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Punt Road
Fresh and lively, crunchy nashi pear, Meyer lemon, Lemonade, fresh ginger, textural harmony.
-Tim Shand, Head Winemaker
Vintage
The earliness of vintage 2016 was largely climatic, but a bit lunar as well. The flowering
of the vines occurred during a very warm, dry spell – perfect conditions for an even fruit set. Those conditions endured throughout Christmas and into January. We had just enough rainfall (in two big events) to squeak us through – but it was touch and go there for a while. The early Easter (the first full moon after the vernal equinox being late March) reminds us that nature takes its cues from the moon – and will not be argued with!
Winemaking
We aimed from the start for texture and harmony in this wine. The pressings were kept in and these add a gentle phenolic bite. We avoided adding acid, as we want to make a slippery pinot gris that is easy to drink and friendly with food. 20% of the wine was fermented in oak, which were old white hogsheads. We meddled with a variety of different yeast types across numerous batches to add aromatics. The barrels were stirred monthly to bring out creaminess and texture from the lees. Bottled fresh to retain liveliness and fresh fruit characters.
Technical Notes
Vineyard: Napoleone
Soil type: Sandy loam on clay base
Aspect: Northerly
Harvested: February 2016
Clones : D1V7
Yeast: Wild & Alsatian isolate
Oak: 20% old French hogsheads
Racked: April 2016
Bottled: 2 May 2016 Alcohol: 12%
$23 / 750ml