Wild Earth Pinot Gris 2011

Winemaker: Peter Bartle

Viticulturist: Rachel Moore

Vineyard Notes:

The grapes for this wine are a blend from our vineyard located on Felton Road in Bannockburn and a smaller wine blend in the Waitaki valley.  These vines are sited on a broad terrace close to the Kawarau River, with full exposure to northern sun.  The block of Pinot Gris vines is one hectare in size - with 2,588 vines planted in total. The 2011 growing season was a challenge. Budburst was slightly later, in mid October. The ensuing hot spring, saw rapid shoot growth so the season soon fast tracked a month ahead. Flowering and a perfect fruit-set was concentrated over a few weeks in late November as the weather remained hot and dry through December January. The normally two bunch shoots were crop thinned back to one bunch, re-balancing the vines, because of larger than normal bunches. February and March we saw high rainfall, but with the light crop and open canopy, the fruit was harvested in April, very clean, uniform in size, ripe, with a fantastic intensity of sweet fruit and acid

Winemaking considerations:

The Bannockburn portion 62.6% was harvested on April 6 2011 and was de-stemmed and crushed before pressing into tank. The juice was inoculated with aromatic wine yeast and fermented in stainless steel. The ferment was stopped retaining some residual sugar. The Waitaki valley portion 37.4% was slightly dryer and offering a different dimension.

Analysis:

Alcohol:                        13.7%

Titratable Acidity:           6.15g/L

pH:                              3.36g/L

Residual Sugar:             9.0g/L

Aromatic and Palate:

It is a fruit forward dry style, pale straw in colour, with a floral fragrant nose of ripe pear, quince and peach. The palate dishes up complex flavours of nashi pear, feijoa, peaches and a touch of spice  A medium bodied, rich textural wine with a long lingering finish.

Matches perfectly with fruit salads, white fish, pear or melon salsa, rabbit, chicken and pork.