"an intensely varietal and textured wine"
Gold: Air New Zealand Wine Awards 2009
Gold: Liquorland 'Top 100' 2009
Gold: Royal Easter Show Wine Awards 2009
5 Stars: Michael Cooper
"Natural fermentation on solids in barrel, malolactic fermentation and battonage have resulted in an intensely varietal and textured wine. Displaying a tight core of complex natural ferment derived characters including flint and meal, surrounded by layers of creamy apricot and nutmeg spice. Grainy in texture, concentrated in style, the wine will develop an oily texture with bottle age."
Located in the heart of the renowned Gimblett Gravels, the Omahu Gravels Vineyard is planted on a very stony and dry site, helping to control vine growth and crop levels. Growing Viognier is challenging as this variety responds to minimal crop levels and good canopy management, along with warm temperatures during the growing season to achieve full physiological ripeness. These requirements make the Gimblett Gravels ideal terroir for producing world class Viognier. Careful management of the Omahu site and handpicking at harvest provided for clean and ripe Viognier fruit in 2008.