Villa Maria Single Vineyard Seddon Marlborough Pinot Gris 2021

Villa Maria Single Vineyard Seddon Marlborough Pinot Gris 2021Dry style Summer peaches Almonds Balanced acidity "Beautifully restrained and elegantly expressed with white flesh nectarine, green pear, fig and subtle flinty nuances on the nose. The palate displays excellent weight and flow, wonderfully complemented by fine texture and vibrant acidity. Fleshy and rounded with a persistent finish" Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, Oct 2022 "Mineral laden, sophisticated, varietal and enticing bouquet of fresh wet stone and pear

• Dry style
• Summer peaches
• Almonds
• Balanced acidity

"Beautifully restrained and elegantly expressed with white flesh nectarine, green pear, fig and subtle flinty nuances on the nose. The palate displays excellent weight and flow, wonderfully complemented by fine texture and vibrant acidity. Fleshy and rounded with a persistent finish" Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, Oct 2022

"Mineral laden, sophisticated, varietal and enticing bouquet of fresh wet stone and pear d’anjou, apple and white peach laced with a fine lees quality and floral note and just a whisper of dried herb. Delicious on the palate, taut and new with plenty of acidity highlightling flavours of white fleshed orchard fruits and mineral. Balanced and well made with a fine lees and died herb note on a lengthy finish. Best drinking from 2022 through 2026+" Cameron Douglas, Master Sommlier, Aug 2022

"Attractive nose of red apples, pears, grapefruits and nutmeg. Rich and spicy with a gently oily texture and full body. Off-dry, but balanced with fantastic freshness and acidity. Sustainable. Delicious now. Screw cap" James Suckling, Sep 2022

"Aromatic, fruity, generous nose with notes of cider, baking spice, brown butter, pears and a herbal edge. Full, fleshy and soft with reasonably concentrated pear drop flavour and a chalky texture. A wine with broad commercial appeal" NZ Wine Rater, Oct 2022

This Pinot Gris is sourced from our iconic Seddon Vineyard on the southern bank of the Awatere River. This is a rich, textural wine with a creamy palate from spending extended time ageing on yeast lees. Aromas of fresh honeycomb intermingle with juicy summer peaches and crushed almonds. The fleshy palate is framed by a soft but balanced acidity with savoury finish.

The vineyard site is situated on the southern bank of the Awatere River in Marlborough, sheltered from the cooling weather patterns resulting in a warm meso-climate. The loam soils have a distinctive soft clay "papa-rock" base allowing grapes to easily achieve physiological ripeness and fruit concentration. The vineyard has several terraces gradually gaining in altitude away from the riverbank, with vine ages between 15-20 years old.

Summer 2021 was dry and mild with Marlborough’s signature high sunshine hours and cool nights delivering fruit in the best possible condition. The early autumn season provided Marlborough with very stable weather conditions therefore fruit was able to reach optimum physiological and flavour ripeness. The fruit was impeccably clean and the lower yields meant that the grapes packed a punch in flavour and concentration.

Hand harvested, whole bunch pressed. 16% natural fermentation in seasoned oak barriques adds texture & complexity, 84% inoculated stainless steel tank fermentation to retain freshness. 6 months on yeast lees.