2021 Whitehaven Marlborough Pinot Gris

VITICULTURE

Harvest Date: Multiple pick dates from 13 – 22 March 2021.

Climate: 2021 will be remembered as a season of two halves. The early part of the growing season was marked by two severe frost burn events which affected much of the region to varying degrees. This was followed by variable cool and wet weather through flowering, resulting in fewer berries setting per bunch, further reducing crops after the frost damage. Post-Christmas however, we could not have asked for a better season. The weather remained warm, but not hot, and we had beautiful diurnal shift leading into harvest, retaining freshness and energy in the fruit and providing the perfect conditions for flavour development. With the light crops, harvest was underway earlier than usual, and it was only in the final days of the harvest that we encountered some wet weather events that the winery was easily able to work around.

Grape Growing: The fruit used to make this wine is from our Pauls Road and Tussocks Vineyard sites. The vines were trained to 2-3 cane VSP. Throughout the growing season the vines were thoughtfully managed, with open canopies and prudent crop thinning helping to create fully ripe, and clean fruit come harvest time.

VINIFICATION

Winemaking: The fruit used to make this wine was hand harvested and whole bunch pressed. After pressing, the juice was settled for 12-24 hours and then racked, retaining some solids in the juice. This juice was then fermented using a selection of aromatic yeast strains. After fermentation the tanks were topped without the addition of sulphur, and the wine was left on lees for 5 months prior to blending. After blending, the wine was filtered, before being bottled on the 8th December 2021.

ACCOLADES

• "Beautifully styled and fragrant, the wine shows Nashi pear, apricot, thyme and white floral notes on the nose, leading to a delightfully weighted palate offering lovely fruit purity and intensity. Gorgeously composed and delectably appealing" Sam Kim, Wine Orbit - 5 Stars
• "Aromas and flavours of fresh brown pears, baked apple and citrus. There’s a crisp stony mineral quality and white spice quality highlighting the mineral and pristine acid line. Still very new and youthful with a taut mouthfeel, easily tamed with fresh seafood. Best drinking from late 2022 through 2025." Cameron Douglas, MS - 92/100 Points, Premium
• "Offering good value, the powerful, youthful 2021 vintage (4.5*) is a single-vineyard wine, estate-grown in the Wairau Valley. Bright, light lemon/green, it is fragrant and full-bodied, with strong, vibrant pear, lychee and spice flavours, lees-aging notes adding complexity, fresh acidity and a smooth, dry (2.9 grams/litre of residual sugar) finish. Best drinking mid-2023+." Michael Cooper, NZ - 4.5 Stars
• "Bright, pale straw-yellow, even colour throughout. The wine is soft, penetrating oyster shell minerals and spice on the entrance, unfolding subtle floral, citrus and tree fruit. Medium-full bodied, dry to taste, a good weight cushioning the palate with aromas of pear, apple, apricot, white floral, interweave honey, talcum spice and grapefruit peels on the finish. The wine has a good concentration of flavour and body, supported by balanced acidity, and spice left a numbing sensation on an oily lingering. This is an elegant dry Pinot Gris with concentrated fruit and spice, balanced acidity and a smooth mouthfeel. Match with gyoza and chicken ballotine over the next 3 years." Candice Chow, Raymond Chan Wine Reviews - 92/100 Points