Astrolabe Kēkerengū Coast
Pinot Gris
2022
The Kēkerengū Coast Pinot Gris was grown on a high 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.
Simon Waghorn — Winemaker
TASTING NOTES
COLOUR/APPEARANCE
Pale gold.
AROMA/BOUQUET
Nashi pear, white-fleshed nectarine, ripe red apple with a hint of ginger and nutmeg.
PALATE
A crisp and focused wine with fine minerality and delicacy of structure. Lively flavours of pear, apple and elderflower.
AGING POTENTIAL
This wine is already drinking well and has the potential to age gracefully.
FOOD PAIRING
A great match with seafood, pairing with sashimi, sushi, ceviche or shumai.
PINOT GRIS SERVING TEMPERATURE
Lightly chilled.
2022 vintage
93 POINTS
"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, slaine and white spices, citrus and apple, refreshing, a slaivating 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+." NOV 22
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Cameron Douglas, Master Sommelier
2021 vintage
93 POINTS
"Delicious pinot gris with power, purity and precision. Tree fruit, pear and apple flavours with a subtle seasoning of clove-spice characters supported by taut acidity, which gives the wine energy and a lengthy finish. Drink 2021 to 2024." SEP 21
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Bob Campbell, Master of Wine
The Real Review © The Real Review
4.5 STARS
"Grown north of Kaikoura, the pale 2021 vintage (4.5*) is a single-vineyard wine, crisp, dry and very youthful. Showing obvious potential, it is vigorous, with penetrating, vibrant peach, pear and spice flavours, showing excellent delicacy and length. Best drinking 2024+." APR 22
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Michael Cooper
New Zealand Wines: Michael Cooper’s Buyer’s Guide
91 POINTS
"Moderately weighty pinot gris with nashi pear, mineral and nutty yeast lees characters. Made in a satisfyingly bone-dry style. Reasonably flavoursome wine, with good acidity and an ethereal texture.” JUL 17
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Cameron Douglas, Master Sommelier
The Shout
Sustainably certified SWNZ
Vegan