Leveret Estate Hawke's Bay Viognier 2024

Description

Apricot, Dry, Lychee

"An enticing bouquet of apricot stone and flowers, a whisper of lees and spice along with an exotic appeal. Plenty of weight with a satin touch, contrasting acid line, honeysuckle and core fruit flavours that mirror the bouquet. A fine example and perfect for Spring 2024. Fabulous value" Cameron Douglas, Master Sommelier, Aug 2023

Our Leveret range of wines are only produced in years when the carefully selected fruit is deemed perfect enough for this premium label. Vibrant floral, apricot, honeysuckle and lychee aromas lead into a satin textured, fresh and balanced palate with flavours of white nectarine, tangerine and mild spices.

The grapes for this cooler-climate loving variety were sourced from low-yielding vines located within the Bridge Pa sub-region of Hawkes Bay. The site enjoys a temperate climate moderated throughout summer by cooling afternoon breezes, in tandem with alluvial soils underfoot overlaying red metal, on terraced sun-facing slopes, the combination of which is ideally suited to the Viognier variety.

The 2024 growing season experienced a cooler start during Spring flowering, helping to naturally moderate crop for higher wine quality later. The climate then led into an averagely dry summer before a southerly flick came through in March. This enabled us to retain acidity and preserve the natural developed flavours, allowing healthy fruit, in perfect balance and flavour, to be harvested, 13th March 2024.

The grapes were pressed on arrival to the winery, and the clarified juice transferred to stainless steel tanks, and a small batch to seasoned oak, for fermentation. Initiated with an inoculated yeast specially selected for its aromatic expression, a slow cool ferment to occur.   A blending trial on the separate batches was undertaken to achieve the right balance, enhanced complexity and mouthfeel.  The emerging wine thereafter received a light fining, progressing through to cold stabilisation prior to bottling on 5th July 2024, under screwcap.