Hans Family Estate - Pinot Gris 2018

From one of New Zealand’s pioneers of Pinot Gris. Stunning opulent aromas of apricots and rock melon. Vivaciously mouth-filling with invigorating fruit driving through the forefront, wonderfully sweet fruit from physiological ripeness, but a crisp balanced finish with added texture. A beautiful long honeyed finish for a dry Pinot Gris with no residual sugar.

Vineyard: Wairau Valley - Rapaura. Prime location. One of the warmest sites in the Wairau valley, special micro-climate from adjoining Wairau river. Naturally frost protected.

Soil Type: Shallow (<45 cm) well drained sandy soil, developed from stony alluvium.

A long extended cold soak on the skin extracted the superb flavours and brilliant pink colour. I then let the must progress to its natural (wild yeast) fermentation without any residual sugar.

20% of the wine went into French oak puncheons and its fine lees regular stirred assisting to its remarkable silkiness, complexity and depth. This wine has not been exposed to cold stabilization and fining with only a light filtration to retain the elusive aromas. Natural sediments may show and are testimony of this high quality wine.