Urlar Gladstone Pinot Gris 2018

Urlar: Scottish Gaelic for the earth, is the heart of our farming system. Our desire is to bring an abundance of life back to these ancient soils so you can discover the purity of flavour that is inherent in our land.

This Pinot Gris is produced entirely from the yield of Urlar’s organically certified vineyard. Which itself sits on Ruamahanga River terrace, Gladstone, Wairarapa. The soil is composed of river shingles, Greywacke pebbles, coarse sands and some clay. Part of biodynamic principles had been applied into viticulture. That also contributes to the rich flavour and texture of the wine.

The Pinot Gris was hand-harvested and the majority of fruit whole bunch pressed. (including some green flavour of stems)

A small portion of young vines produced tiny and intensely ripe bunches which were destemmed and fermented on skins to extract spice, ripe phenolics, texture and length. This portion makes up 12% of the blend while the pressed juice was put to old french oak barriques (225L) and fermented with a variety of yeasts. Partial malolactic and lees stirring adds palate weight and richness.

These reasonably special viticulture and wine-making, end up with a wine of unusual weight. It has the aromas of stonefruit and spice (nutmeg), ginger and honey with sweet pear dominate the nose. The wine has a mouth-filling entry from the malolactic influence. Satisfying richness is then reined in by a tangelo skin and ginger spiced texture from the skin contact parcel. It finishes dry and refreshing. There is several years of cellar potential, and it’s particularly food friendly to umami rich ingredients.