Villa Maria Single Vineyard Seddon Pinot Gris 2018 (Marlborough)

THERE’S A REASON WHY Villa Maria is consistently New Zealand’s most-awarded winery and it’s because of good-quality, well-crafted, approachable and delicious wines like this one. The grapes for this remarkable wine were picked from 11–16-year-old pinot gris vines in the Seddon single vineyard situated on the southern bank of the Awatere River in Marlborough. Despite the area being cool climate, the vineyard itself is specifically sheltered from southern weather, creating a warmer more beneficial mesoclimate. This, combined with the unique soft clay terroir, ensured that the grapes achieved ideal levels of both physiological ripeness and fruit concentration. Marlborough Regional Viticulturist Stuart Dudley employs careful vineyard management and attention to detail to ensure vine health and balance as well as yield management, ensuring that only the best is harvested. The grapes were handpicked in the cool of the morning and chilled overnight to retain maximum freshness and flavour characteristics, before being pressed, fermented and blended – by Senior Marlborough Winemaker Helen Morrison – into this remarkable wine. With flavours of bright apple, golden peach and pear and hints of subtle cinnamon spice, this wine encapsulates all that is not just good, but great about gris. An off-dry style and while not hugely textural it has exceptional balance, poise, palate weight, persistence, fleshiness and a seductive and moreish character. A wine to sit down and really relax with, so you can give it the attention it deserves.

• Pinot Gris - White wine
• Marlborough - New Zealand
• NZ $30
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• Cellar: 4 year(s)
top 5
• View the full NZ Pinot Gris 2020 tasting results