Main Divide Waipara Valley Gewürztraminer 2018

Main Divide Waipara Valley Gewürztraminer 2018Fresh Peach Lychee & rose petal Oriental spice Off dry finish "From a 'great' year for Gewrztraminer, the delicious 2018 vintage from Pegasus Bay is an irresistible buy. Very open and expressive in its youth, it was fermented in old oak puncheons and then barrel aged for three months. Bright, light lemon green, it is richly perfumed and full bodied, with concentrated, peachy, spicy, slightly gingery flavours, an oily texture and a slightly sweet

• Fresh Peach
• Lychee & rose petal
• Oriental spice
• Off-dry finish

"From a 'great' year for Gewürztraminer, the delicious 2018 vintage from Pegasus Bay is an irresistible buy. Very open and expressive in its youth, it was fermented in old oak puncheons and then barrel-aged for three months. Bright, light lemon/green, it is richly perfumed and full-bodied, with concentrated, peachy, spicy, slightly gingery flavours, an oily texture and a slightly sweet finish" Michael Cooper, Dec 2019

The wine is lemon-straw in colour, with intense varietal aromas of lychee, quince, rose petal & oriental spice. Layered beneath there are also hints of white peach, nectarine and honey dew melon. The palate is rich and unctuous yet there remains a lively freshness. Pre-ferment skin contact has added structure and ripe phenolics, giving the wine satisfying length and balancing its off dry finish.

The 2018 Main Divide Gewürztraminer is a bit of a hidden gem amongst the Pegasus Bay range. It's wonderfully fragrant with super ripe fruits, florals and spice while the palate delivers rich flavours and luscious texture. This would have to be one of the best value and truly satisfying Gewürztraminers on the market today.

Settled weather in North Canterbury during December provided optimal conditions for flowering. A very hot summer then enabled the fruit to ripen beautifully. Our free draining river soil helped mitigate the effects of some late summer rain, and the ensuing dry autumn meant the fruit was able to be picked in excellent condition.

Main Divides aim is to produce wines which reflect the unspoilt freshness, purity, vigour and cool climate of the south, while retaining in each its individual regional and varietal character. A handful of selected North Canterbury vineyards have been chosen because of their unique situations or terroir and the quality of their grapes. Their intention is to work with the growers of these vineyards throughout the season to obtain quality fruit, all of which is then hand-crafted into wine by the Donaldson Family at their Waipara winery. Main Divide's philosophy is based on individuality and harmony. The winemakers wish to produce distinctive, vibrant wines with lively fruit flavours, which at the same time are integrated and harmonious.