Hawkshead Central Otago Pinot Gris 2020

Hawkshead Central Otago Pinot Gris 2020Dry style Apricot Mineral Fresh finish "This impressive wine was hand picked and mostly handled in tanks (10% of the blend was fermented in seasoned oak barrels). Ripely scented, it is weighty, with rich stonefruit flavours, gentle spicy notes, a distinct touch of complexity and a dry, harmonious finish. Already delicious" Listener, Apr 2021 "Brilliant, bright straw yellow with some depth and slight lime hue, even colour throughout. The nose is soft

• Dry style
• Apricot
• Mineral
• Fresh finish

"This impressive wine was hand-picked and mostly handled in tanks (10% of the blend was fermented in seasoned oak barrels). Ripely scented, it is weighty, with rich stonefruit flavours, gentle spicy notes, a distinct touch of complexity and a dry, harmonious finish. Already delicious" Listener, Apr 2021

"Brilliant, bright straw-yellow with some depth and slight lime hue, even colour throughout. The nose is soft and pretty, slowly growing in volume, nuances of green apple, pear entwine honeysuckle and subtle warming spices. Medium-bodied, dry to taste, the palate is unctuous and bright, flavours of green apple, pear accompanied by sun-dried apricot. Pretty fragrances of honeysuckle interweave delicate spices, leaves a tingle sensation on the palate. The fruit ripeness is just right with brilliant concentration underlined lacy acidity, provide freshness, carry mineral crunch through the palate, lifted spices linger on a long and elegant closing. This is an elegant, dry Pinot Gris with superb balance, showing aromas of apricots and tree fruit, subtle honeysuckle and warming spices on an unctuous mouthfeel. Match with pulled pork and siu mai over the next 3-5 years. Fruit from 36% Gibbston and 64% Lowburn. Handpicked, whole bunch pressed, fermented 90% in stainless steel and 10% in older barrels to 13.5% alc, 2 g/l RS. Aged on lees for 4 months" Candice Chow, Raymond Chan Wine Reviews, Oct 2020

"The impressive 2020 vintage (5*) was hand-picked at Gibbston (36 per cent) and Lowburn (64 per cent), and mostly handled in tanks; 10 per cent of the blend was fermented in seasoned oak barrels. Matured on its yeast lees for four months, it’s a ripely scented, weighty wine with fresh, concentrated stonefruit flavours, gently spicy notes, a distinct touch of complexity and a dry (2 grams/litre of residual sugar), very harmonious finish. Rich and finely textured, it’s already delicious, but likely to be at its best from 2022 onwards" Michael Cooper, 2020

"A wonderful expression of the variety; the inviting bouquet shows ripe apricot, poached pear, fig and subtle spice notes, leading to a gorgeously rounded palate offering terrific concentration and persistency. It's fleshy and delicious. At its best: now to 2026" Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, Nov 2020

Their 2020 Pinot Gris is pleasingly refreshing. It is a genuinely classic Central Otago wine. The wine displays pear, citrus fruit, and hints of rosehip and sweet spice in front of a mineral backbone. The dry style Pinot Gris displays an impressive fruit sweetness; it will fool your palate. It has only 2 grams of residual sugar per litre. Their Pinot Gris shows drive and persistence; you're sure to enjoy the long lingering, refreshing finish.

The Pinot Gris was hand harvested and selected during the last days of April. The wine was whole bunch pressed and fermented in both older oak barrels (10%) and stainless steel tanks. Indigenous yeast fermented the wine over six weeks, then the wine rested on its lees for four months to build up texture before being racked and filtered for clarification before bottling. The wine drinks beautifully now but will continue to age for 5-8 years.

Food Pairing: Pair with spiced Asian cuisine or succulent pork dishes.