Riesling 2007

 
Winemaker: Anna Ward

Consultant to Winemaker: Michelle Richardson

Vineyard notes:
The grapes for this wine came from our vineyard located on Felton Road in Bannockburn. These vines are sited on a broad terrace close to the Kawarau River, with full exposure to northern sun. This is the third year we have picked fruit, and made our own wine, from these vines. The block of Riesling vines is a little less than two hectares – with 4,977 vines planted in total.

The cooler spring and early summer led to a slow start to the growing season, and unsettled weather around Christmas affected flowering and fruit-set. Small clusters and berries were typical throughout the region, resulting in lower than expected yields. However, a warm and dry February and March promoted good ripening and clean, high quality fruit. The juice extraction rate was low, reflecting the smaller berry size/bunch weights.

Winemaking considerations:
A single small tank fermentation was undertaken. The juice was innoculated and the must underwent a cool fermentation, where temperature was controlled over a period of time. Fermentation was stopped by chilling in order to balance the natural acidity with residual sugar. The wine was clarified using milk products and then filtered in preparation for being bottled late August.

Aromatic and Palate Comments:
It's clean and lush on the palate, with the sweet honeyed- fruit characters being perfectly balanced by the nicely focused acids that typify the region.

Created in a medium-dry style, this wine makes an extremely versatile food match. It’s perfect as an aperitif paired with duck or chicken pate, suited to a wide array of Thai/Asian cuisine, and perfect for those sun-filled summer days. A delicious wine for drinking now onwards - enjoy!