Main Divide Waipara Valley Riesling 2019

Description

• Medium-dry style
• Green apple
• Honeysuckle
• Sassy acidity

On release the colour is pale lemon. A concentrated core of citrus delights the nose, underscored with green apple, tamarind, potpourri, honeysuckle, and a hint of wet stone minerality. The palate is rich and symphonic, with layers of texture and flavour contrasted by sassy acidity and a hint of spritzig that give the wine a lively and energetic flow. Subtle sweetness completes the package, augmenting its mouthfeel and setting up for a long-lasting and harmonious finish.

Main Divide is the local name for the Southern Alps and is the backbone of the South Island, where grapes for Main Divide are exclusively sourced. Vineyards have been selected for their quality and ability to express unique regional flavours.

Unsettled weather over flowering resulted in a lighter than average set, meaning that no further fruit thinning was necessary. A classic North Canterbury summer then enabled this smaller crop to mature beautifully. Accelerated ripening allowed harvest to take place slightly earlier than usual, and favourable autumn weather ensured the grapes were picked in perfect condition.

The grapes were purposely left to hang until late March and picked with a portion of noble botrytis. The free run juice was then slowly fermented at cool temperatures to help the wine retain its vibrant fruit characters and varietal purity. During this time daily tasting was undertaken to assess levels of acidity, alcohol and residual sweetness, with the fermentation being stopped once the right balance was achieved. Winemaking intervention was intentionally kept to a minimum to allow the vintage, variety, and vineyard to express itself harmoniously. At all stages, from fermentation to bottling, the wine was handled very carefully to help it retain a little of its naturally dissolved carbon dioxide. This may result in a small amount of spritzig when first poured, accentuating the freshness and liveliness of the wine.