We aim to have all wines be vintage specific. In the case the listed vintage is out of stock and you note you would like that particular vintage, we will inform you via email for approval to go ahead.
Huon Hooke – Attractive pinot gris that's been made with a light touch with poached pear, apple, ginger and nutty yeast lees characters. A dry wine with appealing purity and an ethereal texture. (Bob Campbell The Real Review, 18 January, 2022)
About This Wine
The fruit for this wine was sourced from the Pinot Gris block in the Catalina Sounds vineyard. Although a hot summer and some frost damage to the fruit resulted in low crop turn-over, the fruit still maintained a good concentration of flavour. The Pinot Gris thus created has a ‘dry white’ liquor style. The nose is greeted with lifted sweet-scented aromas of quince, spiced pears, stone fruits, beeswax and yellow florals. Flavour builds on the palate and mixes with subdued lees, alcohol and oak extracted notes to render a layered and textured palate with an elegant mouthfeel. It ends with a focused and long finish. This Pinot Gris is terrific with Asian cuisine (slightly spicy Thai and Vietnamese foods), white poultry dishes, root vegetables, squashes, quail and pork belly. Taken on its own, this Pinot Gris is still a lovely quaff.
Type | White Wine |
---|---|
Varietal(s) | Pinot Gris/Grigio |
Country | New Zealand |
Region | Marlborough |
Brand | Catalina Sounds |
Vintage | 2022 |
Wines of Marlborough
Marlborough is at the northern tip of New Zealand’s South Island and is the leading region in the country, being responsible for 75% of NZ’s wine production and 85% of its exports. Marlborough is internationally renowned for its distinctive style of Sauvignon Blanc, described by some wine writers such as Oz Clarke and George Taber as the best in the world. Australia being such a close neighbour, we get a great number of brands imported into the country.
Sauvignon Blanc in Marlborough is grown on well-draining alluvial gravels, with large temperature fluctuations between day and night. These conditions are great for growing grapes that strike a perfect balance between ripeness and acidity. The result is sauvignon blanc that is aromatic, driven by tropical fruit flavours but also supported by an herbaceous and mineral character. Aussies often described Marlborough Savvy Blanc as full of passionfruit flavour.
Despite many consumers having an idea of what Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc is, the wine is actually made in a wide range of different styles. Wine makers take advantage of different clones, fermentation styles, lees-stirring and aging regimens to give their wines nuance and differentiate their brand from one another. You may have had sauvignon blanc from Marlborough before, but it is always worth exploring some not so commercial brands if it is a style you enjoy.
Other varieties that are produced in the region include Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris.