Villa Maria Reserve Marlborough Pinot Gris 2021

Villa Maria Reserve Marlborough Pinot Gris 2021Off dry style Tropical fruit Balanced acidity Creamy palate "Elegantly complex and inviting, the bouquet shows apricot, poached pear, lemon zest and subtle oatmeal characters. The palate displays excellent weight and plump mouthfeel, well supported by silky texture and juicy acidity. At its best: now to 2026" Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, Jul 2022 "A really lovely bouquet of fresh white fleshed tree and stone fruits, a fine lees quality with a touch of brioche

• Off-dry style
• Tropical fruit
• Balanced acidity
• Creamy palate

"Elegantly complex and inviting, the bouquet shows apricot, poached pear, lemon zest and subtle oatmeal characters. The palate displays excellent weight and plump mouthfeel, well supported by silky texture and juicy acidity. At its best: now to 2026" Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, Jul 2022

"A really lovely bouquet of fresh white fleshed tree and stone fruits, a fine lees quality with a touch of brioche and white baking spices followed by a mineral scent of cold river stone. Plush satin cream textures with a fine acid line then fruit flavouts of white nectarone, pear and apple. A light white flower note precedes some white spice and mineral qualities. Balanced and well made in a ready to drink expression from 2022 through 2025" Cameron Douglas, Master Sommelier, Jul 2022

Predominantly sourced from our iconic Seddon and Taylor Pass Vineyards, this Pinot Gris is a rich, textural, opulent wine with a creamy palate from spending extended time ageing on yeast lees. The exotic tropical fruit flavours are framed by a soft, yet balanced acidity and unctuous texture.

100% of the fruit is grown in the cooler, windier Awatere Valley (80% Seddon, 20% Taylors Pass), promoting slower ripening in the autumn weather which helps concentrate Pinot Gris flavours and retain natural acidities.

A near-perfect growing season led up to 2021 harvest with fruit in pristine condition. The summer was dry with high sunshine hours during the day and the cooler nights that are typical for Marlborough. Yields were at their optimum level and the stable autumn weather allowed us to extend the hangtime of the fruit on the vines to achieve physiological ripeness.

Hand harvested whilst fruit is cool to protect aromatics, gentle whole bunch pressed. 20% natural fermentation in seasoned barriques, the balance fermented in stainless steel with textural yeast strains. Resulting wines were left on their yeast lees for 6 months to build palate weight and creamy textures into the wine.