Misha's Vineyard Dress Circle Pinot Gris 2020

"Inviting aromas of white pear, honeysuckle and hazelnut nougat lead to a gentle dry palate of baked apple and nectarine balanced by a fresh mineral lime finish." Olly Masters (Winemaker)

The season started with relatively cold and dry conditions then we had a spring with unrelenting winds impacting fruitset. Although 2020 is regarded as an excellent vintage across New Zealand, Central Otago recorded the coolest ever season. With Growing Degree Days (GDDs) at just 852, we were thankful of lower yields so we could ripen the fruit. Lower yields have resulted in excellent flavour intensity.

Single vineyard estate

The fruit was gently whole bunch pressed to enhance varietal extraction but ensure low phenolic levels. The free run portion of the juice was kept separate and racked clear to stainless steel tanks, where it was inoculated and cool-fermented (14-15⁰C) to retain varietal character. The pressings portion, had some of the free run added back and was fermented at warmer temperatures (20⁰C) in older French oak hogshead barrels (23% of blend) with indigenous yeast to add more yeast complexity and build mid palate texture into the wine.