Company Name:New Zealand Wine Imports Ltd

Vintage2004 

Format750 ml

ColorWhite 

CategoryStill Wine 

Country/RegionNew Zealand

ClassificationA.O.C. 

Alcohol Percentage14.5 %

Sugar Rate0-5 g/l 

General

Tasting Notes:A range of 24 clones/rootstock combinations were picked at separate times between the 30th March and 10th April, all by hand, then destemmed and fermented mainly in open topped fermentation vessels using various management techniques so that a wide number of options were available at the time of blending. Fermentation at high temperatures was allowed and the wine was then left on light yeast lees, for 12 months, so that the yeast cells add flavour and palate texture to the final wine. The quality of the grapes and the gentle handling was such that no fining or filtration was required prior to bottling, thus enabling us to keep the wine true to its origins and to retain a maximum of fruit in the finished wine. This is a wine of unusually intense colour with a rich aromatic concentration of ripe fruit and forest floor characters, giving complexity. Cherry and red berry fruit predominate on the long palate with a classic French-style overlay of leather and spice. The wine is dry with residual sugar of <1 g/L, pH of 3.58 and an alcohol level of 14.5%.

Vinification (Wine-making)

Method:A range of 24 clones/rootstock combinations were picked at separate times between the 30th March and 10th April, all by hand, then destemmed and fermented mainly in open topped fermentation vessels using various management techniques so that a wide number of options were available at the time of blending. Fermentation at high temperatures was allowed and the wine was then left on light yeast lees, for 12 months, so that the yeast cells add flavour and palate texture to the final wine. The quality of the grapes and the gentle handling was such that no fining or filtration was required prior to bottling, thus enabling us to keep the wine true to its origins and to retain a maximum of fruit in the finished wine.