We’ve just released our very first Pinot Gris – from the stunning 2009 Cheviot Hills vintage. A powerful wine, it has already received a satisfying 4.5 stars from respected wine writer Michael Cooper in Winestate magazine!
The Pinot Gris is the third white wine in the Mt Beautiful range, after the acclaimed Riesling and popular Sauvignon Blanc.
The wine was made from 4ha of hand-picked grapes from young Pinot Gris vines producing their first vintage. The Pinot Gris vines on the Mt Beautiful vineyard are mostly of the Berrysmith clone, supported by smaller quantities of Geisenheim clone 2/21 from Germany and three different clones from South Africa.
“While the 2009 vintage is only our third vintage in Cheviot Hills, it is one that would be regarded as impressive wherever it occurred,” says winemaker Sam Weaver.
Cheviot Hills missed the summer rainfall that plagued Marlborough last year, experiencing warm, dry weather during which even the region’s usual Nor-Wester seldom came. We were able to start harvesting two weeks earlier than expected – at the same time as Marlborough which lies 200km to the north of us!
It was also the first year we were able to crush the fruit on site, allowing us to capture the fresh fruit flavours as the grapes came off the vines.
Mt Beautiful Cheviot Hills Pinot Gris 2009 is a full-bodied, off-dry wine showing ripe Pear William fruit flavours combined with a hint of nuttiness and a spiced almond character on the palate. The creamy mouth-feel is enlivened by the crispness of wild plums, finishing deliciously smooth. RRP $23.95
This is now available through selected fine wine outlets and restaurants throughout New Zealand. You can find outlets in your area here.
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