2021 Whitehaven Marlborough Riesling

VITICULTURE

Harvest Date: 21st March – 23rd 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 both Riesling parcels were harvested in perfect weather conditions.

Grape growing:
The fruit for this wine was sourced primarily from our winery home block vineyard at Pauls Rd (72%) with the balance from Best’s vineyard in the Sothern Valleys (28%). The vines are pruned to two canes on a vertical shoot positioned trellis. Shoot thinning, leaf plucking, and trimming are used to achieve balanced vines, a healthy canopy and clean fruit. Minimal crop thinning was required in 2021 due to naturally low crops.

VINIFICATION

Winemaking:
The majority of the fruit (72%) was handpicked and whole bunch pressed with the balance machine picked. We pressed immediately with minimal skin contact. To retain as much purity in the finished wine as possible and minimise harsh phenolic compounds, a press cut was made to separate out the heavier pressings portion of the juice.  After settling and clarification, the juice was fermented at very low temperature with a selected yeast strain to retain the fruit’s intense varietal flavours.  The ferment was stopped with some residual sugar to balance the high acidity.

• "Bright, pale yellow with a green hue, even colour throughout. The nose is softly full and vibrant, filled the glass with lime, lemongrass, minerals and citrus flower. Medium-light bodied, dry-ish to taste, a mouth-watering acid line carries lime, green apple, lime zest, interweave a subtle hint of lemongrass, lime blossom and stony minerals. The electric acid line provides vitality and length, drives a crisp, long finish. The fruit has good concentration, minerals and citrus peels added interest. This is a dry-ish, mouth-watering Riesling with a flush of citrus and minerals. Match with steamed seafood and sushi over the next 5+ years." 5 Stars, Candice Chow, Raymond Chan Wine Reviews
• "Charming and gorgeously elegant with nectarine, lemon pith, lime zest and crunchy apple notes, it's finely textured and brilliantly expressed on the palate offering terrific fruit purity combined with subtle sweetens and racy acidity. Wonderfully balanced and harmonious with an impressively long vibrant finish. Style: Off-dry. At its best: now to 2031" 5 Stars, Sam Kim, Wine Orbit
• "Aromatic, fresh, bright and youthful fresh fruit scents of lemon and green apple, tropical flowers and crumbled wet stone minerality. On the palate - crisp, tense, salivating, fresh and fruity core with flavours that reflect the bouquet starting with green apple and lemon then a sherbet and white spice layer. Acidity dances across the palate and carries the flavours throughout. A lovely wine perfect as an aperitif and with sashimi. Best drinking from 2022 through 2028." 93/100 Points, Excellent – Cameron Douglas, MS, NZ