Gold Medal - NZIWS

grew-ner velt-lee-ner

Grüner Veltliner is known for its spicy peppery aromas and lean style, but it can also produce full bodied rich styles. It all depends on how and where it’s grown.

On the nose, Grüner Veltliner delivers lime, lemon and grapefruit. There is also a green and herbaceous flavor that is often described as white pepper. In warmer parts of Austria, you’ll find riper fruit flavors such as peach and nectarine too.

On the palate a signature vein of very high acidity can be found. Most wines are bone dry, or might have a hint of residual sugar, but you can’t notice it with the very high acid. Styles range from light and zesty to full bodied and rich, again, depending on the climate. Most wines see no new oak, so expect that vein of freshness in all Grüners. The best Grüners become nutty and waxy with age. Wine Folly

It comes from our Jacksons Road vineyard in the premium grape-growing area of Marlborough. We consciously remove fruit during the ripening season so that the remaining low yielding fruit ripens perfectly and without any pressure from disease. 2017 was a tricky vintage with late season rains. Fortunately, because we crop low, we ripen earlier than most and were able to harvest our grapes before the rains hit, albeit at slightly lower brix than usual.  We were very happy with the fruit that came in, in perfectly clean condition with great flavours. The fruit was all machine harvested in the cool of the night, treated very gently throughout the whole wine-making process and handled totally in stainless steel to retain the aromatics. It was fermented quite dry to produce a very minerally, food friendly wine.

A clear, pale lemon in colour, the immediate impression on the nose is spice, citrus, mineral, delightful garden florals, and delicate stone-fruits; notably peach and nectarine. The palate follows on in this grain with very refreshing, refined, elegant, subtle, spicy flavours. There are obvious stone-fruit characters of peach and nectarine, alongside minerals and river stones, sugar snap peas and subtle herbal notes. It is a crisp wine with lovely acid balance, delicate fruitiness and noticeably dry and elegant to taste. It finishes long and lingering with “Gruner’s” typical white pepper closing note. This is a very elegant and refined wine, and very food friendly. We expect it to age beautifully for several years. Winery