Wairau River Estate Pinot Gris 2022

NEW - HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

£19.95 per bottle

13.5% ABV

Tasting Notes
Wairau river has some of the oldest Pinot Gris vines in New Zealand, planted in 1990. This trendy mineral influenced Marlborough white, captures the very essence of the regions clean and pure climate. Succulent ripe pear on the nose, with melon, apple and apricot flavours. Light lees ageing gives the palate some weight and a creamy texture without being cloying. A lingering finish complements the exotic spice and fleshy character, with well-integrated lemon notes.

Food
It is the ideal wine to accompany rich creamy foods and white meats, Chinese and Thai foods.

Region
Marlborough is by far New Zealand’s largest grape growing region with more than two-thirds of all plantings. First planted in 1873 it is known in the region by the Maori name, Kei puta te Wairau meaning ‘the place with the hole in the cloud’ due to its very high 2,410 sunshine hours a year. High sunshine and a dry growing season help to create the famous intense flavours. Generally, plantings are in two main valleys of Wairau and Awatere. Much of the land is alluvial river basin with well-drained soils that provide an ideal for Sauvignon Blanc and clay slopes better suited Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris.

Producer
Wairau River wines take their name from the river that runs through the heart of the Marlborough wine region. (Wairau is Maori for `many waters`). The Rose family were pioneers in planting vines in the 1970`s and after originally selling the grapes to other wineries (like Cloudy Bay) they launched their own label in the early 1990`s. Today their foresight has created a very successful company which remains family owned and run. Wairau River is one of the largest independent wine estates in Marlborough, and the range of elegant wines is characteristically expressive of its Marlborough roots.