Gewürztraminer, 2020

An intriguing and full Gewürztraminer with blossom, ginger, petals, red pepper, gooseberry and freshly cut lemongrass. Elegant but lush textural weight and balanced lingering acidity.

Meet the maker: Zephyr Wines

Region: Dillons Point, Wairau, Marlborough – New Zealand

Grape(s): Gewürztraminer (100%)

14% ABV / 750ml / Vegetarian / Vegan / Organic

Viticulture:

The Dillons Point sub-region lies across the banks of the Opawa River very near the mouth, so the soil profile is a fertile silt loam derivative and provides a perfect site for aromatic varieties like Gewürztraminer.

The vines in this single vineyard were planted in 2008 with three different clones planted on an upright trellis system (VSP) with 2-3 canes laid down to achieve low crop yields.

Throughout the season shoots are thinned to maintain a speckled-light approach to the ripening of the fruit. The picking decision is based on vine health and how the fruit looks, hangs, and the flavour, including skins, stalks and seeds.

Winemaking:

The grapes were hand-picked with a portion then crushed with stalks to promote phenolic structure.

A portion is left overnight as grape must before pressing off as a skin contact component. The other parcel is whole bunch pressed to maintain purity. To really mix it up it also undergoes a skin ferment which is about 2% of the blend for about five days before draining off into barrel.

In total there is about a 5% component that sees very old French oak barrels and undergoes a 'feral' fermentation. The main parcels are fermented in stainless steel and undergo a traditional fermentation.

Very few additives apart from sulphur to arrest fermentation and to maintain purity and brightness.