Scout Pinot Gris 2022 (6 Bottles) Central Otago, New Zealand

NEW ZEALAND WIDE SHIPPING INCLUDED

The fruit for the 2022 Pinot Gris is sourced from a new vineyard source in the Cromwell Basin. This protected vineyard, with good heat accumulation qualities and free-draining soil, sits on fine loess over glacial schist gravel deposits.

The fruit was hand-picked, bunches lightly foot-stomped to extract phenolic texture and then gently pressed on a long cycle. The juice was settled for two days before being racked to a mixture of tank and old oak puncheons. Ferments were wild and slow, with only minimal stirring. The barrels bring power while the tank holds brightness and aromatic lift.

This cool vineyard produced slow ripening fruit that developed deep flavour on the vine. It was hand harvested at optimal balance of sugar, acidity and flavour. In the winery, we took a very hands off approach, gently pressing the grapes before allowing wild ferment over the next 5 months in old, large format barrels. This gives great richness and texture without any oak flavour, and enhances the baked pear, and jasmine florals in the wine. A small portion of the fruit was crushed and fermented on skins for 2 weeks, like a red wine. Once blended back in, this gave the finished wine a hint of ginger and spice.

The cool climate has given us a richer, textural iteration of Scout Pinot Gris this vintage. A wine for contemplation and salty food.