2022 Pinot Gris L'Atypique
Sato, Central Otago, New Zealand
- Pinot Gris from Red Shed, Bendigo, fermented on skins for 27 days.
- Eleven months in old French oak, with a little skin-fermented Riesling.
- Coral-copper, savoury and citrus-led, with fine tannins.
- Vineyard
- Red Shed, Bendigo
- Soil
- Alluvial sandy loam with river gravel
- Grapes
- 85% Pinot Gris, 15% skin-fermented Riesling
- Harvest
- By hand, 23 March 2022
- Alcohol
- 12.8%
- Total acidity
- 5.0 g/L
- Production
- About 3,260 bottles
Winemaking
Destemmed into small open fermenters with no additions. Five days of cold soak before a wild ferment of 19 days on skins, then five days of post-ferment maceration: 27 days in all. Basket pressed, then 11 months in old French oak with full natural malolactic. A little skin-fermented Riesling was added at blending, and the wine was bottled in April 2023 without fining or filtration.
Tasting Notes
Coral to copper in the glass. Orange peel, hibiscus and red berry aromas lead, with spring blossom and a touch of forest floor. The palate is savoury and citrus driven, edged with light amaro bitterness and woody spice, held by fine, firm, velvety tannins. Long and vibrant, with a hint of mint at the close.
Distributed in Australia by Principal Wine.