Country: New Zealand Region: Marlborough Varietal: Pinot Gris Vintage: 2020 Colour: White Style: Dry Producer: Framingham Description: Vineyards Fruit was selected from the Framingham estate vineyard. Soils there are of the old river bed type; fist sized stones composed of greywacke (a hard, dark type of sandstone streaked with quartz and feldspar) mixed alluvial gravel and silt. Vintage Information Heat summation data for the 2015/6 growing season shows it to be second only to 1997/8 for recent vintages. Weather was stable and relatively dry under El Niño conditions into March. Framingham's vineyard management meant that Pinot Gris crops were perhaps a little lighter than some other varietals for 2016, and generally favourable weather over the rest of harvest allowed the team to pick ripe grapes, with good development of flavours thanks to longer hang time, between the 31st March and 10th April. Vinification Fruit was harvested by hand, and whole bunches were loaded into the press and gently crushed. Half the juice was clarified by cold settling for two to three days before racking to ferment, the remainder had no clarification and grape solids were included. About half the blend was fermented in stainless steel tanks with some temperature control, and was stopped with a little residual sugar remaining to provide alcohol balance. Once tank fermentation was complete, that portion was racked off gross lees and left to age on light lees for seven months for added texture. The remaining 50% of the blend was fermented spontaneously in old barriques, remaining on full lees for seven months with some malolactic fermentation. After blending, the wine was gently clarified and bottled under screwcap to preserve freshness, flavour and integrity. Tasting Notes Rich gold in colour, this wine delights with mellow aromatics, which are reminiscent of pear, apple, quince, dough and cream, with a touch of wood smoke. On the palate, generous flavours of baked apple, quince, cream, nuts and pastry. The intense, complex and rich palate balances acidity with good weight and a silky texture, culminating in a spicy, lees finish. View The Awards Won by Framingham Wines