Esk Valley Pinot Gris 2011, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand

Aromatic White Wine from Hawkes Bay, New Zealand

Esk Valley, Hawkes Bay Pinot Gris 2011

This wine utilises fruit from a variety of Hawkes Bay vineyard sites. The Kaybay and Barbar vineyards in the Esk Valley in the north of the Bay are planted on river silts, as is the Johnson Vineyard on the banks of the Tutaekuri River. The Keltern Vineyard at Maraekakaho is situated on a shingle river terrace of the Ngaruroro River. All the vineyards are trained on a VSP trellising system and are intensively managed to provide ripe fruit at low yields.

WINEMAKING

All fruit was handpicked and whole cluster pressed in a pneumatic press. Early picks from the Barbar and Kaybay vineyards in the Esk Valley provided acidity and freshness to the finished wine, while later picks provided body and aromatics. The late pick from the Barbar vineyard had a high proportion of noble rot and this has given the finished wine complexity and richness. The individual vineyard parcels were fermented in a mix of old oak and tank and with both wild and cultured yeasts.

WINEMAKER'S COMMENT

This is a full bodied and rich style of Pinot Gris. Barrel fermentation has provided the wine with richness but without oak characters and the early picked sites have provided fresh, natural acidity to the finished blend. Aromatics and flavours of stone fruits and pears dominate with a hint of spice providing complexity.

FOOD MATCH

Try with soft cheeses or pork dishes.

IDEAL DRINKING

Enjoyable as a young wine, but will continue to gain complexity and richness for two to five years.

TECHNICAL DETAILS

Region: Hawkes Bay
Variety: 100% Pinot Gris
Oak Use : 40% barrel fermented in aged barriques
Alcohol: 13.6%
pH: 3.47
Total acidity: 5.85 gL
Residual sugar: 8.4 gL