Riesling 2010

Slow, cool fermentation has produced a classic dry style Riesling stopped just short of dryness at 3.5g/L (RS). Our Jackson Block Riesling has aromatic citrus notes of lemon and lime with floral and grapefruit notes in the background. The palate is crisp and focused with a mineral structure that shows flint and creamy aspects.

VINEYARD

Bernie and Jane Jackson’s small 2Ha vineyard is planted entirely in Riesling grapes and is located on the prime Martinborough Terrace. The nineteen year old vines have consistently produced Riesling full of flavour, style, balance – all a result of being lovingly hand tended since day one.

We have gladly taken their grapes since the very first harvest and look forward to many more years of stunning Riesling coming from this vineyard.

Martinborough has a cool, maritime climate along with other beneficial climatic drivers including a rain shadow, one of the country’s largest diurnal temperature differentials, windy springs and a long warm ripening period through autumn.  All this results in a natural low-vigour site regulating crops and enabling high quality, consistent, ripe fruit.

WINEMAKING

The grapes are carefully hand harvested for this wine, picking only the cleanest bunches with no Botrytis influence. Gentle whole bunch pressing and a long cold ferment ensure the wine retains maximum freshness and minerality – both classic Riesling characters.

SEASON

2010 was a very nervous year for grapegrowers in Martinborough. The season started off auspiciously with six cold frosty nights in a row. Spring was cool and very windy. We entered summer at least two weeks behind average and with January being grey, cloudy and wet things weren’t looking flash. Thankfully a brilliant warm sunny March and April followed and the grapes were able to be harvested in optimum condition.