Decibel Hawke's Bay Organic Pétillant Naturel 2022 2022

The delicate fizz is produced through an ancient method by bottling partially-fermented wine and allowing the yeast to finish fermentation in the bottle which traps in the natural bubbles. A lively wine, this has the fresh fruit flavours of rockmelon and white nectarine, balanced with a lemon curd creaminess that gives way to hints of toasted brioche. Perfect for enjoying poolside on a sunny afternoon, or as a vinous alternative for the hazy or sour beer lover.

Hawke’s Bay lies on the East Coast of the North Island of New Zealand. The region enjoys dry summers with moderate, cool nights. This wine reflects a single vineyard, certified organic Pétillant Naturel grown from Chardonnay in the Mangatahi sub-region of Hawke’s Bay. This appellation enjoys long, strong sunlight hours and heat throughout the growing season. The site is inland, at a slightly higher altitude, and influenced by the nearby Ngaruroro River; it enjoys cool nights and warm days which make it ideal for growing superb grapes. The 2021-22 season was a relatively warm with above average rainfall in the spring. The growing season was fine until a cold spell in February followed by some rainfall throughout March and April. However, these grapes were harvested well before any issues could developed in vineyard, to produce a crisp base for our foray in to sparkling wines.

The fruit was picked on a single day in early March and pressed immediately. The juice was settled and 90% was fermented in a stainless steel tank using organic nutrient and a certified organic yeast strain, assisting with a very long and cool fermentation. The remaining 10% was held very cold before warming and inoculating a week out from bottling, this ensured an active portion of the blend was maintained. The wine was blended and sent to bottle while still fermenting, the spent yeast cells "lees"still in suspension. Ferment has now finished in the bottle, capturing the carbon dioxide emitted by the yeast, giving the fine bubbles you enjoy today. This wine is hazy with a layer of lee at the bottom, inviting you to engage with and understand the fermentation and winemaking process.