Astrolabe Marlborough Pinot Gris 2018

Aroma - Citrus peel, poached pear and peach with light spice. Palate - Pure, crisp and dry wine with a fine minerality and delicacy of structure. Pear, quince and peach flavours dominate.

Mainly free-draining sandy or stony shallow silt loams and one site with deep loams including fragmented limestone. Standard trellis with pruning to two canes and vertical shoot positioning. Vines are trimmed closely, well tucked, with minimal leaf plucking. Extensive fruit thinning enhances concentration of flavour.

The 2017-2018 growing season was the warmest since the first grapes were planted in Marlborough in 1973. Temperatures were 1.1 degrees over the long-term average. It was wetter than normal January through March and made tricky by three extended rain events. A dry period between late February and late March helped the grapes get through in reasonable condition, and the health of the canopies ensured good flavour development.

Only the highest quality fraction of free-run juice has been used in this pinot gris, with most from whole-cluster pressed hand-picked bunches. This portion has been cool-fermented on light grape solids to add some round texture and flavour complexity. The balance of the wine is from night-time machine harvesting, where clear-settled juice has been fermented at low temperature to enhance aromatic intensity.