To make the best Pinot Gris possible, one needs to control every step of the winemaking. Crowded House source grapes from their very own estate vineyard in Marlborough. The unique profiles of the Pinot Gris from this single wonderful site, imparts a combination of delicate and exotic fruit characters. At the winery, the team simply allow the vineyard and grapes to express themselves with as little intervention as possible, permitting all the wonder and charm of Marlborough Pinot Gris to shine through.
In the crowded world of wine, New Zealand is paradise for Pinot Gris, Crowded House is all about taking a fresh new look at the established norms. New Zealand's diverse mesoclimes offer constant challenge in both the viticultural and technical aspects of winemaking. One only gets so many chances, the vagaries of vintage offer unique potential to make a truly articulate Pinot Gris. Fruit is harvested and pressed, cold settled and sent to fermenters. Batches are inoculated to a menu of yeasts, some to accentuate aromatics, others contribute textural richness. Upon completion, batches are kept on heavy lees until assemblage in January, a component is aged in seasoned French oak puncheons.
Pale apricot straw hue. Fresh clean nose of honeysuckle and pear, lychee and orange rind. Quince and pear flavours, white stonefruits and musk, spice and beeswax notes. A finely balanced and linear palate, showing gentle textural richness, finishing refreshingly dry and satisfyingly long.
