WINES
Pinot Gris
Pinot Gris is thought to be a mutant clone of the Pinot Noir variety, it normally has a greyish-blue fruit, accounting for its name but the grapes can have a brownish pink appearance. The typical Pinot Gris is full-bodied with a fresh, spicy flavour and notes of tropical fruit, stone fruit, or citrus.
Learn More About This Varietal
Tasting Notes
Vintage Overview
After a lower yielding 2021 vintage, Marlborough was blessed
with outstanding weather in December providing near perfect
flowering conditions and a subsequent great fruit set. This
translated into an increased number of berries per bunch, and
helped offset the slightly lower than average bunch numbers
which was a result of the cooler weather we experienced during
flowering in 2020. The great weather conditions continued
through January with above average daily temperatures
and sunshine hours, punctuated by timely periods of rainfall.
This ensured optimal soil water status giving great canopy
development and health. Initially it looked like an early start
to harvest but then we saw periods with cooler temperatures
and increased rainfall in late January and early February. This
slowed development and extended the ripening period with
harvest commencing in the 3rd week of March and concluding
at the end of April. The extended ripening period has lead to
wines with great balance and poise ensuring some outstanding
components to go into this years’ blends.
Vinification
Harvested in the cool hours of the morning they were gently pressed and fermented in stainless steel vats. A small parcel was fermented and aged in older French oak to add texture and palate weight. After blending the wine was left to settle before bottling on the Wairau River Estate.
Flavour Profile
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Floral
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Green Apple
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Pear
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Spices
Technical Data
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Alc
13.5%
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TA
6.4 g/L
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pH
3.42
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RS
5.9 g/L
Harvested 23rd-26th March 2022
Vineyard Composition
Regional Overview
The Wairau Valley is one of three zones – along with the Southern Valleys and the Awatere Valley – which make up the heartland of New Zealand's Marlborough wine region. It accounts for approximately 45 percent of plantings within the wider region. An extensive patchwork of vineyards surrounds the town of Blenheim in the north-eastern corner of the South Island, near where the Wairau River meets the Pacific Ocean.
The Wairau Valley is a wide river valley that follows the Wairau River from the Spenser Mountains in the west to the Pacific at Cloudy Bay. The Richmond Mountains in the north separate it from the sunny region of Nelson, and the Wither Hills in the south protect the valley from harsh weather systems from the south-east.
In the low-lying area along the Wairau River Rapaura and Renwick are the most established zones. However in recent years vineyard plantings have extended further west along the narrow valley floor.
Wairau Valley has a warm, dry climate that is moderated during the growing season by sea breezes from Cloudy Bay. Hot sunshine during the day and cold ocean winds at night extend the ripening period in the grapes, leading to a balance of fruit complexity and acidity. This diurnal temperature variation is essential to the terroir in the Wairau Valley – without it, much of the classic punchiness of the wines made here would be lost.
Reviews
Varietal FAQs
Where are your wines made?
All our wines are made on site in our winery. We draw fruit from our 15 estate vineyards, which means they are owned by us. We built our winery in 2002.
Can I visit your vineyard / winery and do you offer winery tours and tastings?
You can visit our restaurant where you can taste our wines and enjoy a beautiful lunch surrounded by vines, but unfortunately due to health and safety regulations we are unable to have visitors at our winery.
How can I keep the wine fresh once a bottle has been opened?
To keep an open bottle of wine fresh, ensure the cap is tightly sealed after every glass pour. Our white wines and rosé should be stored, cap on, in a refrigerator to slow down oxidisation. For our red wines, keep the wine bottle out of light and stored at room temperature (below 21 degrees Celsius or 70 degrees Fahrenheit), or in a refrigerator.
How long will your wine last when opened?
White wines are good for 1-2 days and red wines for 3-5 days if stored correctly.
