delicate flavours. The fruit reached full maturity and optimum ripeness just before heavy rains in the later part of April.
Vine Management:Vines are trained to two canes on a standard trellis, with balanced pruning, shoot thinning, vertical shoot positioning, tucking and trimming to achieve an open, healthy canopy.
Vinification
Winemaking:The fruit was machine harvested in cool evening conditions to retain the delicate aromatics. The pressings were separated, fined and added back to the free-run juice. After light settling, the juice fermented at very low temperature with selected yeast strains to preserve the inherent fruit flavours. The wine was fermented entirely in stainless steel.
Winemaker:Sam Smail