2024 Kōparepare Marlborough Riesling
$21.00
TASTING NOTE
Kōparepare (gift or contribution in Te Reo Māori) is a passion project from Whitehaven Wines. For every bottle sold, we donate to LegaSea, a non-profit organisation dedicated to restoring marine abundance in NZ.
Colour / Appearance: Pale lemon-gold.
Aroma / Bouquet: White flesh peach, lemon sorbet with hints of floral notes.
Palate: At just 9% alcohol, this Riesling is full of crunchy green apple, lime zest and peach flavours. Produced in a classic mid-sweet style, balanced perfectly with high, mouthwatering acidity, the palate finishes refreshed and cleansed with just a hint of sweetness. It's a delicious and elegant, light-bodied wine.
Food Match: This is a lovely food wine. Excellent as an apéritif before a meal or to cleanse the palate.
Cellaring: Drinks beautifully now and will age well for at least 5 years.
Serve: Lightly chilled.
WINE ANALYSIS![]()
![]()
Alcohol: 9%
Residual Sugar: 32 g/L
Acidity: 9 g/L
pH: 2.88
VITICULTURE
Climate: Unlike the previous two years, the growing season leading into the 2024 vintage began after a dry winter, with the soil water balance in deficit. Fewer inflorescences generally and then a protracted flowering window in November and December, resulted in a poor fruit set and fewer berries per bunch than average in most areas of Marlborough. Dry conditions persisted for the duration of the growing season, minimising disease threats and resulting in clean fruit at harvest. A spell of warm weather through late December and January, in combination with the lighter crop, resulted in a rapid physiological advancement against the long-term average. This trend continued until the start of harvest in early March. Fortuitously, the headwaters of the Wairau and Awatere River systems received enough rain to keep irrigation schemes open through the season and into harvest, at which point a return to cool, crisp days became the norm.
Grape Growing: The fruit for this wine was sourced exclusively from the Fairhall Vineyard in the Rapaura district of the Wairau Valley. The old vines were pruned to a mix of 3 and 4 canes with a vertical shoot positioned canopy. Throughout the growing season the vines were thoughtfully managed, with open canopies to help create ripe, clean fruit at harvest time.
WINEMAKING
Harvest Dates: 14th of March.
Winemaking: Fruit was machine harvested in cool evening conditions and pressed with minimal skin contact. Clear juice was fermented on light solids, at very low temperatures with a select yeast strain to retain the fruit's varietal flavours. The ferment was stopped early by rapidly cooling at just 9% alcohol, leaving a moderate level of natural sweetness.
ACCOLADES
-
"Pristine and elegantly expressed, the inviting bouquet shows white flesh peach, lemon sorbet and crunchy apple nuances with a hint of floral overtone. The palate is juicy and lively with fine focus and delicate texture, splendidly complemented by attractive sweetness and vibrant acidity, finishing long and super tasty. Style: Medium-sweet. At its best: now to 2032." 94/100 points (5 stars) - Sam Kim, Wine Orbit
- "Aromatic florals of jasmine and blossom are joined by lime zest, lemon sherbet, and green tea on the nose. The palate is racy and rich, with vibrant bursts of crunchy citrus and green apple fruit, balanced by a subtle hint of quince paste sweetness on the zesty lime finish. Fresh, bright, and delightfully light at 9%." 4.5 stars - The Wine Writer
- "Bright, even, pale yellow. Fine effervescent clinging to the glass. The nose is fresh, with aromas of Granny Smith, lime and lime blossom. Medium-light-bodied, medium-dry to taste. The fruit is ripe with a mix of zingy fruit and sweet stonefruit, juicy and delicious; a subtle apple skin-like texture added substance, along with crisp acidity, lending a refreshing finish. This 9% alc. Riesling is clean and crisp with a light texture and juiciness. Match with spicy fish tacos and Asian fare." 4 stars - Candice Chow (Raymond Chan Wine Reviews)
