ASTROLABE PINOT GRIS 2021

Astrolabe Pinot Gris is packed with Autumn fruits – baked pears especially with a hint of nougat. As with all Astrolabe wines, there is a touch of class here.

Winemaker notes (2021 Vintage)
"Aromas of citrus peel, poached pear and peach with light spice. This is a pure, crisp and dry wine with a fine minerality and delicacy of structure. Pear, quince and peach flavours dominate.

For my Marlborough Pinot Gris, I blend from sites across a wide range of the Marlborough winegrowing region. My blend centres on north and south bank Awatere, with fruit from the Wairau Valley and Kekerengu Coast complementing the intensely aromatic Awatere core. When crafting my blend, I pay close attention to the fill-in and layering of the different flavour spectrums and aromas.

I try to capture the sense of lovely poached pears, light stone fruit and bright red apple and follow through with a dry, mineral finish. Most of the grapes are hand-picked and delicately whole cluster pressed to add fine texture, weight and minerality. We machine harvest the balance of fruit at night to retain as much fruit freshness as possible. I use the most delicate press cycle to avoid the extraction of harsh phenolics and to retain fruit purity. The hand-picked portion is fermented on solids to add a delicate texture and enhance the spicy notes on the nose. The palate weight comes exclusively from the high solids ferment and fruit concentration."

Rated Excellent & 93/100 Cameron Douglas MS, December 2021 (2020 Vintage)
"Ripe and varietal, some pungency and power underpin a mineral and fruit centric bouquet. Aromas and flavours of brown and green pear, baked apple and quince. There’s a saline and lemon quality accentuated by acidity and freshness. White spice and quince, citrus and red apple, a whisper of honeysuckle and finely textured mouthfeel. Balanced, well made and ready to drink from 2022 through 2025+."

Reviews for previous vintages below…

4 ½ Stars Michael Cooper (2020 Vintage)
"The 2020 vintage was grown in the Awatere Valley and mostly hand-harvested. Pale lemon/green, it is full-bodied, with very good intensity of vibrant, youthful peach, pear and spice flavours, fresh acidity and a dry, lingering finish. Best drinking 2022+."

17.5/20 Joelle Thomson, October 2020 (2019 Vintage)
"Simon Waghorn is a dab hand at making aromatic dry whites, such as this Pinot Gris made from grapes grown on the vineyards of the van Asch, Hammond, Lissaman and Wilson families. It’s a blend of grapes from three sub-regions in Marlborough: the Awatere Valley (73%), Waihopai Valley (17%) and Kekerengu (10%). Extensive fruit thinning enhances concentration in this super tasty dry white, which contains 3.2 grams of residual sugar and was cool fermented to retain its fresh, fruity aromatic flavours and long finish."