Greystone Waipara Riesling 2018

Description

• Off-dry style
• Lime blossom
• Honeydew
• Pink grapefruit

"It is fabulously fruited and elegantly fragrant on the nose showing white fleshy nectarine, lemon peel, apple and floral characters with subtle spicy complexity. The palate displays excellent weight and focus, superbly structured by fine texture and racy acidity. Wonderfully poised and charming. Style: Off-dry. At its best: now to 2028" Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, Jul 2019

Light golden straw in colour. Expressive on the nose with lime, lemon curd and jasmine flower. The palate is defined by a long thread of complex fruits including mandarin, mango and lime zest. Balanced with natural sweetness and acidity this wine will age beautifully or can be enjoyed immediately.

Winemakers carefully hand selected this Riesling from three estate blocks picked in four passes, each time focusing on varying levels of ripeness and Botrytis. Botrytis influence was around 15% of the total crop and was in a dried and noble state prior to pressing. Each pick was pressed and fermented separately before blending in early Spring. Fermentation was stopped at 22 g/L natural sugar, balanced by the natural acidity. Estate bottled without fining.

The 2017 growing season followed on from a 12 months drought in North Canterbury. The Spring was warm, windy and frost free. Excellent conditions over flowering led to even fruit set and a good number of bunches. Just before vintage was ready to begin two tropical cyclones spun down from the north and created very wet, warm conditions for a period of weeks. Unlike 2014, once the cyclones passed the weather dried up and harvest was able to continue unimpeded by rain.