Allan Scott Marlborough Pinot Gris 2005

Marlborough Pinot Gris has grown strongly in popularity over the last few years, although there is no distinctive style as found with Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. Allan Scott’s has been leaning toward the aromatic spectrum of approaching this variety, with the aim to gain as much complexity from the fruit as possible.

Viticulture

Pinot Gris, like its close relative Pinot Noir, is very labour intensive in the vineyard. Two cane pruning, bunch reduction, leaf plucking and shoot thinning are just some of the vineyard practices required to ensure an intensely flavoured crop. The exposure of the bunches to light aids in reducing and softening the phenolics in the skins which is beneficial.

Vinification

Picked in the cool of the evening and when the desired maturity and flavour development has been reached, the grapes are then promptly de-stemmed and left to macerate on their skins for six hours. The grapes are then gently pressed, with the clear juice racked and inoculated with cultured yeast in stainless steel vessels at cool temperature to maintain fruit purity. After fermentation is complete, a portion of the wine underwent malolactic fermentation in seasoned oak barrels. The remaining wine was left to rest on its lees for 3months, receiving regular “lees” stirring to initiate autolysis characters.

Description

A medium bodied wine displaying a light creaminess with hints of almond and spice. The domination of pear drop, vanilla, apricot and light floral notes combine with a touch of residual sweetness and integrated acidity to produce a balanced complex wine.

Serving Suggestions

A wine that can be enjoyed with most foods particularly pasta dishes or seafood. This wine is drinking well now and has cellaring potential for the next three years. Best served lightly chilled.

Technical Information

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