The Landing, Bay of Islands Pinot Gris 2024
TASTING NOTES
This Pinot Gris displays excellent fruit purity with aromas of ripe pear, citrus, and roasted hazelnut. The palate is dry and full-bodied, showcasing pristine fruit flavours. This elegant Pinot Gris pairs beautifully with oily fish such as salmon or tuna, dishes featuring avocado, and spicy flavours.
VINEYARD AND WINE MAKING
Grown on a sheltered east facing slope, the Pinot Gris is grown in a two-cane vertical shoot positioned system with moderate fruit exposure to promote clean and ripe fruit. The two clones are picked separately, sometimes in multiple passes to get the fruit with the desired flavour profile.
Hand-picked, hand-sorted, and whole-cluster pressed. Free-run juice and pressings are combined to enhance depth of flavour. The juice is then transferred to old barriques for fermentation using indigenous and cultured yeasts. Some spontaneous malolactic fermentation occurs simultaneously. After blending, the wine ages for a few months on fine lees to integrate the components before bottling.
VINTAGE NOTES
The 2024 vintage showcased exceptional quality despite low yields. After a wet winter, a particularly windy spring posed challenges for fruit set. As summer arrived, the El Nino weather pattern made its mark on Northland, bringing dry and warm conditions ideal for fruit ripening. The consistently dry weather throughout February and March ensured all varieties were harvested in optimal condition, displaying superb flavours.