2008

Grapevines are not demonstrative in their sexuality; in fact unless you look closely you may not even realise they produce small lightly scented flowers in late spring. The main determinant of crop load in any given year is weather; or more precisely temperature during the crucial few weeks or perhaps even days of flowering. No birds or bees are involved as the hermaphroditic flowers self pollinate, but warmth is critical for development of the pollen tube and thus fertilisation. At last, after 3 seasons of lean pickings, the weather during last November’s flowering was mild enough to enable the setting of good crops across the region. The warmer than average season that followed then allowed an excellent level of fruit ripeness and the resulting wines are bursting with character and charm.

This wine is an attractive and solid mid-straw colour which derives from the generous level of dry extract that well ripened Pinot Gris should have. The nose is a compote of apples and candied pear -an old fashioned tree ripened variety like Winter Nellis. Lifted notes of sweet orange blossom, desiccated coconut and dried date integrate with hints of some far-off eastern spice and a waft of witch-hazel. Despite the measurable acidity being lower than in many previous vintages, our usual “sugar zero” finish gives the wine a racy and somewhat fidgety balance as it laps like the Caribbean in a hurricane, along the levies of your taste buds. The well ripened zippy phenolics in the young wine are playing the same tune and dart gaily across the tongue reinforcing the impression that there is a little hell-razing ahead. Fortunately, beneath this stroppy pubescence beats a generous heart and a richness of texture that will sneak up on you. Spicy coriander and a crispy bacon edge add savoury components and fashion the wine nicely in the finish. All the components for longevity are here

We believe our Pinot Gris is best served at approximately 11 degrees Celsius.