Valli Waitaki Pinot Gris 2022

Accolades:
92/100 – James Suckling

“Sliced green apple and pear with some ginger and Thai mint. Chamomile. Flinty, too. It’s full and flavorful with plenty of nicely framed fruit. Drink now.” – James Suckling

Tasting Note: “A pale golden hue with aromas of pear blossom, mandarin, nashi pear, white pepper, and sea salt. The palate is complex and layered with flavours of sliced pear, lemon zest, orange sorbet, and green apple, complementing a finely textured palate with great flow and salivating acidity. This sophisticated young wine is both charming and intense. It aptly captures the ethereal nature of the Waitaki and has great ageing potential. This Pinot Gris is engaging on its own but shows real magic when paired with delicious cuisine.” – Jen Parr

Winemaking Notes: Small bunches (average 75g) were hand-harvested on two dates in April and May. Both lots were whole bunch pressed for gentle extraction. After overnight settling, 61% was racked to neutral white barrels (228 litres) and the rest was racked to a stainless steel tank. The fermentation was intentionally long and slow with partial malolactic fermentation occurring and delayed sulphuring which resulted in a dry wine. It spent 4.5 months on fermentation lees in both barrel and tank, contributing to the silky and generous texture. Dry – 1g/l residual sugar. 4,992 bottles total production.

Alcohol: 13.5%

Variety: Pinot Gris

Region: Waitaki Valley, North Otago, New Zealand