Winery notes (2022 Vintage)
"The Kēkerengū Coast Pinot Gris was grown on a low river terrace of free-draining limestone loam above the Kēkerengū River. Profoundly influenced by the nearby sea, the southerly Kēkerengū Coast is Marlborough’s first valley for budburst, but fog and cool breezes make it the last to harvest. This long growing season, combined with Kēkerengū’s limestone soil, gives wines of restraint and elegance. This is a wine we make only in the special vintages where conditions are perfect.
Hand-picked grape bunches were gently whole cluster pressed, and a lightly cloudy free-run juice was cool-fermented on light grape solids in stainless steel. The wine has an elevated, almost floral perfume and a precise but satisfying structure. Ours is the only pinot gris grown in that part of the province, and the pinot gris from Kēkerengū has its own particular expression, with bright acid, more perfumed floral notes and a unique palate structure.
Aromas of Nashi pear, white-fleshed nectarine, ripe red apple with a hint of ginger and nutmeg. A crisp and focused wine on the palate with fine minerality and delicacy of structure. Lively flavours of pear, apple and elderflower."
5 Stars Yvonne Lorkin, February 2023 (2022 Vintage)
"Grown on one of the southernmost boundaries of what’s considered ‘Marlborough’, in the sea breeze-buffetted Sleepers Vineyard, this bone-dry, mineral-drenched style is awash with nashi and nutmeg notes, clean stonefruit characters and elegantly taut, tense complexity in the mouth. It has a lengthy, generous mouthfeel and bracing freshness. A lovely example of dry pinot gris."
4 ½ Stars Michael Cooper, November 2022 (2022 Vintage)
"Grown north of Kaikoura, the vigorous 2022 vintage of this single-vineyard Marlborough wine is crisp and dry. Pale lemon/green, it has concentrated, ripe, peachy, distinctly spicy flavours, a hint of ginger, and strong personality."
Rated Excellent & 94/100 Cameron Douglas MS, November 2022 (2022 Vintage)
"A sophisticated and complex wine with layers of white fleshed fruits and citrus, there’s a savoury quality and fine lees suggestion. On the palate a delicious wine with a coarse silk texture, saline and white spices, citrus and apple, refreshing, a salivating and new. Enticing and refreshing, textured and lengthy, a Gris with a sense of place and time, charm and presence. Best drinking from 2023 through 2026+."
92/100 Stephen Wong MW, The Real Review, October 2024 (2022 Vintage)
"Lightly toasty, clearly defined nose. The palate enters with acidity but also driving fruit weight and some sweet, dried pear flavours spiced with ginger. It finishes chewy like nashi pear. A tight, characterful style with mid-weight flavours, finishing zesty, spicy and dry for near-term enjoyment."