2020 Whitehaven Marlborough Pinot Gris
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TASTING NOTE
Colour / Appearance: Mid-straw with a bright clarity.
Aroma / Bouquet: Stunning pear, ginger, and floral tones are displayed on the nose, with a subtle hint of sweet baking spices.
Palate: This textural Pinot Gris shows an elegant array of pear, stone-fruit and almond meal flavours.
Cellaring: The wine has lovely balance and can be enjoyed immediately. We believe after cellaring for up to six years the Pinot Gris will gain additional texture and complexity to augment the varietal characters exhibited by the wine now.
Food Match: This Pinot Gris is made to be enjoyed with food. We recommend dishes featuring richer seafoods, mushrooms, light game and poultry.
Serve: Lightly chilled
WINE ANALYSIS
Alcohol: 14.5%
Residual Sugar: 4.8 g/L
Titratable Acidity: 5.1 g/L
pH: 3.56
VITICULTURE
Harvest Date: 12-31st March 2020
Grape Growing: Pinot Gris vines, planted immediately surrounding the winery, are trained to two canes on a vertical trellis, with balanced pruning, shoot thinning, tucking and trimming to achieve an open, healthy canopy. This season was notable for being one of the warmest on record. Things started normally, with variable spring temperatures, wind and a number of rainy days. However, after Christmas the region experienced a very hot, dry season. It also meant little or no disease pressure and the grapes able to picked with optimum flavours.
VINIFICATION
Winemaking: The fruit used to make this wine was hand-picked, the vast majority of which came from Whitehaven’s own Pauls Rd vineyard. The fruit was then whole bunch pressed and the resulting juice settled for 24 hours. The juice was then racked to a stainless steel tank, where it underwent fermentation using a selected yeast strain. A portion of this wine (10%) was fermented at a warm temperature in an old oak cuvee. After fermentation, the wine was let to sit on its yeast lees for approximately 5-6 months. We then blended and filtered this wine, before finally bottling it on the 2nd February 2021.
Winemaker: Rowan Langdon
ACCOLADES
- "Offering fabulous fruit purity and poise, the wine shows Nashi pear, apricot, lemon peel and rich floral aromas on the nose, followed by a succulent palate offering excellent weight and roundness. It's wonderfully flavoursome and elegant at the same time, finishing long and delectable. At its best: now to 2024." Sam Kim, Wine Orbit - 94 Points, 5 Stars
- "Aromas of green pear and honeysuckle, white spice and dried red apple, a mix of lees and stony earthy attributes add depth and complexity. Crisp, fruity, luscious texture, spice and salivating acidity on the palate. Flavours of pears and apple mirror the bouquet, warming alcohol is contrasted by a core of fruit and whisper of residual sweetness. Lovely weight and richness, mouth filling flavours and textures. Balanced, fresh, young and ready to drink upon purchase and through 2023+." Cameron Douglas, MS, NZ - 92 Points, Premium
- "Bright, even, pale yellow with some depth. The nose is softly full, nuances of sweet pear, apple, voluminous white florals and a hint of spices. Medium-light bodied, dry-ish to taste, aromas of sweet pear, apple melded with lilies, white florals; a touch of five-spice linger on the finish. The wine has clean and pure fruit, supported by balanced acidity; it flows smoothly on a round and lightly creamy palate. This is a straightforward Pinot Girs with juicy pear and five-spice. Match with chilli pork stir-fried or spiced cajun fish over the next 3 years." Candice Chow, Raymond Chan Wine Reviews - 4 Stars
